Terrance on sat 12 dec 09
I apologize Steve, but I cannot let this subject go with out on last kick=
=3D
at the=3D20
can. I will make this my final word on the subject.=3D20=3D20
When I read the many arguments as to what is handmade and what is not, I=3D=
20=3D
gain a greater admiration for our lawmakers. They face similar debates l=
=3D
ike=3D20
this every day and they fight to ensure laws are in acted in order to pro=
=3D
tect=3D20
Joe citizen. The lawmaker however must get all sides of the argument fro=
=3D
m his=3D20
constituents. It is the individual beliefs and feelings of what is right=
=3D
and what=3D20
is wrong that form the foundation of the lawmakers argument. His job is =
=3D
to=3D20
ensure that the proper words are used to clarify the arguments. If he is=
=3D
=3D20
successful he will have ensured that his people are protected.
I am sure some of the participants on clayart believe that we are beating=
=3D
a=3D20
dead horse. Maybe we are but it is necessary. Why is this argument=3D20
important? It is important because if we are the people who are telling=
=3D
our=3D20
lawmakers what is important to use in order to carry out our craft. Our=3D=
20=3D
lawmakers in this debate are those who plan and promote craft shows. The=
=3D
y=3D20
are the teachers and professors who pass on the knowledge of our craft. T=
=3D
hey=3D20
are the people in out government who make laws governing the distribution=
=3D
of=3D20
grant monies and initiate cultural funding. So it is important that we a=
=3D
re clear=3D20
and united when we use words that have through time may have become=3D20
outdated, skewed, and/or have lost their original meaning. In other wor=
=3D
ds we=3D20
have to redefine the terminology that are important to us, the people, wh=
=3D
en=3D20
we are describing what we do. If we fail to do this we could find our cr=
=3D
aft=3D20
being excluded because our methods do not fit the accepted definition of=3D=
20=3D
handmade.=3D20=3D20
So this debate is necessary.
The oxford dictionary states that handmade is: =3D93made by hand rather tha=
=3D
n=3D20
machine.=3D94
This is a simple yet very accurate description as hand made when the word=
=3D
=3D20
was first added to the Oxford dictionary in the early 17th century. The=3D=
20=3D
important word here is =3D93machine=3D94.
The Wikipedia defines handmade as: =3D93something made by an individual, ra=
=3D
ther=3D20
than one made by mass production. It need not literally mean that no mach=
=3D
ine=3D20
at all is used in making it.=3D94 The important words here are =3D93mass p=
ro=3D
duction=3D94=3D20
which when studied implies made in assembly line on a mass scale.
If we accept the Wikipedia defination, for handmade, most of us will all =
=3D
be able=3D20
go to bed tonight knowing that we are using the proper word to describe o=
=3D
ur=3D20
craft. However, if we force the Oxford defination, we have a brand new=3D=
20=3D
argument developing. If we look up the meaning of =3D93machine=3D94 we wil=
l =3D
find that=3D20
what we thought of as =3D93not=3D94 being machine made is, machine made and=
w=3D
hat=3D20
we thought as =3D93not=3D94 being handmade, is handmade.=3D20=3D20
If we look at the six =3D93simple machines=3D94 we will not see any device=
t=3D
o resemble=3D20
a mold. Yet we will find that the wheel is considered a simple machine. =
=3D
Yes, a=3D20
ram pressed plate is machine made however a handpressed tile is not. A=3D2=
0=3D
coiled build pot is hand made where as a pot thrown on a potters wheel=3D20=
=3D
although is it hand formed it is not hand made. So using the Oxford dict=
=3D
ionary=3D20
is a bit to narrow to use when descriping our craft.
Where does that leave us now?
=3D20
The clayart group has over 3000 members and we are the ones who rely on=3D2=
0=3D
people who have very little knowledge of our craft to determine wheather =
=3D
we=3D20
can participate in their programs. If we split hairs on what is handmade=
=3D
and=3D20
what is not, we will loose in the long run.
I propose that we accept the Wikipedia defination for =3D93handmade=3D94. =
I=3D
ndividual=3D20
craftsperson can go further to describe their work by explaining the meth=
=3D
ods=3D20
employed to creat their art. A potter who uses the wheel can state that h=
=3D
is=3D20
product is =3D93handmade=3D94 He can also state that his product is =3D93=
hand=3D
formed=3D94=3D20
whereas a mold maker can state his product is =3D93handmade=3D94 and could=
=3D20=3D
elaborate that his art is slip cast removed from the mold and altered or =
=3D
hand=3D20
formed.=3D20
It would be great if we could call a vote on this proposal.=3D20
marci and rex on sat 12 dec 09
Having enjoyed ( with a bucket of popcorn ) the recent verbal '
ultimate fighter' match on the subject of handmade,
I have decided that I will now market my work as:
" derived from the brain cells of Marci Blattenberger"
No comments from the peanut gallery , please, about
the imminent shortage of raw material ... :O)
Marci
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