mel jacobson on tue 3 apr 07
i have abandoned norton forever.
it has turned into a huge mess here
on my clayart computer.
as gail suggested, i have gone to avg. it is simple
and works in the background. and, to have to
pay for a `headache` has finally convinced me to get
off that bandwagon.
clam is a great free system for scanning, but does not
have the ability to search your incoming mail...my error.
i love to think of the image in my head of
three of us at the uchida pottery in kyoto.
cold day...three in line making pots.
we threw on platforms up off the ground.
the wheel head level with the platform.
no splash guard.
the wheel head almost touches my crotch.
the wheel head went one speed, and you could not
stop it. just spun all day.
they sit cross legged. in a sleeping bag drawn up to
their chests. a jacket over the bag...with the sleeves rolled
up one turn. we all wore hats.
not a drop of slop clay anyplace.
the water was on the hump and on the pot we were throwing.
all day. no clay water on me. and about 200 pots lined up
behind me.
that experience taught me many things...but the most important
was the concept of `fine craft and system`. there was a way to
make pots, all day long...all done to perfection...each the same as the
one before...perfect. measured, each potters work was the same
as the next guy. you could not tell the difference.
fine craft. mr. uchida's designs.
and, we get the argument all the time....`who would want to do
that?...that is not creative. i do one of a kind...i am a creative
genius.` `NO, YOU ARE UNTRAINED, UNDISCIPLINED AND YOU
DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE DOING NOR DO YOU UNDERSTAND
YOUR MATERIALS..GLAZE, CLAY, FIRING.` by the way,
the first quote was me...1964. i was the untrained, undisciplined
person that did not know what i was doing...and wanted to be a potter.
the big difference i realized that i was BS-ING myself.
so...i went to japan to become a potter.
harsh discipline, a system to be followed, and they trained me.
200 pots a day will do that to you.
do i want to do that any longer? not really. do i want to go to
boot camp in the army? not really. but, did those two things
train me for other things? you bet they did. did working on a farm
during ww2 teach me anything? you bet. how to survive a 12 hour
work day? you betca.
do discussions about the chemistry of clay have any meaning?
yes...whatever we debate, learn from and pack away in our
memory has value. to question, to think...to make experiments
in our life...is good.
and, you do not get self worth....by someone telling you feel good
stories...you work, succeed, work more and then you find your own
value.
my grandson called last night...he said..`grandpa, the boss at
my work said...`you are the best high school kid i have ever hired`.
i am getting a raise.`
i asked him how that happened....he said...`the boss says that i do
not have to be told what to do...i see it and do it before he can ask
me to do it.`
nice thomas.
now that is `self value`. praise for work well done.
he has teachers that try to praise kids, and give self worth
when they are failing...does not work.
mel
from: mel/minnetonka.mn.usa
website: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/
Clayart page link: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/clayart.html
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