Andrew H.Lentini on sat 27 mar 99
------------------
Have you ever gone into a gallery and seen a piece art that doesn't seem to
fit its title? I know I have. Once in Asheville, NC I was in a gallery and
came upon a beautiful wood-fired lidded 1/2 gallon pitcher. Everything =
about
the piece screamed =22Pick me up, I'm functional=21=22 I looked down to the=
card to
see who made it and came upon all the usual information...potter, price,
etc... Then I saw that it was titled. The title of this wonderful ash =
glazed
pot was =22Big Blue Horse=22. The pot was kinda brownish green yellow and =
there
wasn't a horse anywhere on it. Probably something in the potter's =
experience
made him want to name this pitcher =22Big Blue Horse=22. Unfortunately, =
none of
the viewers had had any of those same experiences. It seems to me that if =
you
are making functional work, for nothing other than consistency it should =
have
a functional title. Maybe I am closed minded...(it wouldn't be the first
time=21 : ) Just remember that if there is a certain feeling you want to =
convey
to the viewer, a title is a very good place to start. After I saw Big Blue
Horse, I had a feeling ...but it probably wasn't the one the potter wanted =
me
to have. I had the feeling that either I was missing something or that the
potter was. Titles should be used to help the viewer, not hinder him. =
Think
about calling it =22Salt-glazed Casserole=22 or =22Soup Bowls=22 Maybe =
it's lame.
It doesn't have to be though...think about what you want the viewer to feel
and use a title that suggests that emotion. =22Earthy=22 or =22Coarse=22 =
are two
excellent adjectives that can convey feelings when looking at pots. Use =
your
imagination, but there should be a connection between titles and artwork and
viewers and artists. Art is ultimately about perceptions. It is all =
different
things to all different people. The viewer will bring his experiences into
the gallery with him and look upon your selection of Cone Six Oxidation Mugs
in a way unique to that individual. It could be that he was hit on the head
by a falling mug at one point in time and has been fearful of mugs ever =
since
(mugophobia?) My point is, you never know who will be viewing your work.
Just think about your title before you put it on the description =
card...titles
are like gum in your hair. Like it or not, it's gonna stick. So even if =
you
think you're being funny by calling your dinner plate =22Johnny's =
Fishtank=22,
somebody who might have liked to buy it from you might think that they're
missing something and just wander away confused. (Not that you should be
afraid of doing something because of a potential reaction, just think about =
it
before you do=21)
Andrew Lentini, Savannah GA
(In the backyard with my big blue horse)
=3E----------------------------Original message----------------------------
=3EHello, all.
=3E I'm at a little of a dilemma. I have a piece I'm sending out to =
a
=3Econtest in Louisville, but it's a functional piece. How do y'all go =
about
=3Efinding titles for functional pieces? Private replies would be
=3Eappreciated. You can reply to me at ganvira=40netcom.com.
=3E
=3ERegards,
=3ETheresa
=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F==
5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5=
F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F
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Paul Lewing on mon 29 mar 99
Just don't do what I see lots of people do and title your pieces
"Untitled; Landscape", or Untitled; Torso" or something. If it has a
word in its description with quotation marks around that, it's a title,
and has no business being called "untitled". Sorry, but I just find
this incredibly pretentious and cutesy.
There, I feel better now.
Paul Lewing, Seattle
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