mel jacobson on thu 28 aug 08
Dear Mr. Jacobson:
We at AMACO/Brent interviewed the inventors of the QuickCenter, both art=
professors at a university, about the merits of their centering device.=
Experienced potters amongst us worried that it took the art out of wheel=
throwing, but the rest of us who can=92t center clay were thrilled at the=
prospect of finally having success at the wheel. What the inventors=
explained is that they were inspired to create a solution for college art=
majors who didn=92t have success on the wheel quickly and who gave up wheel=
throwing to pursue only hand-building and glazing techniques and/or other=
mediums.=20
The majority of our business is schools. We have interviewed hundreds of =
elementary and middle school art teachers who say they don=92t introduce=
the potters wheel in middle school or elementary grades. Why? Because even=
though they may have inherited a wheel or two in their classrooms, teachers=
often express that they don=92t know how to center clay well themselves,=
and they only have 40 minute class periods. As we all know, centering clay=
can take more time than is possible in short class periods.
=20
Our mission at AMACO/Brent is to increase the number of students who=
experience all aspects of ceramics. We want students at the high school and=
college levels to request wheel throwing classes. Our hope is that if they=
have a positive experience early in life, they will pursue the art of wheel=
throwing when someone has time to teach them well.=20
The QuickCenter is for beginners. Students have short attention spans these=
days. The art in so many worthwhile pursuits is being ignored by young=
people with short attention spans. If we catch them for a moment, and they=
have a positive experience--get to glaze a small vessel that they feel they=
threw themselves, then they may take the time to learn the art and=
technique of wheel throwing later in life, at camp or at a local art center=
or contemporary studio.
Respectfully submitted,
Dawn Sandoe
Creative Director & Public Relations
AMACO/Brent
American Art Clay Co.
6060 Guion Road
Indianapolis, IN 46254
amaco.com
=20
Thank you very much for the opportunity. I
know that it is distressing to many potters and art teachers that so many
Fine Art majors are leaving college without knowing how to center clay, and
then teaching art programs without wheel throwing as part of their own
curriculum. Ceramic programs in general are oftentimes in jeopardy in
districts that can't apportion funds for equipment and glazes. Wheels seem
to be of less focus in a majority of elementary and middle schools, and that
certainly concerns us for the future.
Sincerely,
Dawn Sandoe
=20
Here is a testimonial by an art teacher and a student who experimented with=
the QuickCenter last weekend in a classroom at AMACO/Brent:
=20
=93When I first saw the QuickCenter=99 and found out what it did, I thought=
that it was taking away an important process of learning how to throw on a=
wheel. I thought maybe the students would miss out on the centering=
process. Then I viewed the process and tried QuickCenter=99 myself and=
realized that QuickCenter=99 is more of a resource to open more=
opportunities for learning than I had previously thought. I can see it as=
a tool to use in a classroom to make time more efficient. I also can see=
more students able to experience wheel throwing than before. This should be=
a mandatory tool to have for beginning wheel throwing.
=20
Beth Ann Ferguson, teacher in rural public school in Indiana for grades 3-9
=93QuickCenter=99 is very easy and the name pretty much defines it.=94
=20
Maggie Buchanan, age 13
from minnetonka:
website http://www.visi.com/~melpots/
clayart site:
http://www.visi.com/~melpots/clayart.html
jonathan byler on thu 28 aug 08
Despite amaco's good intentions, I would argue that if you can't get =20
the fine motor control to center, you aren't really going to master =20
the fine motor control of any of the other aspects of throwing. you =20
can use strength, but that is not really the easiest way. you need =20
dexterity, and the knowledge that can only be gained by doing, of =20
what happens to the clay when you try and move it in various ways. =20
you are still going to need to know that the moment you try to open, =20
and the moment you try to make the first pull, and the second, and =20
however many more you need.
I work with a guy, Barry Flemming, who, when he helps a student =20
center, it looks pretty much like he is kneeling down and laying on =20
hands. say a little prayer, get off and it's centered. It's pretty =20
cool to watch, down on one knee, hands on lump of clay, head slightly =20=
down, meditative (actually he is usually talking). He is a strong =20
guy, but it has a lot more to do with his fine-tuned sense of how to =20
move the clay to make it go where he wants, than it does with actual =20
strength. this is why his pots look great, whereas the work made by =20
people who need someone else to center for them usually looks like =20
crap. If you can't center it in the first place, you are going to =20
have a hell of a time keeping a pot centered as you work.
I don't really see that there are any shortcuts that can save you =20
from having to practice. We have examples of this every semester, =20
year in and year out. the people that come in diligently and =20
practice get better. the ones that come in as little as possible do =20
not.
I once took down a treehouse, and I mean BIG treehouse, at least 25 =20
feet in the air, with a friend who has early onset parkinsons. His =20
muscles had gotten weak, but he still had good dexterity, and above =20
all, determination. It was amazing to me how he could use little =20
short movements, leverage, and time over brute strength, and how fast =20=
we had that thing in pieces on the ground. I'm pretty sure, that if =20
he wanted to, despite the loss of strength, that he could still learn =20=
to center and throw a pot, without any special tools.
