Lili Krakowski on fri 23 jul 10
This started out with whiskey, vodka, Campari soda, Pernot, plenty of =3D
vin du pays, and beer.
After much good talk we should sort through and discuss what "we can do =3D
about it" , though we will disagree.
1. We agree that La Condition Potiere is hard these days for several =3D
reasons. Unskilled folk flood the market with their creations ruining it =
=3D
for professionals. These folk, who watched "Perry Mason" and "Matlock" =3D
religiously, and now are glued to "Law and Order", would not dream of =3D
setting themselves up as lawyers, but feel entitled to call themselves =3D
"potters" because no one dares say "boo."=3D20
2. Some of us feel the appellation "Artist", and people speaking of =3D
"doing one's Art", is part and parcel of a trend that has pulled the =3D
whole culture down. Educational standards have plummeted. Today everyone =
=3D
is entitled to "be a winner", "feel good about him/herself" "get an =3D
award" and so on. Off list I will defend my view that this is part of a =3D
determined effort to promote mediocrity and underachievement...Off list, =
=3D
off list. However: when every infant scrawl is a "masterpiece" and every =
=3D
infant brightly glazed clay lump a "work of art" no one is learning the =3D
self-discipline, the almost masochistic self-criticism that achievement =3D
requires. WE OURSELVES have damaged our market by tolerance of the =3D
tawdry, chintzy and badly made. (None of this would be tolerated in =3D
sports...why in craft?)
3. The Academization of Craft--my constant bugaboo-- has kept a lot of =3D
good craftspeople from the "official" ranks. Eliminating "practical" =3D
questions about the best wheels, or a source for fuses, most questions =3D
on ClayArt reflect indifference towards, or ignorance of craft. =3D
Recreational classes--and I have taught them--are fantastic first steps =3D
towards craftsmanship IF teachers observe full and strict quality =3D
control. When they are psychobabble feel-good parties, everyone getting =3D
applause, etc...all value goes out.=3D20
A number of very good potters started out in recreational classes, and =3D
recognized them as =3DE2=3D80=3D9Ckiddy pools=3DE2=3D80=3D9D They went on t=
o others, =3D
where they became true potters. And a number of recreational classes =3D
grew into sound professional schools.
4. A "seal" has been suggested....some form of accreditation. A =3D
half-way-good idea. The question always is who bells the cat. As was =3D
said about guilds--they started out well, became market choking =3D
oligarchies.
Having said all that, here are a few suggestions:
1. Publicity for craft.
Whether we are conscious of it or not, there is a LOT of publicity for =3D
different goods on TV. It works in two directions: if some glamorous =3D
actor is seen with spiky hair, mousse or gel sales will go up. Harry =3D
Potter was NOT working for an eyeglass company but his type glasses were =
=3D
in great demand. Many foods have been popularized because on some TV =3D
show the characters were eating Chinese or Mexican food. Yet--on most TV =
=3D
shows --people drink out of Styrofoam or cardboard (in some cases of =3D
course the coffee is their sponsor=3DE2=3D80=3D98s. And eat off paper plat=
es, =3D
or containers.
There is NO reason why talking heads should be using paper cups or those =
=3D
Made in China mugs with the company logo printed on. Talking heads make =3D
good money, they wear costly clothes=3DE2=3D80=3DA6and can afford handmade =
=3D
mugs and bowls. I plan to write to those whose shows I actually watch!
Ditto for the magazines=3DE2=3D80=3DA6
Of course we ALL could write=3DE2=3D80=3DA6But it would be good if ACERS or=
=3D
the Potters=3DE2=3D80=3D99 Council or like that would do it=3DE2=3D80=3DA6.=
Remember =3D
--though we are poor and consume little, we DO consume.
It would be good if we urged the shelter magazines to do more on =3D
craftsmen., If they have articles on diverse professions, or on diverse =3D
shops and restaurants--why not galleries?
2. While I dislike juried shows with submission fees a whole lot, there =3D
was a time when in diverse cities, counties, etc there were juried =3D
associations of craftsmen. Most of these began with half a dozen =3D
craftsmen who knew each other getting together to sell=3DE2=3D80=3DA6or how=
=3D
Shop One began. If the founding craftsmen have the bonafides, and limit =3D
the group to no more than ten or so, and have seasonal open houses or =3D
sales=3DE2=3D80=3DA6the quality demanded will improve. Obviously very =3D
successful craftspeople with galleries and an international renomme =3D
won=3DE2=3D80=3D99t participate=3DE2=3D80=3DA6But plenty would=3DE2=3D80=3D=
A6.
