mel jacobson on fri 18 sep 09
achievement is what we are proud of.
potential is not achievement, you cannot
be proud of `i am going to be`.
the name you give to yourself is just that...a name.
artist, craftsman, maker of stuff, whatever.
you are judged by others, often the name comes from others.
i have always said...`if you make stuff and try and sell it,
and no one wants it, well, you won't be very proud.`
that would be potential sales.
the greatest part of art is self control. we are in charge of
our lives. it is the part of being an artist that the world wants.
and it seems everyone in the world wants to `have some control
of their life.`
the corporate cubicle comes to mind.
working on a production line comes to mind.
mind numbing work comes to mind.
i am always being singled out as being the `luckiest guy in the world`.
hmm, is it luck or choice.?
as you all know, i am very independent....very.
it is my pride. other people do not run my life. i make the choices
that are good for me and work for me. it is often the less
popular choice.
`1960, hey mel, aren't you building an open plan house with
a `great room`. NO. best choice in the world. we built our house
on a 1920's farm house plan. dining room and big kitchen. great house.
`hey mel, make sure you build your house for re-sale`.
screw that, i build it for us, our family...still live in it.
popular ideas are often made for the mass. never the individual.
mass art movements are the same thing. jump on the boat, it is
leaving the dock.
that is how i started to be a full time artist/potter. rules, science, ski=
ll
and understanding...and a product. pop art left me cold as ice.
i knew it was fraud from the first day.
you find your joy and your pride in your work. to hell with naming it.
i just make stuff...and, it turns out ok...and many people buy it and
my family will be solvent because i make stuff, invent stuff, write stuff.
and, without question, working damn hard, keeping busy every day
and taking care of business, paying bills, no debt makes for good
sleeping nights. right and wrong are pretty easy to figure out. some
love to talk and try to figure out how to make `wrong`, `right`.
mel
from: minnetonka, mn
website: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/
clayart link: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/clayart.html
new book: http://www.21stcenturykilns.com
| |
|
