Michael McDowell on fri 19 jun 98
David,
I thought your reply sounded a little "prickly" when you sent it to me
directly. Then this morning I heard on the radio that you are into the
"prickly heat" in a big way down there in Texas right now. Man, I don't want
to be any additional burden to you in the midst of that trial.
I do still feel that you may perhaps deserve more credit for your "artistic
mudanities" than you are giving yourself, and if you were more giving of
that credit to yourself, then pehaps you'd be more willing to share it with
others when they present their "mudanities" to the world as "art". Now of
course you know the quality of your fetishes better than I, and I've not
seen the article in Ceramics Monthly that originally ticked you off either.
Perhaps I would consider an article or a short video on how art pervades
YOUR life to be boring. But I know I've certainly enjoyed such articles and
biographical films when I've had the chance to see them on other artists and
great persons.
A favorite phrase of Vivika Heino's was "What you give away, you keep
forever..." Now Vivika was mostly referring to giving away her knowledge of
clay and glazes, but I like to think that it applies equally well to respect
and "credit for worthyness". I think that in general clay "artists" are too
ready to withold credit from other clay "artists", as if there was only so
much credit to go round. We could all be enriched by being a little more
generous with our praise.
Michael McDowell
Whatcom County, WA USA
http://www2.memes.com/mmpots
mmpots@memes.com
| |
|