3. At fairs and the like I think it matters A LOT if exhibiting =3D
craftsmen have an informative display of their credentials. All the =3D
physicians I have gone to display their diverse diplomas on their =3D
walls. They earned them. They SHOULD display them. If you have and AAS =3D
or BFA or BS then let people know. Oneida Silver used to have a lovely =3D
display on its wall showing the development of a spoon from flat metal =3D
to finished spoon. Skilled work. Made in USA.
And yes. I just heard or read that someone has opened a Made in USA =3D
store=3DE2=3D80=3DA6 I see no reason why craftsmen should not use Made in U=
SA =3D
stickers, or signs in their booths. I do not intend to go on about it. =
=3D
But the post WWII craft revival followed the Depression and WWII. I do =3D
not think it coincidental. That is for another conversation, but I DO =3D
think these tough times will make people focus on what they actually =3D
are getting for their money, focus on the value, not quantity they own, =3D
and above all, focus on Made in the USA.
And last: who is spreading the notion that although no one tries to make =
=3D
money out of their tennis, or swimming, or golf, or bridge hobby, and no =
=3D
one thinks these hobbies should =3DE2=3D80=3D9Cpay for themselves=3DE2=3D80=
=3D9D =3D
those who take up a craft as a hobby are encouraged to sell. Why? Where =3D
did this come from, and how can it be stopped?
=3DE3=3D80=3D80
Lili Krakowski
Be of good courage
paul gerhold on sat 24 jul 10
One easy thing for craft publicity is when you go to your doctor or dentist
put your old craft magazines in the office pile. Cross out your name
first. Better than the trash and who knows.
Paul
Lee Love on sun 25 jul 10
> I bring stuff but don't have it on display. I want people to be draw=
=3D
n by the first
>FIRST.
This should read: "I want people to be drawn by the WORK first.
--
=3DA0Lee, 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
Lee Love on sun 25 jul 10
On Fri, Jul 23, 2010 at 2:01 PM, Lili Krakowski w=
=3D
rote:
> 1. We agree that La Condition Potiere is hard these days for several reas=
=3D
ons.
We don't all agree about this. I believe the atmosphere
here in the Twin Cities is better for the studio potter than it was
when I started in 1990. The Northern Clay Center has been a big boon
to the area. Our only problem is the same as everybody elses: the
economy.
> 2. Some of us feel =3DA0the appellation "Artist"
In craft, art or artist depends upon the work. Work at a high level is =
=3D
art.
> 3. The Academization of Craft-
This is a strength of our system. Studio Arts, craft centers
and the workshop system create a strong base. If we lack anything,
it is an apprenticeship system.
> 4. A "seal" has been suggested....some form of accreditation. A half-way-=
=3D
good >idea. The question always is who bells the cat. As was said about gui=
=3D
lds--they >started out well, became market choking oligarchies.
Proof is in the pudding. The work is its own "seal."
>
> Having said all that, here are a few suggestions:
>
> 1. Publicity for craft.
Check this out. Get get good publicity here in Minnesota:
Minnesota Original
http://www.mnoriginal.org/art/?p=3D3D1749 MacKenzie
http://www.mnoriginal.org/art/?p=3D3D1378 Kloppmann
http://www.mnoriginal.org/art/?p=3D3D41 Kloppmann and Wheat
>
> 2. While I dislike juried shows with submission fees a whole lot,
It is where you get credentials
> 3. At fairs and the like I think it matters A LOT if exhibiting craftsmen=
=3D
have an >informative display of their credentials. All the physicians =3DA=
0I=3D
have gone to display >their diverse diplomas on their walls. They earned t=
=3D
hem. They SHOULD
I bring stuff but don't have it on display. I want people to be
drawn by the first FIRST.
> And last: who is spreading the notion that although no one tries to make =
=3D
money >out of their tennis, or swimming, or golf, or bridge hobby, and no o=
=3D
ne thinks these >hobbies should =3D93pay for themselves=3D94 those who take=
up =3D
a craft as a hobby are >encouraged to sell. Why? Where did this come from, =
=3D
and how can it be stopped?
Tennis, golf and bridge do not fill up your storage spaces
with "product." I began selling, to make room so I could make more
stuff. It wasn't a goal at first, but having the sales pay for what
it took to make the stuff was really helpful.
