furimsky on fri 23 oct 98
My work is very decorative and at times whimsical. Many of the forms
deal with the presentation of things, for example, cream and sugar sets,
cruet sets, and flower bricks. It may not be something that is used
everyday, like your coffee mug. This lack of every day use does not
bother me, but I do think the work has a lot to offer the user who does
interact with the work. It can create a very special feeling and add
another dimension to an important meal. But, the problem is weather
they are being used at all? I worry that my work and others like it
will end up on a mantel collecting dust. When I build, I do it with
function in mind and don't know if the "common" person that occasionally
buys pottery realizes this. I understand that I am asking the opinion
of a biassed audience. The fact that most of you are potters means you
would not respond the same way to having work like this in your homes.
But do others use our work the way it is meant to be used? I feel that
they are missing out on a wonderful experience by just handing the plate
on a wall and not eating off of it.
Thanks, Erin
Cookie Redding on sat 24 oct 98
Hi everyone! Long time since you've heard from me! But this subject
really hits home with me. I agree with the statement made that the
owner of the plate misses out on a lot of the reasons why pottery is
created, by just hanging it on a wall as opposed to using it in a more
"practical" sense...one of the problems I realized I was having with
my pottery upon entering the M.F.A. program was that I was making
functional pottery, but had never actually used one of my bowls or
mugs or platters. I was missing the connection between me and my
pottery by not becoming familiar with it on a one to one basis. I'm
sure there are many, many opinions on this matter, but I just wanted
to voice my thoughts...take care everyone!--cookie (the long lost
clayarter...but it's great to be back!)
---furimsky wrote:
>
> ----------------------------Original
message----------------------------
> My work is very decorative and at times whimsical. Many of the forms
> deal with the presentation of things, for example, cream and sugar
sets,
> cruet sets, and flower bricks. It may not be something that is used
> everyday, like your coffee mug. This lack of every day use does not
> bother me, but I do think the work has a lot to offer the user who
does
> interact with the work. It can create a very special feeling and add
> another dimension to an important meal. But, the problem is weather
> they are being used at all? I worry that my work and others like it
> will end up on a mantel collecting dust. When I build, I do it with
> function in mind and don't know if the "common" person that
occasionally
> buys pottery realizes this. I understand that I am asking the opinion
> of a biassed audience. The fact that most of you are potters means you
> would not respond the same way to having work like this in your homes.
> But do others use our work the way it is meant to be used? I feel
that
> they are missing out on a wonderful experience by just handing the
plate
> on a wall and not eating off of it.
> Thanks, Erin
>
_________________________________________________________
DO YOU YAHOO!?
Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com
Lee Marshall on sat 24 oct 98
I agree. I really want my pottery to be used and hate it when I hear someone
say that they are going to put my bowl in the china or curio cabinet. Part of
the issue appears to be cost. If someone is afraid to use a bowl because they
might break it and they paid a lot of money for it, to me it looses a piece of
me in the process of being put on that shelf. But the tough part is that what
is a lot of money to someone isn't much to someone else. I live in middle
Tennessee and many of the people who buy my pots seem to really love them but
because they cost so much relative to their income they become precious
objects instead of a bowl for mashed taters. So I price my pieces to make some
money and make them affordable to most people and am trying not to cringe when
someone says they are going to hang a plate on the wall.
Lee Marshall
The hot tub is calling.
lmarsh1220@aol.com
Dannon Rhudy on sat 24 oct 98
At 08:50 AM 10/23/98 EDT, you wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>My work is very decorative...I worry that my work and others like it
>will end up on a mantel collecting dust. ...
>But do others use our work the way it is meant to be used? I feel that
>they are missing out on a wonderful experience by just handing the plate
>on a wall and not eating off of it.
>Thanks, Erin
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------
No point to worry, Erin. Once they've bought it, it's theirs. They
might keep it on the mantle. They might use it to feed the dog.
There is a serving bowl by Richard Aerni sitting on a table in the
sitcom "Home Improvement". It is being used, though probably
not to serve food. Maybe bought specifically for the set. Maybe
it was in the greenroom, before, to hold potato chips. Hard to know.
It's function now is visual, no?
I expect most people use work for what it is intended, if only occasionally.
I use what I have, no matter who made it, famous, infamous, or unknown.
Drink tea from bowls by Jacobson, Reitz, Meyers, made in pots by Doug
Gray or John Reeve or someone whose hand I know, but not the name;
coffee from mugs by Jim Connell,Dave Hendley, Kurt Wild, numerous
other known/unknown persons; cook in casseroles by Val Cushing or
John Smith or Mary Doe; stick flowers in a vase by Vince Pitelka or a
beautiful little pot from Mata Ortiz. Drop my keys in a Don Reitz platter
when I walk in the door.I would rather that these things
not be broken, but if they are - well, then,
I had the pleasure of them meanwhile.
I understand your viewpoint re: use. For some, though, a beautiful piece
will be used only for visual purposes. For many, some wonderful pot is
the only piece of artwork they will buy/possess in their whole lives. That
may mean that it will be treated like a painting or sculpture: put on the wall
or shelf for "looking at". Not a bad thing, when you think of it.
Dannon Rhudy
potter@koyote.com
chris giorgetti on sat 24 oct 98
Erin ....
If you don't mind sharing, what's your "flower brick"? Thanks =:)
Chris in California frantically potting for the show in 3 weeks
furimsky wrote:
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> My work is very decorative and at times whimsical. Many of the forms
> deal with the presentation of things, for example, cream and sugar sets,
> cruet sets, and flower bricks. It may not be something that is used
> everyday, like your coffee mug. This lack of every day use does not
> bother me, but I do think the work has a lot to offer the user who does
> interact with the work. It can create a very special feeling and add
> another dimension to an important meal. But, the problem is weather
> they are being used at all? I worry that my work and others like it
> will end up on a mantel collecting dust. When I build, I do it with
> function in mind and don't know if the "common" person that occasionally
> buys pottery realizes this. I understand that I am asking the opinion
> of a biassed audience. The fact that most of you are potters means you
> would not respond the same way to having work like this in your homes.
> But do others use our work the way it is meant to be used? I feel that
> they are missing out on a wonderful experience by just handing the plate
> on a wall and not eating off of it.
> Thanks, Erin
Kelley Webb Randel on mon 26 oct 98
Hello to all,
It drives me nuts to make my mother a wonderfully functional platter, and I
don't make much functional, and when I go by she has it hanging on the wall!
But she views my work as art, and is so proud of any and all that I do,
therefore, she will not risk using it. Sad sad. But that's my mom.
I love using pieces purchased, Jeff Walkers butter dish and soap dispenser, or
my own awkward plates and bowls. I have one bowl that doesn't fit (nestle)
with any other bowls I have, but I adore it and love handling and eating from
it.
The story from the potter who talked to the family who all had a favorite bowl
or plate from the set he had made for them, that's what functional is all
about. A joy in using, caring, washing up and putting it back in the
cupboard. A little Zen moment in the craziness of our lives...
Kelley Webb Randel
Raku gddss@aol.com
In good ole, MO, where the sky is the crispest blue, only showing up in the
fall.
| |
|
