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warren mackenzie video ; was: standards

updated sun 18 jul 10

 

Lee Love on fri 16 jul 10


On Fri, Jul 16, 2010 at 8:33 AM, Johanna San Inocencio
wrote:
> Lee, Thank you for sharing the video. I hope to be 86 someday and still
> throwing.

Johanna, you are welcomed. Here is a link to just Mackenzie's part of
the program:
http://www.mnoriginal.org/art/?p=3D3D1749

My late teacher made pots until his last days, 88 years old. They
finished his last firing of his complex (modern) noborigama, my
teacher announced the firing was finished, and he collapsed from a
stroke. He recovered enough by the time the kiln was opened, that
he could look at the photos of the fired pots for his dept. store show
while he was in the hospital. He selected the pots and gave
instructions for the arrangement for the show before he passed away.
You could say he died with his boots on. I think he missed his wife
who died a year or so before him.

Mackenzie used to do the work of 4 20 year olds. Fired his
big gas kiln every month. Now that silicosis has slowed him down, he
does the work of 2 40 year olds and fires his kiln every 6 weeks. To
make up for numbers of pots, he is throwing larger ones to help fill
the kiln more quickly. Last time I visited, he showed me a car kiln
closer his son-in-law engineered and built. It is made from a
discarded garage door closer. Instead of an electric motor, it has a
bicycle gear and a crank you turn and close the car kiln without any
effort. He used to have his wife Nancy help him close the kiln. Now,
he can open and close it by himself.

Both MacKenzie and my teacher help me get over getting a late start at
pots at the age of 37. Murata Gen, a student of Hamada's, my
teacher's teacher, also is an inspiration. He started, I think at the
age of 47. Making pots with the right attitude and the right
lifestyle helps you last longer. It is not the meat grinder many
painters and writers face.
--
Lee, a Mashiko potter in Minneapolis
http://mingeisota.blogspot.com/

=3D93Observe the wonders as they occur around you. Don't claim them. Feel
the artistry moving through and be silent.=3D94 --Rumi

Birgit Wright on sat 17 jul 10


Lee=3D3B I thank you also for the video=3D2C between Mackenzie and Bonnie S=
taff=3D
el I feel that though I started late (47 also=3D2C now 54) This passion for=
p=3D
ottery can Keep going and provide daily delight in its pursuit=3D2C even wh=
en=3D
things tank=3D2C Then you just learned something. Birgit Wright
=3D20
> Date: Fri=3D2C 16 Jul 2010 15:32:23 -0500
> From: cwiddershins@GMAIL.COM
> Subject: Warren MacKenzie Video =3D3B was: Standards
> To: Clayart@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
>=3D20
> On Fri=3D2C Jul 16=3D2C 2010 at 8:33 AM=3D2C Johanna San Inocencio
> wrote:
> > Lee=3D2C Thank you for sharing the video. I hope to be 86 someday and s=
ti=3D
ll
> > throwing.
>=3D20
> Johanna=3D2C you are welcomed. Here is a link to just Mackenzie's part of
> the program:
> http://www.mnoriginal.org/art/?p=3D3D1749
>=3D20
> My late teacher made pots until his last days=3D2C 88 years old. They
> finished his last firing of his complex (modern) noborigama=3D2C my
> teacher announced the firing was finished=3D2C and he collapsed from a
> stroke. He recovered enough by the time the kiln was opened=3D2C that
> he could look at the photos of the fired pots for his dept. store show
> while he was in the hospital. He selected the pots and gave
> instructions for the arrangement for the show before he passed away.
> You could say he died with his boots on. I think he missed his wife
> who died a year or so before him.
>=3D20
> Mackenzie used to do the work of 4 20 year olds. Fired his
> big gas kiln every month. Now that silicosis has slowed him down=3D2C he
> does the work of 2 40 year olds and fires his kiln every 6 weeks. To
> make up for numbers of pots=3D2C he is throwing larger ones to help fill
> the kiln more quickly. Last time I visited=3D2C he showed me a car kiln
> closer his son-in-law engineered and built. It is made from a
> discarded garage door closer. Instead of an electric motor=3D2C it has a
> bicycle gear and a crank you turn and close the car kiln without any
> effort. He used to have his wife Nancy help him close the kiln. Now=3D2C
> he can open and close it by himself.
>=3D20
> Both MacKenzie and my teacher help me get over getting a late start at
> pots at the age of 37. Murata Gen=3D2C a student of Hamada's=3D2C my
> teacher's teacher=3D2C also is an inspiration. He started=3D2C I think at=
the
> age of 47. Making pots with the right attitude and the right
> lifestyle helps you last longer. It is not the meat grinder many
> painters and writers face.
> --
> Lee=3D2C a Mashiko potter in Minneapolis
> http://mingeisota.blogspot.com/
>=3D20
> =3D93Observe the wonders as they occur around you. Don't claim them. Feel
> the artistry moving through and be silent.=3D94 --Rumi
=3D20
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