Don Jones on mon 18 mar 96
Hi,
Anyone interested in talking about sculpture in Ceramics competitions?
If a sculptor who works in clay does something on a small scale can he
rightly enter a ceramics show? Are we talking apples and oranges or just
big and small apples or functional vs sculptural apples? Sometimes I feel
sorry for painters and sculptors who have few venues similar to the large
shows llike A.C.C. On the other hand, I don't want them there. I don't
really know why either.
I was thinking about the Fletcher competition and a local clay artist got
in who I never heard of. I think he is probably a pretty good sculptor who
works on a small scale. My gut feeling is that if the best potter in town
submitted his best pot to the show, it would probably not get in because it
was just a pot.
I guess I'm just a jealous wheel- artist
Don Jones
Janathel M. Shaw on wed 20 mar 96
Don:
As a ceramic-sculptor, I specify this for two reasons,
the first is that I love clay and have been hooked for
over 15 years. Secondly, I haven't sculpture
explored other media, yet. In my brief experience in
competing for grants and competitions, both
ceramic specific and mainstream, wheel thrown
ceramics and wheel-thrown assemblaged sculpture
are GREATLY APPRECIATED.
I, however, specialize in figurative works and I'm
often not selected. Some of my most noted works
are chosen because they don't appear to be made
of clay. I can't tell you how many times I've
watched an individual's tone change or eyes dull
when I let them know that the piece they were
admiring was ceramic, as opposed to carved stone
or wood. But, thankfully, I've also received the
opposite effect.
I like clay for its chameleon properties. I hope as
certified "mud-lovers" that we don't begrudge one
another for our different expressions. I tell ya one
pet peeve I have is when I apply for grants and the
only category for ceramics is under CRAFT.
Steve Bliss on wed 20 mar 96
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Hi,
>
>Anyone interested in talking about sculpture in Ceramics competitions?
>
> If a sculptor who works in clay does something on a small scale can he
>rightly enter a ceramics show? Are we talking apples and oranges or just
>big and small apples or functional vs sculptural apples? Sometimes I feel
>sorry for painters and sculptors who have few venues similar to the large
>shows llike A.C.C. On the other hand, I don't want them there. I don't
>really know why either.
>
>I was thinking about the Fletcher competition and a local clay artist got
>in who I never heard of. I think he is probably a pretty good sculptor who
>works on a small scale. My gut feeling is that if the best potter in town
>submitted his best pot to the show, it would probably not get in because it
>was just a pot.
>
>I guess I'm just a jealous wheel- artist
>Don Jones
Never say "just a pot" not even to your self the work we do is no less art and
oftentimes much more craft than the "sculpture" Ha! we see put out there and
touted all around us. I say we have been put down for so long by those
who make "fine art" (inc. ceramic sculpture) let them cultivate their own
selling oppourtunities. so there, neener neener
another jealous wheel-artist
but also craftsperson and i say that with pride.
Kris Bliss....breaking up in alaska
Valice Raffi on thu 21 mar 96
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Anyone interested in talking about sculpture in Ceramics competitions?
>I guess I'm just a jealous wheel- artist - Don Jones
Don,
it sounds to me as though you might try doing some sculpture. I'm sensing
anger in you *smiles* (refering back to a post aprox 2 months ago when you
talked about the price differences between pots and sculpture - and again
with this post).
Sculptural pieces are usually very time consuming, and there are also the
never-ending logistical problems with gravity, drying, glazes etc. that are
common to us both.
Creation and beauty come in many forms. I think that what really matters
is the *soul* that goes into each piece, whether a cup, a "pot", a figure,
or something whose form is unrecognisable.
Come on - give it a try - walk in my shoes (size 8 ;-) ) Don't give up
right away!... we all have those walls we have to push through!
Peace,
Valice - in Sacramento where the ceanothus, redbud and plum trees are
bustin' out, the daffodiles are long gone!
Don Jones on fri 22 mar 96
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>
>>Anyone interested in talking about sculpture in Ceramics competitions?
>
>>I guess I'm just a jealous wheel- artist - Don Jones
>
>Don,
>
>it sounds to me as though you might try doing some sculpture. I'm sensing
>anger in you *smiles* (refering back to a post aprox 2 months ago when you
>talked about the price differences between pots and sculpture - and again
>with this post).
>
>Sculptural pieces are usually very time consuming, and there are also the
>never-ending logistical problems with gravity, drying, glazes etc. that are
>common to us both.
>
>Creation and beauty come in many forms. I think that what really matters
>is the *soul* that goes into each piece, whether a cup, a "pot", a figure,
>or something whose form is unrecognisable.
>
>Come on - give it a try - walk in my shoes (size 8 ;-) ) Don't give up
>right away!... we all have those walls we have to push through!
>
>Peace,
>
>Valice - in Sacramento where the ceanothus, redbud and plum trees are
>bustin' out, the daffodiles are long gone!
Valice,
I lived in Sacramento for 8 years and liked it very much.
My only concern with Pottery vs Sculpture is the venue where they
compete. My hat is always off to sculpture since there is no arguing that
it is fine art or time consuming or requires a lot of skill. My work is
niether pottery nor sculpture ( see web page:
http://www.indirect.com/www/claysky/index.html) but there is a price
barrier much like painting vs drawings. I wouldn't dream of asking 5,000
for one of my pieces since I'm not famous. but a sculptor of reasonable
skill could ask that much for a small work and noone would blink. So when
a finely made small clay sculpture wins a prize over a wonderful pot, I'm
not surprised; I just wonder how the sculptor would fare in a competition
of just sculpture.
Don
the daffodiles are just out making me think of Daffodile Hill!
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