Lee Love on thu 8 apr 10
Our society is one focused on the visual. When we frame something,
we think we know it. It is at the cost of loosing information
related to all our other senses.
--
Lee, a Mashiko potter in Minneapolis
http://mashikopots.blogspot.com/
=3D93Observe the wonders as they occur around you. Don't claim them. Feel
the artistry moving through and be silent.=3D94 --Rumi
Wes Rolley on thu 8 apr 10
I have been reading from Dorothea Lange: A Life Beyone Limits, Linda
Gordon's 2009 biography of great documentary photographer. It brings
forth a number of questions on art and process that apply equally well
to other media. I should like to introduce just a few quotations from
Lange to introduce her to an audience who might not be familiar with her
work.
Perhaps the most famous of her photos is the one known as Migrant
Mother. http://loc.gov/pictures/resource/fsa.8b29516/
"A camera is a tool for learning how to see without a camera."
"I believe that what we call beautiful is generally a by-product. It
happens when the thing is done very, very well."
"Seeing is more than a physiological phenomenon.... We see not only with
our eyes but with all that we are and all that our culture is. The
artist is a professional see-er."
I wonder how a potter might change this last quotation... or if we should.
--
"Anytime you have an opportunity to make things better
and you don't,
then you are wasting your time on this Earth" Roberto Clemente
Wes Rolley
17211 Quail Court, Morgan Hill, CA 95037
http://www.refpub.com/ -- Tel: 408.778.3024
Wes Rolley on thu 8 apr 10
clayart_friends10@comcast.net wrote:
>
> Wes, where can I find the whole story?
>
I worked on a project to make a CD-ROM that included Lange's work. It
was never completed, but I learned a lot. There is a lot written about
Lange, but the book I cited, Dorothea Lange: a Life Beyond Limits
appears to be the best in explaining how her life influenced her work,
stricken by polio when young, growing up in an urban milieu but
photographing so much rural life, married twice (an artist and a UC
Berkeley Professor), etc. .
You can get a feel for more of her work just by going to wikipedia. or
to this site at the Library of Congress.
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/fsahtml/fahome.html But that is rather a
catalog and you have to browse to find the gems.
Lange was one of a group of outstanding photographers who worked for the
Farm Security Administration during the Depression. The list included
Ban Shahn, Walker Evans, Russel Lee, John Vachon, Carl Mydans, Arthur
Rothstein. They are all considered documentary photographers (though
Ben Shahn is better known as a painter) and each had a slightly
different approach to the task.
While she had a photo studio in San Francisco, she was often drawn out
on the street to take the pictures that she really wanted to make. From
this came the iconic depression photo called White Angel Bread Line.
http://cybermuse.gallery.ca/cybermuse/enthusiast/acquisitions/2004-2005/Lan=
ge_text_e.jsp
Later she closed her portrait studio and landed the job with the
government. Lange was so much on the road that she might come back from
a trip, deliver her film to friend Ansel Adams to develop (as we might
take it to a local drub store) and not see them again until she returned
from the next trip.
I once saw a multimedia class project that told the story of the 2 young
girls in the Migrant Mother photo after they grew up. Neither as Oprah
transforming as you would hope nor a bleak as you would fear. But they
resented Lange because they thought she made a lot of money off their
family. She didn't. That photo is in public domain as it was done for
the Guvment.
>
>
> I have to think about some more about these statements. What I can
> tell you from personal experience though is that "see-ing" is much
> more than "see" Unless something becomes ones own, there is no way
> that you can give it away. That is why art can sometimes become so
> artificial: the artist is not honest with him/herself or with those
> around him.
>
> The image of Migrant Mother is just plain gorgious! There is so much
> more behind the surface.
> Antoinette Badenhorst
> Lincolnshire, Illinois
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Wes Rolley"
> To: Clayart@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
> Sent: Thursday, April 8, 2010 1:25:29 PM GMT -06:00 US/Canada Central
> Subject: Thoughts on art as expression.
>
> I have been reading from Dorothea Lange: A Life Beyone Limits, Linda
> Gordon's 2009 biography of great documentary photographer. It brings
> forth a number of questions on art and process that apply equally well
> to other media. I should like to introduce just a few quotations from
> Lange to introduce her to an audience who might not be familiar with her
> work.
