Donn Buchfinck on thu 4 mar 99
Oh man, I had to answer this one
glaze calculation software is good I guess, but you still have to make the
work. I have looked at some of the web sites out there in the Internet land,
and I am appalled at what some people pass off as good utilitarian pottery. I
know this is harsh, but someone has to say it. It's time the pottery crowd
gets serious about some critique out in pottery world. I feel there is too
much " hey if we are nice to each other maybe the fine artists will take us
seriously."
HOT FLASH: the fine art crowd doesn't care about us.
There is a big difference between someone paying you money for something, and
it being good.
I think people get this confused. "I sell there fore it is good."
I have hit on this point before.
the real problem with pottery is that it is seductive, there are so many
levels to run and hide in.
Oh I'm a great thrower, the ego potter, is one.
trimming is my thing, I throw thick and trim the shape, is another
glazes are the thing for me, I use simple shapes to paint with glaze is still
another
glaze calc is what I like to do, is there enough silica?? tweek here, tweek
there
I have had some great instructors who make great pots, that are a synthesis of
these qualities, to be successful it takes a combination of almost all of
them. To hide and concentrate with one element is just that, hiding.
I think a lot of utilitarian potters get the art potter crowd wrong. First
the utilitarian crowd seems jealous at times because of the prices that the
art potters command. To make some of the "ART" pottery that the art potters
make, the artist understands the vessel. He or she can probably make a
dinnerware set and cups and saucers, bowls, the whole nine yards. They
understand the vessel, but they want something more. So they explore, seeing
things in a new way is what the art potter is about.
the art potter and the utilitarian potter help each other.
the art potter looks at utilitarian pottery and it makes him/her feel good,
it is our roots.
the utilitarian potter looks at the art potters work and says "what a piece
of garbage" but maybe they will see something in a different light. Maybe it
will change their work.
I think people should just try to make better stuff.
I'm a stuff maker. I love making that stuff
I've droned on so it is time to go and check the kiln
happy potting
Donn Buchfinck
San Francisco
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