Michael McDowell on sun 21 jun 98
Jay,
Well I've got to say I'm glad you bristled. You started out with the message
"Why should we be concerned about what we are labeled? " I replied that that
attitude might be appropriate for a "hobbyist". Your reply to that I'll
include here:
" I'm sure there are a great number of us on this list, and out in the
"world," who bristled at your term "hobbyist." I work in a library as a
cataloger,and have been doing so for 23 years, but my real love is clay. I
consider myself an artist, not a librarian. I know there are many waiters
and waitresses in NYC who are dancers and artists or actors. They
communicate through their love of dance or the arts, not through waiting
tables. (But perhaps there is some transcendence, some communication there
as well.) Those of us that are artists, are artists no matter what we "do".
So apparently it does matter to you what you are "labeled". My point is
made. I'm no different than you in that I must do other work to supplement
what I can make as an "artist" in clay. I was up at 5:30 AM this morning to
go haul out a small boat I work on cleaning up oil spills. I was a "painter"
today. Sanding the hull down and painting a very poisonous chemical brew
onto the bottom. The label simply read "inhaling fumes or dust may be
fatal". I'll probably make about a third of my income working that boat this
year. It's one of the few things I do that I make a decent hourly income
from.
So I've no problem with how you go about your way of "art and life". I just
bristled myself at your first post that suggested that being concerned about
how we are "labeled" might mean we aren't truly either artists or
craftspeople. I still don't know where you were coming from on that one, and
"labeling" clearly is important to you. So frankly I'm confused about what
your position is now.
Michael McDowell
Whatcom County, WA USA
http://www2.memes.com/mmpots
mmpots@memes.com
Kayo Parsons-Korn on mon 22 jun 98
I too took offense by that posting. The initial question dealt with
artist vs. craftsman. You implied that if Jay had that attitude, that he
was a hobbyist. We can all look at the dictionary entry for this word:
"a pursuit outside ones regular occupation engaged in for relaxation."
But we often use this word, like the word "amateur" to mean one who
isn't as proficient as a person who makes their living at the craft/art.
There are also many descriptions for the word "professional", which you
classify yourself as. What do you mean by "professional"?
Perhaps it doesn't matter to Jay whether he is called an artist or a
craftsman. But being labeled a "hobbyist", while you label yourself
"professional" in the same post implies that you feel superior to Jay in
your pursuit of clay.
I think Jay's original post was simply stating that a "rose would smell
as sweet by any other name". If people like your stuff they will buy it.
Of course, some people will buy stuff because they are told they should
like it. Its art. It was made by an artist. I'd rather people bought
something from me because they truly love it. Not because somebody else
told them they should love it. To me that would be truly communicating
with my audience, not just talking at them.
Michael McDowell wrote:
>
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Jay,
>
> Well I've got to say I'm glad you bristled. You started out with the message
> "Why should we be concerned about what we are labeled? " I replied that that
> attitude might be appropriate for a "hobbyist". Your reply to that I'll
> include here:
>
> " I'm sure there are a great number of us on this list, and out in the
> "world," who bristled at your term "hobbyist." I work in a library as a
> cataloger,and have been doing so for 23 years, but my real love is clay. I
> consider myself an artist, not a librarian. I know there are many waiters
> and waitresses in NYC who are dancers and artists or actors. They
> communicate through their love of dance or the arts, not through waiting
> tables. (But perhaps there is some transcendence, some communication there
> as well.) Those of us that are artists, are artists no matter what we "do".
>
> So apparently it does matter to you what you are "labeled". My point is
> made.
--
Kayo Parsons-Korn
kayo@europa.com
Kayo Parsons-Korn Design
(503) 647-5464
P.O. Box 436
North Plains, OR 97133
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