mel jacobson on thu 29 oct 09
yes, tony, we are all looking for new ideas, new
concepts, and europe old is a good place to start.
but, not to copy...to be inspired by.
not everything is oriental.
even those of us that have studied there know that
we cannot `be` something we are not.
(nothing is more tiring than seeing a potter in a head band, kimono,
jabbering fake japanese. pretending he is still there. geez.
trying to impress the locals. )
and, many fine young oriental artists are looking to the
world for ideas. not just their history.
i am a nordic male. my dna speaks to that.
but, one thing that is clear. we that are north american
have a very specific dna. we know, what we know.
we live in a time that information is always `right there, on
our finger tips.`
in many ways, we are starting in north america, `a new craft
movement`. it is ours.
we see the backlash every day to `metaphor and smartypants art.`
verbal art is now getting very old, and still older, and should
be put in the grave. i talk to people all the time that want to
see `skill and craftsmanship` they want art they can buy.
commerce. they want gifts that they can be proud to give.
it is amazing how many that have `state sponsored` jobs, do
not want to be in commerce. it does not matter. the check
comes in. so, smart art makes them feel `smart`. you can stand
tall at group faculty meeting and let them know...`you are just
as smart as they are.`
i admire those that move beyond that, and know...there skills
and knowledge are far beyond the normal `smart`. being proud
they they can `make most anything`.
collectors want pots they can keep for the future.
i talk to tom turnquist once a month on the phone...he called
yesterday. he wants pots. he does not want a clay dildo.
in many ways tony and shiela, you are at the front lines
of high quality craft, well made, well thought out. new ideas
traveling through your heads. new images, yet, still based on
quality craft, and skill of both making and firing. and your age is
perfect. mature, yet young in spirit.
we all know that the economy is in the tank for artists. so, this is
the time to take a few minutes and think things through..make some
fresh starts. be ready when things come back. re/tool.
as i said the other day...`new style young folks that want to put their
skills to the test.` they are tired of talk. long winded anthems written
on the walls of art shows.
as a young friend said the other day...`what, do they think i am
stupid, and won't know what they are saying is shit?`
hmmm, made me laugh.
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
Lee Love on thu 29 oct 09
In no other time in history, did craftsmen and artists have
all times and places available to them. What ever medium I am
working in, I always look at the best examples of that work for
inspiration. If I like a contemporary craftsman's work, I look at
those traditional things that inspired him or her, rather than looking
at their pots specifically.
I always want to go to the source. Because of the enormity
of history, the best forms have already been made. It is post-modern
arrogance not to recognize this. Best to go to the source and dip
into that.
For inspiration, when I do porcelain, I look at Sung work.
When I do stoneware, I look at Korean Yi/Chosen. Now that I am also
working in earthenware, I am looking at American Redware, and
English/Irish red and slipware and also the French woodfired Jaspe
ware.
We have no excuse for not being aware of our influences in these
days of open communication.
The Whole Earth is our oyster.
