Lizette Thomas on sat 21 feb 98
After spending the day at the Baltimore ACC show, I came home with an empty
feeling about the show and in particular, the pottery. Don't get me wrong, the
show was fantastic, the work fantastic..........but the handmade look is
definatly " OUT ". Yes, I'm sure most of the ceramics were " handmade"
but their " look" was NOT. Maybe I am just jealous, maybe I can't see myself
ever getting my own pots to this perfection , but the sheer " sleekness " of
most of the pots was amazing. And another notation, almost every booth
display looked like a store front on 5th Ave. No basic shelves for displaying
work, but instead, pedistals with draped silk etc. I guess I am jealous,
..............would like to hear other
comments............................Brian in Philly
Barbara Lewis on sun 22 feb 98
I know what you mean. The Washington Post did an article on the show and
noted that it had definitely a futuristic appearance -- looking to the new
millenium. Not nearly as much functional work as in the past. Definitely
missed people like Steven Hill, Ellen Shankin, Malcolm Davis, just to name a
few. Lots of glitz, but beautiful displays nonetheless. These shows are
lessons in the art of display and a friend and I took lots of notes. Barbara
At 12:12 PM 2/21/98 EST, you wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>After spending the day at the Baltimore ACC show, I came home with an empty
>feeling about the show and in particular, the pottery. Don't get me wrong, the
>show was fantastic, the work fantastic..........but the handmade look is
>definatly " OUT ". Yes, I'm sure most of the ceramics were " handmade"
>but their " look" was NOT. Maybe I am just jealous, maybe I can't see myself
>ever getting my own pots to this perfection , but the sheer " sleekness " of
>most of the pots was amazing. And another notation, almost every booth
>display looked like a store front on 5th Ave. No basic shelves for displaying
>work, but instead, pedistals with draped silk etc. I guess I am jealous,
>.............would like to hear other
>comments............................Brian in Philly
>
WellSpring ClayWorks
5412 Well Spring Road
La Plata, MD 20646
(301) 932-3915
Kathi LeSueur on sun 22 feb 98
In a message dated 2/21/98 12:44:09 PM, you wrote:
<feeling about the show and in particular, the pottery. Don't get me wrong, the
show was fantastic, the work fantastic..........but the handmade look is
definatly " OUT "............ And another notation, almost every booth
display looked like a store front on 5th Ave. No basic shelves for displaying
work, but instead, pedistals with draped silk etc. I guess I am jealous,
..............would like to hear other
comments............................Brian in Philly
>>
I disagree that handmade pots are "out". Out at the ACC show, yes. That's
definitely not what they are looking for when accepting artists into the show.
But I think what the public wants is far different. When I did the Buyer's
Market there were few potter's working in Cone 10 reduction stoneware. It was
all low-fire or high-fire whiteware. As a result we stood out. Our sales were
excellent the two years we did the show and our wholesale orders continue to
come in. There definitely is a demand for "handmade'.
Although I've heard some horror stories from this year's participants (mainly
whiteware producers who had incredibly low sales), if you are looking to do a
wholesale show, I still suggest you consider the Buyer's Market where emphasis
is on sales of quality work rather than presentation of "gallery" work.
Kathi LeSueur
Michelle McCurdy on mon 23 feb 98
I know exactly what you are saying and I love your honesty! I am wondering
about this also. Is the "handmade look" not selling these days or what? What
seems to be wrong with the "clay was once wet" look? Does the public like the
"machine made" look ? What is the point??? Would be nice to hear comments on
this. :-)
Michelle in snowy Colorado/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\*******/\/\/\/\********
Wendy Rosen on tue 24 feb 98
Dear Brian et al,
Almost ten years ago when I first visited one of Canada's top craft
fairs I was horrified at the small number of ceramic artists... and those
few were slip casters! I wondered how our own ceramic marketplace would
survive... we seem to be in a transition period. These are some of my own
opinions (I guess I'll be torn limb from limb for some of what I'm about
to say...
