mel jacobson on thu 7 feb 08
that is my angst.
`i am limited`
`i can't have a gas kiln`...so i am screwed.`
`i only have an electric kiln`.
no.
`YOU HAVE A KILN, IT IS YOUR KILN, IT IS WHAT YOU HAVE.
YOU ARE NOT LIMITED.
WELL, YES...ONLY BY YOURSELF.`
my teacher in japan, mr. uchida had three big electric kilns.
almost every potter in kyoto has ONLY electric kilns...are
they limited?
not a bit.
the variety of pots made is vast.
the color, is vast.
there is no end.
electric kilns are just fine. nice range of temperature
and the atmosphere is clean...they can be controlled almost
the same for every firing.
they are wonderful kilns.
5-1 ratio here in america to fuel kilns.
those that want fuel kilns, build them, work them, learn
how to use them...well, they have a different kiln.
don't go back to the olden days of the macho/cowboy potter
that made fun of anyone that did not fire a fuel kiln.
and don't be cowed by those that feel that the only firing that is
worth a damn comes from wood. bullshit. it is just another
kiln. and don't make lists of potters that fire with wood...and then
say...`see, these are good potters.` we know they are good potters.
and they fire with wood. GREAT...BUT DOES IT MAKE THEM BETTER?
NO. THEY FIRE WITH WOOD. SO WHAT?
i can make a list of a thousand potters that fire with electricity that
are just as good...and if you include 50 from kyoto...much better.
i have never been thrilled aesthetically by gobs of snot ash and run all
over pots. i agree with john....i like a well made glaze...does that
make me RIGHT? no it is what i like...and, like john, i am free to
express my likes and dislikes. i don't like fake pots, just as i do not
like copied pots.. fake reitz, fake voulkous, fake anyone. it takes
years to define yourself...the quicker you get at it, the sooner you
will have a voice that comes from your own brain.
i really like well made, well fired pots. i like pots that have function
that are really beautiful. that is what I LIKE. that is what i try to
make. i have a two gas kilns, i have a salt kiln, i have a very nice
wood fired kiln. i can fire any kiln i like. my least favorite is the
wood kiln. it is more work, effort, and luck than i want to work with.
i have three electric kilns and one gas/electric. i can use them whenever
i want. i have invested a great deal of money and time in fine kilns.
i actually know how to use them. i get to pick. that was my choice.
i do not have a condo in hawaii. i have great kilns, and a farm in
wisconsin.
if i chose to fire with electricity for the rest of my life...it would
take one hell of a lot of work to make great pots in a short time...i would start
with ron and john's book and then move to denmark and buy a
house next door to a great glaze tester. she would help me get
there. fast. but, it would take a great deal of testing, working
with new forms to match what i have done over 50 years of firing
a gas kiln.
test glazes?...yes of course.. try anything.
but, make sure you have an idea what your kiln can do, what
it was made for. don't be what you are not.
and don't get sucked in to ...
`just do it`.
hell, i would love to be a ballet dancer...can't.
i would love to play center in the NBA...BUT I WILL
NEVER BE 7`2" AND QUICK AS A CAT.
but, i can continue to fire my kilns and do research.
for the rest of my life.
now that...`i can just do.`
kiln snobbery is the greatest pile of bs in the world of ceramics.`
mel
from minnetonka:
website http://www.visi.com/~melpots/
clayart site:
http://www.visi.com/~melpots/clayart.html
jt on thu 7 feb 08
Mel you said that so well,
Thank you
Judy
mel jacobson wrote:
> that is my angst.
>
> `i am limited`
> `i can't have a gas kiln`...so i am screwed.`
> `i only have an electric kiln`.
>
> no.
> `YOU HAVE A KILN, IT IS YOUR KILN, IT IS WHAT YOU HAVE.
> YOU ARE NOT LIMITED.
> WELL, YES...ONLY BY YOURSELF.`
>
> my teacher in japan, mr. uchida had three big electric kilns.
> almost every potter in kyoto has ONLY electric kilns...are
> they limited?
> not a bit.
> the variety of pots made is vast.
> the color, is vast.
> there is no end.
>
> electric kilns are just fine. nice range of temperature
> and the atmosphere is clean...they can be controlled almost
> the same for every firing.
> they are wonderful kilns.
> 5-1 ratio here in america to fuel kilns.
>
> those that want fuel kilns, build them, work them, learn
> how to use them...well, they have a different kiln.
>
> don't go back to the olden days of the macho/cowboy potter
> that made fun of anyone that did not fire a fuel kiln.
> and don't be cowed by those that feel that the only firing that is
> worth a damn comes from wood. bullshit. it is just another
> kiln. and don't make lists of potters that fire with wood...and then
> say...`see, these are good potters.` we know they are good potters.
> and they fire with wood. GREAT...BUT DOES IT MAKE THEM BETTER?
> NO. THEY FIRE WITH WOOD. SO WHAT?
> i can make a list of a thousand potters that fire with electricity that
> are just as good...and if you include 50 from kyoto...much better.
>
> i have never been thrilled aesthetically by gobs of snot ash and run all
> over pots. i agree with john....i like a well made glaze...does that
> make me RIGHT? no it is what i like...and, like john, i am free to
> express my likes and dislikes. i don't like fake pots, just as i do not
> like copied pots.. fake reitz, fake voulkous, fake anyone. it takes
> years to define yourself...the quicker you get at it, the sooner you
> will have a voice that comes from your own brain.
>
> i really like well made, well fired pots. i like pots that have function
> that are really beautiful. that is what I LIKE. that is what i try to
> make. i have a two gas kilns, i have a salt kiln, i have a very nice
> wood fired kiln. i can fire any kiln i like. my least favorite is the
> wood kiln. it is more work, effort, and luck than i want to work with.
> i have three electric kilns and one gas/electric. i can use them whenever
> i want. i have invested a great deal of money and time in fine kilns.
> i actually know how to use them. i get to pick. that was my choice.
> i do not have a condo in hawaii. i have great kilns, and a farm in
> wisconsin.
>
> if i chose to fire with electricity for the rest of my life...it would
> take one hell of a lot of work to make great pots in a short time...i would start
> with ron and john's book and then move to denmark and buy a
> house next door to a great glaze tester. she would help me get
> there. fast. but, it would take a great deal of testing, working
> with new forms to match what i have done over 50 years of firing
> a gas kiln.
>
> test glazes?...yes of course.. try anything.
> but, make sure you have an idea what your kiln can do, what
> it was made for. don't be what you are not.
> and don't get sucked in to ...
> `just do it`.
> hell, i would love to be a ballet dancer...can't.
> i would love to play center in the NBA...BUT I WILL
> NEVER BE 7`2" AND QUICK AS A CAT.
> but, i can continue to fire my kilns and do research.
> for the rest of my life.
> now that...`i can just do.`
> kiln snobbery is the greatest pile of bs in the world of ceramics.`
> mel
>
>
>
>
>
>
> from minnetonka:
> website http://www.visi.com/~melpots/
> clayart site:
> http://www.visi.com/~melpots/clayart.html
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
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>
>
>
--
I have nothing profound to say,,,,, JT
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