--
Lee, a Mashiko potter in Minneapolis
http://mashikopots.blogspot.com/
"Ta tIr na n-=3DF3g ar chul an tI=3D97tIr dlainn trina ch=3DE9ile"=3D97tha=
t is, "T=3D
he
land of eternal youth is behind the house, a beautiful land fluent
within itself." -- John O'Donohue
claybuds@ATT.NET on fri 30 oct 09
In the=3DC2=3DA0economic times=3DC2=3DA0and=3DC2=3DA0circumstances I find =
myself as=3D
=3DC2=3DA0a potter, it's sobering to find out what I'm willing to do to pu=
t fo=3D
od on the table and pay the bills. I live close to a huge retirement commun=
=3D
ity, a corporate setup times ten, and I'm making mugs for them with their c=
=3D
orporate logo on them. Extremely high expectations at extremely low prices,=
=3D
but every one of them will be my best work. Maybe I'll touch someone with =
=3D
the craftsmanship. What's better than a really good and useful mug? My jo=
=3D
b is to stay quiet and do my work. Maybe something will come of it, like so=
=3D
me=3DC2=3DA0seniors=3DC2=3DA0that=3DC2=3DA0might=3DC2=3DA0be=3DC2=3DA0happy=
=3DC2=3DA0to=3DC2=3DA0take=3D
=3DC2=3DA0some=3DC2=3DA0pottery=3DC2=3DA0lessons.=3D20
David Beumee
Lafayette, CO
=3DC2=3DA0 -------------- Original message from mel jacobson I.CO=3D
M>: --------------=3D20
> yes, tony, we are all looking for new ideas, new=3D20
> concepts, and europe old is a good place to start.=3D20
> but, not to copy...to be inspired by.=3D20
>=3D20=3D20
> not everything is oriental.=3D20
>=3D20=3D20
> even those of us that have studied there know that=3D20
> we cannot `be` something we are not.=3D20
> (nothing is more tiring than seeing a potter in a head band, kimono,=3D20
> jabbering fake japanese. pretending he is still there. geez.=3D20
> trying to impress the locals. )=3D20
>=3D20=3D20
> and, many fine young oriental artists are looking to the=3D20
> world for ideas. not just their history.=3D20
>=3D20=3D20
> i am a nordic male. my dna speaks to that.=3D20
>=3D20=3D20
> but, one thing that is clear. we that are north american=3D20
> have a very specific dna. we know, what we know.=3D20
>=3D20=3D20
> we live in a time that information is always `right there, on=3D20
> our finger tips.`=3D20
>=3D20=3D20
> in many ways, we are starting in north america, `a new craft=3D20
> movement`. it is ours.=3D20
>=3D20=3D20
> we see the backlash every day to `metaphor and smartypants art.`=3D20
> verbal art is now getting very old, and still older, and should=3D20
> be put in the grave. i talk to people all the time that want to=3D20
> see `skill and craftsmanship` they want art they can buy.=3D20
> commerce. they want gifts that they can be proud to give.=3D20
> it is amazing how many that have `state sponsored` jobs, do=3D20
> not want to be in commerce. it does not matter. the check=3D20
> comes in. so, smart art makes them feel `smart`. you can stand=3D20
> tall at group faculty meeting and let them know...`you are just=3D20
> as smart as they are.`=3D20
>=3D20=3D20
> i admire those that move beyond that, and know...there skills=3D20
> and knowledge are far beyond the normal `smart`. being proud=3D20
> they they can `make most anything`.=3D20
>=3D20=3D20
> collectors want pots they can keep for the future.=3D20
> i talk to tom turnquist once a month on the phone...he called=3D20
> yesterday. he wants pots. he does not want a clay dildo.=3D20
>=3D20=3D20
> in many ways tony and shiela, you are at the front lines=3D20
> of high quality craft, well made, well thought out. new ideas=3D20
> traveling through your heads. new images, yet, still based on=3D20
> quality craft, and skill of both making and firing. and your age is=3D20
> perfect. mature, yet young in spirit.=3D20
>=3D20=3D20
> we all know that the economy is in the tank for artists. so, this is=3D2=
0
> the time to take a few minutes and think things through..make some=3D20
> fresh starts. be ready when things come back. re/tool.=3D20
>=3D20=3D20
> as i said the other day...`new style young folks that want to put their=
=3D
=3D20
> skills to the test.` they are tired of talk. long winded anthems written=
=3D
=3D20
> on the walls of art shows.=3D20
> as a young friend said the other day...`what, do they think i am=3D20
> stupid, and won't know what they are saying is shit?`=3D20
> hmmm, made me laugh.=3D20
> mel=3D20
>=3D20=3D20
>=3D20=3D20
>=3D20=3D20
> from: minnetonka, mn=3D20
> website: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/=3D20
> clayart link: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/clayart.html=3D20
> new book: http://www.21stcenturykilns.com=3D20=3D20
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