David McBeth on fri 5 oct 07
I had the tremendously good fortune to particpate in the Master class at =
Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Gatlinburg, Tennessee last =
weekend. Bill Griffith, the assistant director at Arrowmont has put =
together a wonderful program, offering these master classes each fall. =
The first in the series, four years ago with Peter Beseaker, the next =
year Pete Pinnell, last year Linda Sikora and this year, Chris Staley. =
the master class is a small groupd of ten or twelve potters of various =
skill levels and backgrounds who gather to learn from one of this =
countries leading creative minds. I could go on here at great length =
about the wonderful, intense weekend, maybe another time.
Chris Staley had many insights to working, developing personel =
expression in pots. Chris is a very gentle person, passionate about =
clay and an intellectual potter. I can't remember who he said said this =
first but the quote is something like "Art happens in the slow time" In =
other words we need to slow down, pay attention to what we are doing, or =
as he also said - "notice what you notice". What do we pay attention =
to? What excites us?, motivates us?
So how does this pertain to Dolan tools or Bison tools? I have three or =
four Bison tools and countless dolan tools in the tool box and on the =
wheel. As I was sitting at the wheel yesterday afternoon making a few =
bowls, thinking about and noticing their form and the deatils in them, I =
was thinking about Chris' workshop. I can make maybe 50 or 60 bowls in =
an afternoon, they might even be good bowls. But will they be =
interesting bowls, will they say anything about Dave McBeth? Probably =
not. So while I am slowing down at the wheel, looking for art in the =
slow time and noticing what I notice, I am also thinking about the =
throwing tool or trimming tool in my hand, what kind of mark is it =
making, what clay crap will be on it when I pick it up off the wheel and =
inadvertantly transfer to the bowl? If I had worked more purposefully, =
with intention I might make more pots that say something about me.
I am (hopefully) going to work more slowly, respectfully, purposefully =
toward the clay and the tools of the trade.
peace and good pots
Dave
David McBeth
330 B Gooch Hall
Department of Visual and Theatre Arts
University of Tennessee at Martin
Martin, Tennessee 38238
731-881-7416
Lee Love on fri 5 oct 07
On 10/5/07, David McBeth wrote:
>crap will be on it when I pick it up off the wheel and inadvertantly
transfer to the bowl?
> If I had worked more purposefully, with intention I might make more pots that say
> something about me.
>
> I am (hopefully) going to work more slowly, respectfully, purposefully toward the clay
>and the tools of the trade.
Intention is everything. Taking care of things instead of
just making do, is transcending the self.
But, you kind of wonder. It seems like hobbyist that use
the most expensive tools. Professionals often make their own
trimming tools.
--
Lee in Minneapolis, Minnesota USA
http://mashikopots.blogspot.com/
"For a democracy of excellence, the goal is not to reduce things to a
common denominator but to raise things to a shared worth."
--Paolo Soleri
Lee Love on sat 6 oct 07
On 10/6/07, Hank Murrow wrote:
> Still, as a professional....... I will stick with my Bisons, some
> designed by me and made by Phil.
I have cats and need more durable tools. ;^)
--
Lee in Minneapolis, Minnesota USA
http://mashikopots.blogspot.com/
"For a democracy of excellence, the goal is not to reduce things to a
common denominator but to raise things to a shared worth."
--Paolo Soleri
Floyd Hale on sat 6 oct 07
Lee,
I find your posts to be extremely useful and thought provoking, even when
they bruise my ego.
Perhaps we "hobbyists" need more expensive tools because we have less
talent, experience, imagination, and time to devote to the art compared to
"professionals." Everyone has a different pathway into the ceramics world,
so it's no surprise to me that all arrive using different tools. (I've made
a few of my own tools, but I've never found a tool made by one of my
instructors that could outshine a Bison tool on its worst day). The bottom
line is the final quality of the work.
