mel jacobson on wed 7 dec 11
remember, kids will always approach a tool as a toy.
potters wheels are very sophisticated tools.
a few kids catch on...do a good job..but for me,
as a wheel teacher, i do not give lessons to children.
never.
i like to think that hand building and slabs are just
great. let them touch it, build things, make things
and save the wheel for later.
there will always be the potter that claims they
can teach first graders...it is `pie in the sky`.
a rare few `get it`. but sometimes third graders
become concert violinists...but, they too are rare..not
the common kid.
there is no way that tiny kids can drive a car.
a wheel to be used the right way is a car.
many things going on, hand eye, motor skills and
coordination. small kids do that have that skill set.
`but mel, i bought a real piper cub airplane for my ten year
old and he can fly it real well...alone` sure. dead kid.
i would say in general, about 14 year olds catch
on fast. 16 year olds become hooked. 18 year olds
make great pots. the wheel is an adult tool. don't fool
anyone into saying it is not.
i have had dozens of parents come to me with
grand ideas...`we are going to buy fred a potters wheel
for 900 bucks..and then buy him a kiln. he will work at home.`
i say...`don't do it.`
five years later the school gets a free wheel. the kid
never made a thing. he is off majoring in `theatre`.
it happened time and again.
i have donated a thousand bricks to other people because
families bought all new brick to make a back yard kiln
for a kid. stupid.
i always said...`don't do it.` and i was always right.
and parents stop and say...`mel, you sure were correct.`
to make pots that are real, you need a studio space, support
tools, a quality kiln, glazes that work...and a teacher on hand.
most colleges and art centers have that in place. let the kid
get instruction and support at those places. they can keep going
for years if they get hooked.
even kids that wanted to major in `college clay` i would advise them
to keep a broad outlook, take many art courses and find your
way before you decide. i still make that advice.
as the authors of `art and fear` say...`the drop out rate among
artists is alarming...if it where medicine we would have a national
investigation.`
that is why my apprentice is so happy. all the parts of a quality
studio are in place. she has a great full time job as a waitress, and
has finished all of her basic academics at a jr. college. she is now
an adult artist/crafts women. she is prepared for a lifetime of art and cr=
aft.
it is all up to her now.
mel
from: minnetonka, mn
website: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/
clayart link: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/clayart.html
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