-jon
jon byler
3-D Building Coordinator
Art Department
Auburn University, AL 36849
On Aug 28, 2008, at 9:49 AM, mel jacobson wrote:
> Dear Mr. Jacobson:
>
>
> We at AMACO/Brent interviewed the inventors of the QuickCenter, =20
> both art professors at a university, about the merits of their =20
> centering device. Experienced potters amongst us worried that it =20
> took the art out of wheel throwing, but the rest of us who can=92t =20
> center clay were thrilled at the prospect of finally having success =20=
> at the wheel. What the inventors explained is that they were =20
> inspired to create a solution for college art majors who didn=92t =20
> have success on the wheel quickly and who gave up wheel throwing to =20=
> pursue only hand-building and glazing techniques and/or other mediums.
>
> The majority of our business is schools. We have interviewed =20
> hundreds of elementary and middle school art teachers who say they =20=
> don=92t introduce the potters wheel in middle school or elementary =20
> grades. Why? Because even though they may have inherited a wheel or =20=
> two in their classrooms, teachers often express that they don=92t =20
> know how to center clay well themselves, and they only have 40 =20
> minute class periods. As we all know, centering clay can take more =20
> time than is possible in short class periods.
>
> Our mission at AMACO/Brent is to increase the number of students =20
> who experience all aspects of ceramics. We want students at the =20
> high school and college levels to request wheel throwing classes. =20
> Our hope is that if they have a positive experience early in life, =20
> they will pursue the art of wheel throwing when someone has time to =20=
> teach them well.
>
> The QuickCenter is for beginners. Students have short attention =20
> spans these days. The art in so many worthwhile pursuits is being =20
> ignored by young people with short attention spans. If we catch =20
> them for a moment, and they have a positive experience--get to =20
> glaze a small vessel that they feel they threw themselves, then =20
> they may take the time to learn the art and technique of wheel =20
> throwing later in life, at camp or at a local art center or =20
> contemporary studio.
>
> Respectfully submitted,
> Dawn Sandoe
> Creative Director & Public Relations
> AMACO/Brent
> American Art Clay Co.
> 6060 Guion Road
> Indianapolis, IN 46254
> amaco.com
>
>
> Thank you very much for the opportunity. I
> know that it is distressing to many potters and art teachers that =20
> so many
> Fine Art majors are leaving college without knowing how to center =20
> clay, and
> then teaching art programs without wheel throwing as part of their own
> curriculum. Ceramic programs in general are oftentimes in jeopardy in
> districts that can't apportion funds for equipment and glazes. =20
> Wheels seem
> to be of less focus in a majority of elementary and middle schools, =20=
> and that
> certainly concerns us for the future.
>
> Sincerely,
> Dawn Sandoe
>
>
> Here is a testimonial by an art teacher and a student who =20
> experimented with the QuickCenter last weekend in a classroom at =20
> AMACO/Brent:
>
>
> =93When I first saw the QuickCenter=99 and found out what it did, I =20=
> thought that it was taking away an important process of learning =20
> how to throw on a wheel. I thought maybe the students would miss =20
> out on the centering process. Then I viewed the process and tried =20
> QuickCenter=99 myself and realized that QuickCenter=99 is more of a =20=
> resource to open more opportunities for learning than I had =20
> previously thought. I can see it as a tool to use in a classroom =20
> to make time more efficient. I also can see more students able to =20
> experience wheel throwing than before. This should be a mandatory =20
> tool to have for beginning wheel throwing.
>
> Beth Ann Ferguson, teacher in rural public school in Indiana for =20
> grades 3-9
>
>
> =93QuickCenter=99 is very easy and the name pretty much defines it.=94
>
> Maggie Buchanan, age 13
>
>
> from minnetonka:
> website http://www.visi.com/~melpots/
> clayart site:
> http://www.visi.com/~melpots/clayart.html
pdp1@EARTHLINK.NET on thu 28 aug 08
I realize now more than ever, the need for a 'Mechanical Arm' which can
grasp and lift 'professors', 'phds' and other Academics as well as very
nearly all 'retailers' and definitely all 'politicians' out of their
habituated environments, and, plunk them neatly into ohhhhhh, say, the early
Pleistocene.
If they find their way to say, the Olduvai Gorge as it was then, they could
leave entertaining 'notes' scratched into Sun bleached Ibex femurs or
something, letting us now how they made out.
These 'Arms' of course should be provided for free, as would detailed
instructions for how to make them, and, both should be widely
distributed...and the design would be provided with ample Zerk fittings for
sure and sustained trouble-free use, too.
Ohhhhhhhh...if wishes were Horses...
....sigh...
Phil
l v
----- Original Message -----
From: "mel jacobson"
Dear Mr. Jacobson:
We at AMACO/Brent interviewed the inventors of the QuickCenter, both art
professors at a university, about the merits of their centering device.
