Vince Pitelka on sat 16 jan 99
>I have fond memories of lacking eyebrows during part of childhood, and a
>long running delight of making mud pies. There could be a connection, you
>think?
>I suppose I never quite grew out of fire or mud pies. I still enjoy the
>occasional squish of squelching around in the contents of the recycle barrel
>and have been known to walk around the studio barefoot, not careing if I
>step in a little dripped slip.
>Fire is a delightful and somewhat mysterious thing. I don't think that
>retaining a childish delight in it is a lack of growing up, just so long as
>you develope a certain respect for the beast it can be. Thankfully, the
>eyebrows grew back, but I if I have to scorch a litlle arm hair to get to a
>pot, I don't mind.
I appreciate R. Everett's comments above. For the lucky ones, growing up
means gaining common sense, wisdom, and experience without abandoning
childish enthusiasm and wonder. The everyday working world does not
encourage (or even allow) the latter, while the life of the independent
artist/artisan allows it and in many cases celebrates it. Artists are not
necessarily assumed to be manic-depressive, but it is certainly common for
them to be one or the other. Picture the image of the dark, angst-ridden
artist, or the devil-may-care free-and-easy artist. What other profession
openly exhibits this range of personality types and eccentricity? I don't
mean to encourage stereotyping of artists/artisans, but I think that the
reason many (most?) of us end up as artists/craftspeople is because of a
childish sense of curiosity/wonder/discovery which ALLOWS us to thrive in
what we do.
Food for thought -
- Vince
Vince Pitelka - vpitelka@DeKalb.net
Home 615/597-5376, work 615/597-6801, fax 615/597-6803
Appalachian Center for Crafts
Tennessee Technological University
1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166
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