Jeff Longtin on thu 9 dec 10
Even though I've been trying to get my work into the Walker for years, and
this posting gives me solace, I do have to give the Walker its do. (With
all due respect Mel.)
The plates in question may be Alessi plates from Italy. (Programme 8 I do
believe?)
They are thin porcelain plates. Very simple shapes. (Too simple for my
tastes.) They don't seem that durable. On the other hand I'm not sure someo=
ne
goes to the Walker expecting to buy durable "everyday" dinnerware? While
they may not serve the purpose we expect of our dinnerware, made by potter=
s
who actually care about these things, perhaps they do serve a purpose?
Off topic thought: does this situation not cry out for some sort of
certification process such that the dinnerware in question, "serving plates=
" more
appropriately, might be labeled "not for everyday use"? Alessi wouldn't be
required to put the label on their work, of course, but the Walker, which
exists in a very "pottery aware" community, might be compelled to do so to
address the concerns of their customers, Mel and Joe for instance?
take care
Jeff Longtin
Minneapolis
who passes the Walker (Art Center) everyday on his way to the studio.
While not a big fan of everything they show in there is pleased to see the=
god
awful, out of place, creation that Herzog de Meuron foisted upon
Minneapolis. "Wave your freak flag high" it seems to scream.
In a message dated 12/8/2010 10:24:39 P.M. Central Standard Time,
melpots2@VISI.COM writes:
i go to macy's department store and look at high priced
dishes in their crockery department.
(john, go online and look.)
you will see prices from 100 bucks a setting to 250 bucks a
setting. forget kmart 5 dollar a set dishes. they don't count.
you make sure your client does the same thing...then you
indicate that those are mass produced by the millions.
thousands of people have your `pattern`. even those with gold rims
and cost 300 a setting. (`oh, i have denby, fruit and fern
pattern`...gag.)
so, i set a price just under $150 for a full place setting.
sort of in the middle.
i make sure they know that what they will be getting
is a collectable set of dishes. no one on earth will have
a setting the same. it is unique.
what is that worth? a great deal. and, what i make will
last for hundreds of years...commercial dishes will craze and
break in no time. remember, when the clay and glaze are fired to
high temperature, it will last. in commercial dishes the clay body
is fired high..glaze low. some as low as cone 09. can you spell `chip`.
mel
joe koons said while visiting the walker art center: (he looked at
the label.)
`the dishes they sell are way on the low end..worth about
50 cents a piece. they sell for like 60 bucks a dinner plate.
total junk. ` those sorts of dishes will craze and spider web
under normal use. who knew? the walker works on a high margin.
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
Lee Love on thu 9 dec 10
On Thu, Dec 9, 2010 at 8:42 AM, Jeff Longtin wrote:
> who passes the Walker (Art Center) everyday on his way =3DA0to the studio=
.
> While not a big fan of everything they show in there is =3DA0pleased to s=
ee=3D
the god
> awful, out of place, creation that Herzog de Meuron =3DA0foisted upon
> Minneapolis. "Wave your freak flag high" it seems to scream.
The Walker went downhill after Martin Friedman left.
Remember the Hockney, Borofski, Avery, Tokyo Form and Spirit and Bartlet sh=
=3D
ows?
--
=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
| |
|