We gotta get back to "The Home Of The Brave." It takes
courage to be creative and stand for what abides and against the mamby
pamby consumer society. Folks ARE waking up!
--
=3DA0Lee, 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
Jeff Jeff on mon 26 jul 10
Paul,
Better yet...don't cross out your name. Anyone interested in the subject
will then have a ready contact point?
just a thought
Jeff
In a message dated 7/26/2010 9:19:23 A.M. Central Daylight Time,
gerholdclay@DISHMAIL.NET writes:
One easy thing for craft publicity is when you go to your doctor or dentis=
t
put your old craft magazines in the office pile. Cross out your name
first. Better than the trash and who knows.
Paul
Eleanor on mon 26 jul 10
Lili's remarks are, as usual, on the mark, well thought out, wise.
The following is a portion of what I sent to her off-list, as she
requested, but I just couldn't resist.................
Lili said:
>
> WE OURSELVES have damaged our market by tolerance of the =3D
> tawdry, chintzy and badly made. (None of this would be tolerated in =3D
> sports...why in craft?)
Steroids etc. make star athletes out of mediocre players.
It's fakery. And it's tolerated.
and she said:
>
> tennis, or swimming, or golf, or bridge hobby, and no
> one thinks these hobbies should pay for themselves--
> those who take up a craft as a hobby are encouraged to sell. Why?
When the game or the swim is over, there is no residue. One can throw
away the score sheet or dry off. Craft has products and those take up
room. Years back someone wrote to Clayart that the only reason he
started selling was that his pots were overflowing the living space in
his home.
Eleanor Kohler
".... philosophers lay down many precepts fair in argument but not
applicable in use"
--Sir Francis Bacon
Bonnie Staffel on tue 27 jul 10
Thinking back on my history in clay, it was the norm to create "art" =3D
pots
and submit them to local, regional and national museum competitions. I =3D
went
this route for the first 25 years, sometimes being accepted, sometimes =3D
given
awards from purchase prizes, to first, second, honorable mentions, and =3D
of
course rejection. With this pattern I learned that every jury had a =3D
certain
"bend" as to what was accepted. It was quite a decision to figure out =3D
what
to send to such shows. Judges from the two coasts were very different as =
=3D
to
their approach to clay art than from the Midwest. In those days, entries
were not sent from photographs, but you had to send the real piece. This
resulted in costing the artist money for the entry fee, and the cost of
shipping. Even though much less than nowadays, the expense was relative. =
=3D
One
had to turn to teaching to augment the income from this activity.=3D20
In current times, these museum shows are no longer the criteria for =3D
one's
art, but to be accepted in art fairs seems to be the goal. One also =3D
joined
the American Craftsmen's Council as well as the regional ACC groups and =
=3D
we
were active in participating in their tightly juried shows. Through this
activity, many of the "name" potters became the gurus of clay and were
respected for their input.=3D20
The advent of the slip and dip industry, put clay into the hands of =3D
anyone
wishing to "paint" on the preformed clay. No imagination or study was
required. A whole new vocabulary was formed as well. In the classes I =3D
formed
in my home town, the "ladies" didn't want to get clay under their
fingernails. However, a few came through for me and actually created =3D
some
work on their own.=3D20
Spreading the word about the wonders of working in clay became my quest =3D
as I
gave talks to the local garden clubs, demonstrated at numerous events, =3D
in
the interest of educating the public as to the value of truly original
pottery made by hand. But one could see the "writing on the wall" of the
future. Now the ready made glazes are survivors of those times. People =3D
want
things handed to them. Is this progress? =3D20
The latest push is to learn about primitive firing techniques which =3D
tempts
the creative potter to find new/old methods to accomplish. The =3D
excitement of
the fire is still there and brings the fascination of being creative =3D
right
into one's back yard, no equipment necessary. I have done "pit" firing =3D
in a
barbeque grille and in old garbage cans as I cannot have a real pit =3D
where I
live. But this is so much fun and keeps the fire in the brain alive even
after 60 years of potting.=3D20
Old potters never die, they just go to pot.=3D20
Bonnie Staffel
http://webpages.charter.net/bstaffel/
http://vasefinder.com/bstaffelgallery1.html
DVD=3DA0 Throwing with Coils and Slabs
DVD=3DA0 Introduction to Wheel Work
Charter Member Potters Council
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