Lili Krakowski on wed 18 apr 07
First and apology my message was repeated three times. One handed
(ham-handed?) klutziness on my part.
Accusing those worried about the Academic takeover of craft of
anti-intellectualism bothers me. A lot. Academia does not define
intellectualism, an 18th or is it early 19th century invention to explain
thinking as method of gaining knowledge as distinct from sensory perception
and like that. Nor is Academia the intellect's best repository. I never
have even suggested that the ability to write is a bad thing--I'd never have
earned a living without it--but that DEMANDING people write so as to get
into pottery shows, galleries etc is WRONG.
I just read that Karl Popper said he learned more about knowledge from his
[cabinet maker] apprentice-master that from any other of [his]
teachers.Popper studied at the University and got his teaching degree at the
same time as he finished his cabinet maker training. (Am reading KP's
Unended Quest, very interesting)
I am busy right now thinking, and writing a bit about The Flight from
Equality, that embittering phenomenon that while half the population is
trying to achieve equality, the other half (though the proportions probably
are more 2 to 1) is trying to disestablish it. That is what concerns me.
That one once could be dyslexic, illiterate, and so on, and still gain
recognition as a potter. Now obstacles have been put in one's way.
Anyway. 'Nuf said. Anyone who wishes to discuss the topic, can do so off
list....I AM interested....
Lili Krakowski
Be of good courage
Noel Gilliam on thu 19 apr 07
Lee,
Are you also dyslexic? It is hard to be perceived as "not to bright" because of stumbling words and inadequate writing/language skills.I have finally started telling close friends that I stumble with words because I have to visualize the object before I can say what it is. Even saying"close the refrigerator" will come out "sink" because I seem to visualize the kitchen first, then the objects in there.
Never making good grades and feeling dumb as a child (no diagnostic skills in the 40's and 50's) does not help one's self esteem. Not until I was into my major in college did I start to excel. I thought everyone made great grades in art, the classes were so easy to me! Seeing others struggle in art finally made me appreciate my skills and talent. I would love for someone to write my statement. Writing has often held me back because I think I should do my own writing.....but then I don't.
Yes, please don't lower the bar for us. Work with us and understand that we can't all be 'intellectuals'
>
Thank goodness for clay!!! And CLAY PEOPLE!!
Noel Gilliam
Palmetto Georgia
www.impressionsatlittlehouse.com
>>
> On 4/19/07, Lili Krakowski wrote:
>
>>
> That is what concerns me.
> > That one once could be dyslexic, illiterate, and so on, and still gain
> > recognition as a potter. Now obstacles have been put in one's way.
> > From: Lee Love
> Date: 2007/04/18 Wed PM 06:29:30 EST
> We dyslexics appreciate your concern. If we really want to do
> something to help, we need to support early childhood diagnosis and
> programs to help folks learn to read and write. Technology really
> helps in this area.
>
> The other way we can help is by writing/mentoring folks who
> don't have the skills or haven't developed the skills they have.
> Rather than demand a lowering of the bar because some people can't do
> it, we should lift the bar for people who can.
>
> --
Lee Love on thu 19 apr 07
On 4/19/07, Lili Krakowski wrote:
> have even suggested that the ability to write is a bad thing--I'd never have
> earned a living without it--but that DEMANDING people write so as to get
> into pottery shows, galleries etc is WRONG.
Demanding is the key problem. Weather it be to demand that
folks don't write or that they do. Nobody has to do it your way or
mine. Diversity is important.
> I just read that Karl Popper said he learned more about knowledge from his
> [cabinet maker] apprentice-master that from any other of [his]
We are fortunate that Popper wrote about his cabinet maker.
Otherwise, we would know nothing about him. Neither skill takes
away from the other.
While we have many potters today, we have few people like
Leach or Waldenheim to write about them.
Craftwork is important in post-modern times. The vast
majority of people have always worked only with their hands. We
can't expect everyone to become programmers or engineers. It is
fantastic to think everyone is college material. One way to deal
with this is for a culture to use its wealth and surplus to support
artists, artisans and craftsmen. But, we have to value this work in
order to support it. Someone has to speak up (write for) the
workmen. This is a main concern of William Morris and the Mingei
movement.
> are more 2 to 1) is trying to disestablish it. That is what concerns me.
> That one once could be dyslexic, illiterate, and so on, and still gain
> recognition as a potter. Now obstacles have been put in one's way.
We dyslexics appreciate your concern. If we really want to do
something to help, we need to support early childhood diagnosis and
programs to help folks learn to read and write. Technology really
helps in this area.
The other way we can help is by writing/mentoring folks who
don't have the skills or haven't developed the skills they have.
Rather than demand a lowering of the bar because some people can't do
it, we should lift the bar for people who can.
My proposal for my McKnight residency included mentoring both
Minnesota and Mashiko potters: Helping them photograph their work
and write proposals for travel/study grants for an exchange program.
I am very excited about this.
--
Lee in Mashiko, Japan
Minneapolis, Minnesota USA
http://potters.blogspot.com/
"To affect the quality of the day, that is the highest of arts." -
Henry David Thoreau
"Let the beauty we love be what we do." - Rumi
Lee Love on fri 20 apr 07
On 4/19/07, Noel Gilliam wrote:\
> Lee,
> Are you also dyslexic?
Yes. I am lucky, because it isn't severe in writing. But I often
mix up vowels or leave them out and the spellchecker catches most of
the mistakes. When I am tired (or before my morning coffee), it gets
worse. Noel, are you left-handed? I am.
> It is hard to be perceived as "not to bright" because of
>stumbling words and inadequate writing/language skills.I have finally
started telling close
> friends that I stumble with words because I have to visualize the object before I can say
> what it is. Even saying"close the refrigerator" will come out "sink" because I seem to
>visualize the kitchen first, then the objects in there.
Wow! That is the way my brain works too. I picture things.
Learning things in a linear way is hard for me. I have to learn
visually or by actually doing the thing. This always showed up in
math. Algebra is a jumble while geometry works better because I can
visualize it. The order switching is handy for a poet, because you
come up with novel combinations.
The most obvious way my dyslexia shows up is when driving. When I
use the car mirrors, I can never be sure if a car is coming or going.
When I look and see something moving in the mirror, I have to look
directly at the car to understand which way it is going.
>
> Never making good grades and feeling dumb as a child (no diagnostic skills in the 40's >and 50's) does not help one's self esteem.
Really, we need to diagnose kids early. Also, we need to
realize that we all learn differently. Just because we aren't strong
in ordering and linear thinking, doesn't mean we can be gifted in
other ways. Hopefully, things are better today. Kids are our most
important resource.
>Not until I was into my major in college did I start to excel. I
thought everyone made >great grades in art, the classes were so easy
to me! Seeing others struggle in art >finally
>made me appreciate my skills and talent. I would love for someone to write my
>statement. Writing has often held me back because I think I should do my own
>writing.....but then I don't.
Don't hesitate in asking someone to help you write a statement.
It is just like having a photographer photo your images. If you can
speak it, a professional writer can write it for you.
On the other hand, this post you wrote is evidence that you
can write. You can write stuff down and have a writer help you
polish it.
--
Lee in Mashiko, Japan
Minneapolis, Minnesota USA
http://potters.blogspot.com/
"To affect the quality of the day, that is the highest of arts." -
Henry David Thoreau
"Let the beauty we love be what we do." - Rumi
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