Marcia Selsor on wed 27 may 98
Michael,
I took my students to the very same symposium.
From 1967-1970 I studied with Bill Daley in Phila.both for Ceramics and Design
engineering. I have many good tales to tell about him, but mainly he was a
great teacher.
Our critiques began at 9 am and would go into the evening until 11pm.
We all went to the deli for sandwiches and beer together and go back to
the critique. There were 3 -4 instructors and 14 students including the now
famous glassblower Dan Dailey. Instructors were Bill, Petras Vaskys, Roland
Jahn (glass) and Paula Winokur (to teach throwing) for one semester and Julie
Jackson for a few others. What a great group!
Bill's expressions such as a "glaze to tingle your gonads" was a good one.-or
"the road to hell is paved with good intentions". I know what you mean about
the eyes widening. I reported on the Texas Clay panel with him as the
discussant at NCECA.for the Journal. It's always good to see him.
The Pullman conference was great. The Contemporary American Ceramics Show was
also beautiful. Garth Clark said he'd had a difficult time finding exhibit
space to show it. The feature of the discussion between Autio and Daley and
their contrasting approach to their work was awesome. What an aesthetic
contrast!-very well done.
Daley's pieces which you described developed from his sabbactical time in the
SW from studying the geometric patterns of SW pottery and making them three
dimensional and they went of from there.
When we could talk Daley into a throwing demo, it went like this.
He would stick his tongue out the side of his mouth as a requisite
skill for throwing. He didn't like to demo that at all.
I love the guy. He was really great. I get so frustrated teaching students who
really don't give a damn.It has gotten worse over the past
decade but that's another story.
Marcia in Montana
ps.
I also credited you with the Mt. St. Helen's recipes I put on clayart. Thanks
for that too. My students shoveled ash from a parking lot on the Couer'd Lane
Reservation (with permission). We still have some boxes of it.
Michael McDowell wrote:
>
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> OK, I promised myself I would wait. I've been cramming your mailboxes, and
> crimping my time. This can't go on 'less I could get a grant for it...Hmmmm.
>
> I also promised Lorca
> I'd tell her my tale.
> How I once met Bill Daley,
> And he helped "lift my veil".
>
> Now I got wind that there's still space for his workshop in mid-June at the
> Appalachin Center. Some out there I know are teetering on the brink. So I'm ju
> going to have to do it now. "Just do it.........."
>
> It was the first anniversary of Mt. Saint Helen's big blow. I was basking in t
> glow of MY 15 minutes of fame as the author of the article in CM on using the
> ash from same. Garth Clarke was touring his exibit "The Contemporary American
> Potter". It was coming to Washington State University, and the organizers ther
> approached me with the offer. I could come to the accompanying symposium where
> some of the featured potters would present, if I would make a small presentati
> myself. My "honorarium" was attendance free of charge, and "Inclusion in the
> Inner Circle" an honor quite large. So I went there, I did it, was an "inner"
> for a change. I'd always been an "outer" you see. As I said to Marcia S. the
> other day: "I'm not comfortable with me in a formal setting, I was mentored no
> taught."
>
> At that time in my potter life I was into the numbers. Hundred mugs a day sort
> of aesthetic. I'm not bragging, it's part of my past. I'm glad it's over. Righ
> then I was nearer the end of that phase than I realized. But you know it was
> only "potters like me" that I noticed in CM. And mostly, I just didn't read
> stuff back then. I had my pots to make. I was all in. Immersed in my passion,
> thought. But for some reason I had taken note some time before of an article o
> Bill Daley which had come to the fore. He was doing these "bowls". Well empty
> forms, small at the bottom, large at the top. Had a stair step configuration.
> Looked like miniature ampitheatres. Yeah, I'm reeel good at this. Picture what
> you will. For some reason these forms caught my limited imagination, just how
> limited, I'm about to reveal.
>
> As the days of the symposium passed (Rudy Autio, humbly awesome, Ken Ferguson,
> relaxed, Garth Clarke, sure could dance) I kept an eye out for a chance to get
> Bill's attention. I can't remember the exact setting, but I'm afraid there wer
> witnesses. I was burning with enthusiasm. "Bill, I just love what you're doing
> with these forms. I can see them reproduced as drinking fountains, maybe even
> decorative trash can covers...." His eyes grew wide. His jaw dropped. "You can
> do that! Those are my prayers!" he said. Well, the "audience" was ended. I'd
> failed in disgrace. But I came away from that symposium thinking "I'd like to
> feel like that about my work."
>
> And now I do....
>
> (-:MM:-)
> Michael McDowell
> Whatcom County, WA USA
> http://www2.memes.com/mmpots
> mmpots@memes.com
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