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bad thrower, good pots

updated tue 1 apr 08

 

Lee on sun 30 mar 08


On Sun, Mar 30, 2008 at 5:36 PM, tony clennell wr=
ote:
> . Lee: I understand Bill Marshall saying Bernie couldn't throw but
> made good pots. A friend of mine Larry Davidson(coincidentally an
> apprentice of Shimoaka in the 70's) wouldn't even bother to center his
> clay before he started pulling up. those of us that are decent
> throwers could barely stand to watch him.

Folks flew in for Shimaoka's 49 day memorial, from the States
and one person from Germany. Shoichi Kamiya said that over 100
foreign students passed through Shimaoka's. Most were "guests" and
not apprentices. Minimum stay for an apprentices was 1 year.
Sometimes folks apprenticed for 2 years. A couple of us for 3. Many
of the guests came on scholarships, so were not paid.

> Larry made the best pots in
> this province but like Leach was a piss poor businessman and couldn't
> sell them except to potters.

Sometimes making art and doing business don't go together.
If you think about it, most art potters are teachers too.

> If anyone of you with money want a killer garden designed and planted
> by a gardener with potters sensibilities check out his website
> http://losthorizons.ca

Jean mailed me some Japanese seeds. about half my backyard
is vegetable garden. I am going to grow Japanese stuff that is hard
to get in the stores here. Some flowers too. We have a lawnless
front and back yard. "watershed friendly."

> Lee don't expect me to hang with ya with Leach for too, too long. i
> have the attention span of a 2 year old these days.

I think Clark's ideas are more the issue than Leach.
There are aspects about Mingei he is simply incapable of
understanding. It makes him irrelevant to most potters.

--=20
Lee, a Mashiko potter in Minneapolis
http://mashikopots.blogspot.com/

"Ta tIr na n-=F3g ar chul an tI=97tIr dlainn trina ch=E9ile"=97that is, "T=
he
land of eternal youth is behind the house, a beautiful land fluent
within itself." -- John O'Donohue

tony clennell on sun 30 mar 08


. Lee: I understand Bill Marshall saying Bernie couldn't throw but
made good pots. A friend of mine Larry Davidson(coincidentally an
apprentice of Shimoaka in the 70's) wouldn't even bother to center his
clay before he started pulling up. those of us that are decent
throwers could barely stand to watch him. Larry made the best pots in
this province but like Leach was a piss poor businessman and couldn't
sell them except to potters. He quit making about 20 years ago and
became a gardener. His gardens are for wealthy people and he is in
large demand. Even the art schools that wouldn't have him for
workshops when he was a potter ask him to do lectures on horticulture.
If anyone of you with money want a killer garden designed and planted
by a gardener with potters sensibilities check out his website
http://losthorizons.ca
Lee don't expect me to hang with ya with Leach for too, too long. i
have the attention span of a 2 year old these days.
Best,
Tony


--
http://sourcherrypottery.com
http://smokieclennell.blogspot.com