mel jacobson on mon 9 aug 10
chose me.
if anyone thinks there is a more difficult apprenticeship, give me evidence=
.
it was what i wanted, i did not want to go to school, i wanted to be a pott=
er.
with skill.
it is not elite, for sure. it is bloody awful hard work. and only a few d=
o
it. many could never do it.
think:
travel to a foreign country.
10 hours a day on a wheel.
6 day week, with me working sunday too.
12 straight months, no break.
59 days in a row at one time without a day off.
(god, this sounds like tony's life.)
never a positive word. only, work harder melsan.
some think i make this up...sorry.... it is the truth.
i paid my own way, supported myself and a family in japan.
i got half pay from the school, and used a savings account
that i built up by selling pots. no grant, no scholarship.
fiscal conservative every day of my life, and damn proud of it.
i still can work and make pots, and lots of pots.
my dear friend kevin caufield did almost the same thing
at the eckels pottery in wisconsin. two years...and can
he ever make pots. he had a great teacher, and no quarter given.
i don't care what you do, music, art, electricity, car repair.
when you have a mentor that knows what is going on...you are
one lucky person. mr uchida was that, times 10.
never a pal, always `teacher`.
and at my age and experience, i have the right to be a critic.
that is earned. and, i never apologize for being critical of crap.*
mel
*pc america says never, never be critical...be nice, you might hurt
someone's feelings. bs. speak the truth, don't lie to your students
and always move them to higher ground...every day.
from: minnetonka, mn
website: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/
clayart link: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/clayart.html
new book: http://www.21stcenturykilns.com
alternate: melpots7575@gmail.com
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