Don't make me feel guilty for all my purchased tools, even if they just sit
there looking at me. The seller was very happy to part with them and they
calm my nerves.
Floyd Hale
Lee wrote:
Intention is everything. Taking care of things instead of just making do,
is transcending the self.
But, you kind of wonder. It seems like hobbyist that use the most expensive
tools. Professionals often make their own trimming tools. e
pdp1@EARTHLINK.NET on sat 6 oct 07
Hi Floyd,
Do not be bullied or mislead.
An evaluation of any information is best done with the agendas or politics
or processing done by the provenance of that information, being borne in
mind.
Even as one may evlaluate 'Oats' for example.
Where in many scenarios, one does well to note on which end of the (
figurative, or other ) Horse the Oats happen to be...and, the form they
retain or assume for it.
A Horse's ass can be a reliable and steady source of 'Oats'...and, they will
not be the same for it; they will have been 'processed', and, as such, are,
casually 'after', and not 'before'.
The distinction then to bear in mind, is this -
Oats before the Horse, are one thing...Oats 'after', are another.
Even if both can sometimes be called 'Oats'...and they will be, too...all
too often.
This is my appreciation anyway.
Love,
Phil
l v
----- Original Message -----
From: "Floyd Hale"
> Lee,
>
> I find your posts to be extremely useful and thought provoking, even when
> they bruise my ego.
>
> Perhaps we "hobbyists" need more expensive tools because we have less
> talent, experience, imagination, and time to devote to the art compared to
> "professionals." Everyone has a different pathway into the ceramics
> world,
> so it's no surprise to me that all arrive using different tools. (I've
> made
> a few of my own tools, but I've never found a tool made by one of my
> instructors that could outshine a Bison tool on its worst day). The bottom
> line is the final quality of the work.
>
> Don't make me feel guilty for all my purchased tools, even if they just
> sit
> there looking at me. The seller was very happy to part with them and they
> calm my nerves.
>
> Floyd Hale
>
>
> Lee wrote:
>
> Intention is everything. Taking care of things instead of just making do,
> is transcending the self.
>
> But, you kind of wonder. It seems like hobbyist that use the most
> expensive
> tools. Professionals often make their own trimming tools. e
Lee Love on sat 6 oct 07
On 10/6/07, Floyd Hale wrote:
> Lee,
>
> I find your posts to be extremely useful and thought provoking, even when
> they bruise my ego.
Please don't be bruised. ;^) I enjoy sharing opinions. I admire
people who speak up.
> Perhaps we "hobbyists" need more expensive tools because we have less
> talent, experience, imagination, and time to devote to the art compared to
> "professionals."
I think primarily, if you don't have another job or a teaching
to pay the way, you have to watch your pennies closely.
I always tell folks, there are advantages in having a creative
avocation. There are freedoms in it when you don't have to depend on
it for rent.
--
Lee in Minneapolis, Minnesota USA
http://mashikopots.blogspot.com/
"For a democracy of excellence, the goal is not to reduce things to a
common denominator but to raise things to a shared worth."
--Paolo Soleri
Hank Murrow on sat 6 oct 07
On Oct 5, 2007, at 1:18 PM, Lee Love wrote;
>
> But, one kind of wonders. It seems like hobbyists that use
> the most expensive tools. Professionals often make their own
> trimming tools.
Dear Lee; Professionals who make their own tools are making
professional tools.
Still, as a professional....... I will stick with my Bisons, some
designed by me and made by Phil.
Cheers! Hank
www.murrow.biz/hank
Hank Murrow on sun 7 oct 07
On Oct 6, 2007, at 9:13 PM, Lee Love wrote:
> On 10/6/07, Hank Murrow wrote:
>
>> Still, as a professional....... I will stick with my Bisons, some
>> designed by me and made by Phil.
>
> I have cats and need more durable tools. ;^)
We have five cats and they seem to respect the pottery and the tools.
Cheers, Hank
www.murrow.biz/hank
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