>
> Perhaps the most famous of her photos is the one known as Migrant
> Mother. http://loc.gov/pictures/resource/fsa.8b29516/
>
> "A camera is a tool for learning how to see without a camera."
>
> "I believe that what we call beautiful is generally a by-product. It
> happens when the thing is done very, very well."
>
> "Seeing is more than a physiological phenomenon.... We see not only with
> our eyes but with all that we are and all that our culture is. The
> artist is a professional see-er."
>
> I wonder how a potter might change this last quotation... or if we should=
.
>
> --
> "Anytime you have an opportunity to make things better
> and you don't,
> then you are wasting your time on this Earth" Roberto Clemente
>
> Wes Rolley
> 17211 Quail Court, Morgan Hill, CA 95037
> http://www.refpub.com/ -- Tel: 408.778.3024
>
--
"Anytime you have an opportunity to make things better
and you don't,
then you are wasting your time on this Earth" Roberto Clemente
Wes Rolley
17211 Quail Court, Morgan Hill, CA 95037
http://www.refpub.com/ -- Tel: 408.778.3024
Antoinette Badenhorst on thu 8 apr 10
Wes, where can I find the whole story?=3D20
I have to think about some more about=3DC2=3DA0 these statements. What I ca=
n te=3D
ll you from personal experience though is that "see-ing" is much more than =
=3D
"see" Unless something becomes ones own, there is no way that you can give =
=3D
it away. That is why art can sometimes become so artificial: the artist is =
=3D
not honest with him/herself or with those around him.=3D20
The image of Migrant Mother is just plain gorgious! There is so much more b=
=3D
ehind the surface.=3D20
Antoinette Badenhorst=3D20
Lincolnshire, Illinois=3D20
----- Original Message -----=3D20
From: "Wes Rolley" =3D20
To: Clayart@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG=3D20
Sent: Thursday, April 8, 2010 1:25:29 PM GMT -06:00 US/Canada Central=3D20
Subject: Thoughts on art as expression.=3D20
I have been reading from Dorothea Lange: A Life Beyone Limits, Linda=3D20
Gordon's 2009 biography of great documentary photographer. It brings=3D20
forth a number of questions on art and process that apply equally well=3D20
to other media. =3DC2=3DA0I should like to introduce just a few quotations =
from=3D
=3D20
Lange to introduce her to an audience who might not be familiar with her=3D=
20
work.=3D20
Perhaps the most famous of her photos is the one known as Migrant=3D20
Mother. http://loc.gov/pictures/resource/fsa.8b29516/=3D20
"A camera is a tool for learning how to see without a camera."=3D20
"I believe that what we call beautiful is generally a by-product. =3DC2=3DA=
0It=3D
=3D20
happens when the thing is done very, very well."=3D20
"Seeing is more than a physiological phenomenon.... We see not only with=3D=
20
our eyes but with all that we are and all that our culture is. =3DC2=3DA0Th=
e=3D20
artist is a professional see-er."=3D20
I wonder how a potter might change this last quotation... or if we should.=
=3D
=3D20
--=3D20
"Anytime you have an opportunity to make things better=3D20
=3DC2=3DA0and you don't,=3D20
=3DC2=3DA0then you are wasting your time on this Earth" Roberto Clemente=3D=
20
Wes Rolley=3D20
17211 Quail Court, Morgan Hill, CA 95037=3D20
http://www.refpub.com/ -- Tel: 408.778.3024=3D20
Lee Love on thu 8 apr 10
On Thu, Apr 8, 2010 at 1:25 PM, Wes Rolley wrote:
> "Seeing is more than a physiological phenomenon.... We see not only with
> our eyes but with all that we are and all that our culture is. =3DA0The
> artist is a professional see-er."
>
> I wonder how a potter might change this last quotation... or if we should=
=3D
.
When you enter the 3rd dimension, you are no longer restricted to
sight. You could call functionality an expression of the 4th
dimension: time.
--
Lee, a Mashiko potter in Minneapolis
http://mashikopots.blogspot.com/
=3D93Observe the wonders as they occur around you. Don't claim them. Feel
the artistry moving through and be silent.=3D94 --Rumi
Lee Love on fri 9 apr 10
On Fri, Apr 9, 2010 at 9:49 PM, David Beumee wrote:
> to do with flashy ostentation, "only a quiet dignity."