Experienced potters amongst us worried that it took the art out of wheel
throwing, but the rest of us who can't center clay were thrilled at the
prospect of finally having success at the wheel. What the inventors
explained is that they were inspired to create a solution for college art
majors who didn't have success on the wheel quickly and who gave up wheel
throwing to pursue only hand-building and glazing techniques and/or other
mediums.
The majority of our business is schools. We have interviewed hundreds of
elementary and middle school art teachers who say they don't introduce the
potters wheel in middle school or elementary grades. Why? Because even
though they may have inherited a wheel or two in their classrooms, teachers
often express that they don't know how to center clay well themselves, and
they only have 40 minute class periods. As we all know, centering clay can
take more time than is possible in short class periods.
Our mission at AMACO/Brent is to increase the number of students who
experience all aspects of ceramics. We want students at the high school and
college levels to request wheel throwing classes. Our hope is that if they
have a positive experience early in life, they will pursue the art of wheel
throwing when someone has time to teach them well.
The QuickCenter is for beginners. Students have short attention spans these
days. The art in so many worthwhile pursuits is being ignored by young
people with short attention spans. If we catch them for a moment, and they
have a positive experience--get to glaze a small vessel that they feel they
threw themselves, then they may take the time to learn the art and technique
of wheel throwing later in life, at camp or at a local art center or
contemporary studio.
Respectfully submitted,
Dawn Sandoe
Creative Director & Public Relations
AMACO/Brent
American Art Clay Co.
6060 Guion Road
Indianapolis, IN 46254
amaco.com
Thank you very much for the opportunity. I
know that it is distressing to many potters and art teachers that so many
Fine Art majors are leaving college without knowing how to center clay, and
then teaching art programs without wheel throwing as part of their own
curriculum. Ceramic programs in general are oftentimes in jeopardy in
districts that can't apportion funds for equipment and glazes. Wheels seem
to be of less focus in a majority of elementary and middle schools, and that
certainly concerns us for the future.
Sincerely,
Dawn Sandoe
Here is a testimonial by an art teacher and a student who experimented with
the QuickCenter last weekend in a classroom at AMACO/Brent:
"When I first saw the QuickCenterT and found out what it did, I thought that
it was taking away an important process of learning how to throw on a wheel.
I thought maybe the students would miss out on the centering process. Then
I viewed the process and tried QuickCenterT myself and realized that
QuickCenterT is more of a resource to open more opportunities for learning
than I had previously thought. I can see it as a tool to use in a classroom
to make time more efficient. I also can see more students able to
experience wheel throwing than before. This should be a mandatory tool to
have for beginning wheel throwing.
Beth Ann Ferguson, teacher in rural public school in Indiana for grades 3-9
"QuickCenterT is very easy and the name pretty much defines it."
Maggie Buchanan, age 13
from minnetonka:
website http://www.visi.com/~melpots/
clayart site:
http://www.visi.com/~melpots/clayart.html
Paul Herman on fri 29 aug 08
Oh, Phil,
We can't throw all the professors out with the funky centering patty
maker, but we should certainly throw out the two who were cited in
connection with this stupid thing. Did you notice the lady from amaco
neglected to give out these esteemed professors' names? I wonder who
they are?
C'mon amaco lady, give us their names so Phil can chuck 'em into the
pleistocene.
Echoing Vince, this is the lamest thing I've seen in quite a while. It
looks like the marketing department is the big boss, like in so many
american businesses. Just look at the "big three" car makers here in
NA. Marketing department in charge. What a sorry disaster is all is,
huh?
Best wishes,
Paul Herman
Great Basin Pottery
Doyle, California US
www.greatbasinpottery.com/
On Aug 28, 2008, at 1:43 PM, pdp1@EARTHLINK.NET wrote:
> I realize now more than ever, the need for a 'Mechanical Arm' which
> can
> grasp and lift 'professors', 'phds' and other Academics as well as
> very
> nearly all 'retailers' and definitely all 'politicians' out of their
> habituated environments, and, plunk them neatly into ohhhhhh, say,
> the early
> Pleistocene.
>
> If they find their way to say, the Olduvai Gorge as it was then,
> they could
> leave entertaining 'notes' scratched into Sun bleached Ibex femurs or
> something, letting us now how they made out.
>
>
> These 'Arms' of course should be provided for free, as would detailed
> instructions for how to make them, and, both should be widely
> distributed...and the design would be provided with ample Zerk
> fittings for
> sure and sustained trouble-free use, too.
>
>
> Ohhhhhhhh...if wishes were Horses...
>
>
> ....sigh...
>
>
>
> Phil
> l v
nori on sat 30 aug 08
"students have short attention spans"
do they (all students) grow up to be (all) adults who have short
attention spans? if so, that explains a lot - i once was a student!
for some reason, this line from ms dawn sandoe reminds me of the
brouhaha over Barbie when one of her recorded sentences was
"math is hard"
o golly.
i overgeneralize enough without having more role models.
and not that it matters, but... as for the amaco lady.... the sandoe
family owns amaco. I'm not sure where dawn is in the family tree.
--
Clifton, Norwich & Sabra
My pottery cat clay
Our studio crocus clay works
My charity A little effort + no money = a big difference!
sample soap
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