In the past few years many functional (wheel) potters have found
that they can sell more efficiently through their OWN open studios and
galleries in resort areas. The number of small open studio/gallery
combination businesses has mushroomed.
Functional tableware pottery is difficult to ship unless the volume
is high and the pricepoints are low... but don't think that those high
volume potters are making a fortune. Some might be, but many aren't.
The growth of the "deco" look has also inspired growth in that
sleek look that you talk about... there seems to be a strong market for
decorative and painterly surfaces right now.
All this should have made the ceramics area grow and prosper... if
the functional potters (the dinos and the TSSA groupies) had really taken
the opportunity to "teach" consumers about handmade wheel and slab works of
art... there seems to be no education effort among these artists to explain
the glazes, introduce the artist or even explain the "functionality" of any
piece.... few artists include hang tags with their works telling customers
whether something is dishwasher or microwave safe...
The last mistake made is often the most damaging to an artists
career... the 30% rule... every year you present 30% new items. I know
that metal, wood and even glass media are easier categories for creating
new work... ceramic glazes can take years to perfect... but new work is the
lifeblood of any artists potential for success.
Once you have all the collaterial material (hangtags, brochures
etc...) and the new work... don't forget to LIGHT it correctly... I see
this problem in our clay aisles more than in the rest of the show.
BTW- I thought ceramics in Philly looked better this year than last
year... There are some new young artists doing some really exciting work...
Baltimore seems to offer larger pieces... but they are mostly from the "old
potters club" and the work stays the same from year to year. It's work for
"retail only" and can't stand a keystone from a "superficial" wholesale
price.
The solution is for the TSSA to make up some really great
educational brochures for the galleries to distribute. There should also
be some standards set for using a "handmade" logo... the TSSA logo will
mean nothing to the purchasing customer. Perhaps logos for each process...
slab, wheel etc...? If the TSSA prints up all these materials in quantity
they can resell them to members, saving everyone money and effort.
The times.. they are a changin' can we all keep up?
Wendy Rosen
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>After spending the day at the Baltimore ACC show, I came home with an empty
>feeling about the show and in particular, the pottery. Don't get me wrong, the
>show was fantastic, the work fantastic..........but the handmade look is
>definatly " OUT ". Yes, I'm sure most of the ceramics were " handmade"
>but their " look" was NOT. Maybe I am just jealous, maybe I can't see myself
>ever getting my own pots to this perfection , but the sheer " sleekness " of
>most of the pots was amazing. And another notation, almost every booth
>display looked like a store front on 5th Ave. No basic shelves for displaying
>work, but instead, pedistals with draped silk etc. I guess I am jealous,
>.............would like to hear other
>comments............................Brian in Philly
*******************************************
Wendy Rosen
The Rosen Group
Niche & AmericanStyle Magazines
http://americanstyle.com
The Buyers Markets of American Craft
http://www.rosengrp.com
http://www.americancraft.com
3000 Chestnut Ave #304 Baltimore, MD 21211
Voice: 410/889-3093 Fax: 410/243-7089
*******************************************
Dave Eitel on fri 27 feb 98
Funny--The past year I thought I'd noticed a swing on the part of the
shoppers in our pottery shop more heavily toward things that look handmade.
This was based on observation of what people are buying as well as what
theyi are saying. It was making me feel hopeful that more of my own work
would be selling, as opposed to the more slick work we sell (which we buy
at the ACC and Rosen shows). I was originally attracted to pottery in the
60s, when pots still looked handmade and gave me a great feeling of being
in touch with the earth and stuff.
I haven't attended any shows this year, so have no first hand knowledge of
how the shows looked, but I am dismayed to hear that my feeling about an
immanent swing back to "handmade" was incorrect. Nevertheless, I intend to
keep on making handmade pots that look handmade.
Dave
Dave Eitel
Cedar Creek Pottery
Cedarburg, WI USA
http://www.cedarcreekpottery.com
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