>
> Isn't that beautiful?
It is often drowned out in our culture of extremes and
exaggeration. Lucie Rie & Hans Coper's work is appreciated in Japan.
I was able to see several shows of theirs while living there. In
some very small towns. More difficult to see here in the Midwest.
--
Lee, a Mashiko potter in Minneapolis
http://mashikopots.blogspot.com/
=3D93Observe the wonders as they occur around you. Don't claim them. Feel
the artistry moving through and be silent.=3D94 --Rumi
David Beumee on fri 9 apr 10
No, I don't believe we should change the last quotation. As potters, our
special see-ing is, as Lucie Rie said, the extremely slight variations in
form as they appear as the pot takes shape. She said to others, such tiny
variations were unnoticeable, but to the the potter's eye, such variations
contain incredible power and insight. But she said, such see-ing has nothin=
g
to do with flashy ostentation, "only a quiet dignity."
Isn't that beautiful?
David Beumee
Lafayette, CO
On Thu, Apr 8, 2010 at 12:25 PM, Wes Rolley wrote:
> I have been reading from Dorothea Lange: A Life Beyone Limits, Linda
> Gordon's 2009 biography of great documentary photographer. It brings
> forth a number of questions on art and process that apply equally well
> to other media. I should like to introduce just a few quotations from
> Lange to introduce her to an audience who might not be familiar with her
> work.
>
> Perhaps the most famous of her photos is the one known as Migrant
> Mother. http://loc.gov/pictures/resource/fsa.8b29516/
>
> "A camera is a tool for learning how to see without a camera."
>
> "I believe that what we call beautiful is generally a by-product. It
> happens when the thing is done very, very well."
>
> "Seeing is more than a physiological phenomenon.... We see not only with
> our eyes but with all that we are and all that our culture is. The
> artist is a professional see-er."
>
> I wonder how a potter might change this last quotation... or if we should=
.
>
> --
> "Anytime you have an opportunity to make things better
> and you don't,
> then you are wasting your time on this Earth" Roberto Clemente
>
> Wes Rolley
> 17211 Quail Court, Morgan Hill, CA 95037
> http://www.refpub.com/ -- Tel: 408.778.3024
>
Carol Casey on sat 10 apr 10
Yes.
On Fri, Apr 9, 2010 at 10:49 PM, David Beumee wrote=
:
> No, I don't believe we should change the last quotation. As potters, our
> special see-ing is, as Lucie Rie said, the extremely slight variations in
> form as they appear as the pot takes shape. She said to others, such tiny
> variations were unnoticeable, but to the the potter's eye, such variation=
s
> contain incredible power and insight. But she said, such see-ing has
> nothing
> to do with flashy ostentation, "only a quiet dignity."
>
> Isn't that beautiful?
>
> David Beumee
> Lafayette, CO
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Thu, Apr 8, 2010 at 12:25 PM, Wes Rolley wrote:
>
> > I have been reading from Dorothea Lange: A Life Beyone Limits, Linda
> > Gordon's 2009 biography of great documentary photographer. It brings
> > forth a number of questions on art and process that apply equally well
> > to other media. I should like to introduce just a few quotations from
> > Lange to introduce her to an audience who might not be familiar with he=
r
> > work.
> >
> > Perhaps the most famous of her photos is the one known as Migrant
> > Mother. http://loc.gov/pictures/resource/fsa.8b29516/
> >
> > "A camera is a tool for learning how to see without a camera."
> >
> > "I believe that what we call beautiful is generally a by-product. It
> > happens when the thing is done very, very well."
> >
> > "Seeing is more than a physiological phenomenon.... We see not only wit=
h
> > our eyes but with all that we are and all that our culture is. The
> > artist is a professional see-er."
> >
> > I wonder how a potter might change this last quotation... or if we
> should.
> >
> > --
> > "Anytime you have an opportunity to make things better
> > and you don't,
> > then you are wasting your time on this Earth" Roberto Clemente
> >
> > Wes Rolley
> > 17211 Quail Court, Morgan Hill, CA 95037
> > http://www.refpub.com/ -- Tel: 408.778.3024
> >
>
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