elise pincu on sun 13 jun 99
Peter and others,
Thanks for your response in regards to my letter on
Japanese aesthetics. I was a bit upset by the
one letter written by the guy I quoted at the end of
my statement. I understand Japan and it's people are
by no means perfect and by no means should they be
emulated entirely. But as you may now understand, it
wouldn't hurt to capture their love and respect and
desire for hand-made ceramic art, as well as other
crafts. (And did I mention that even their
mass-produced wares seemed more artistically
rendered).
Now I think the conversation on clay-art should be
about how to get artists and others to respect and
utilize art in everyday life, not about philosophies
on American's lack of interest in art and craft.
How do you get a people to want to pay a bit more for
something that is handmade and has a deeper sense and
meaning? How do we teach the public that handmade
ceramic art can and will give their lives more
meaning?
Elise
--- Peter Atwood wrote:
> Dear Elise,
>
> Thank you for posting that heartfelt letter. It
> really opened my eyes to the
> meaning of ceramics and art in Japan. I happened to
> have posted something
> today that was rather negative and directed toward
> Japanese cultural
> attitudes but that in no way is an attack on their
> art. I think it would be
> great if Americans could adopt a similar attitude
> toward their ceramic
> artists and a similar regard for their wares.
>
>
> --Peter Atwood
>
>
===
Pincu Pottery
Funktional Ceramic Art
http://www.basic-learning.com/pincupottery/
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Ray Aldridge on mon 14 jun 99
At 12:51 PM 6/13/99 EDT, you wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Peter and others,
>
>Thanks for your response in regards to my letter on
>Japanese aesthetics. I was a bit upset by the
>one letter written by the guy I quoted at the end of
>my statement.
I'm sorry I upset you, since that was certainly not my intention. I was
only speculating on possible reasons for what to my eyes are dreadful pots
made by famous Japanese potters. But of course this was only my opinion--
and for all I know, these pots are great masterpieces and it's only my
inept American esthetic sensibilities which keep me from perceiving this
truth.
But what can I do? Age, failing beauty, and ingrained sexual preference
make it impractical for me to acquire a Japanese boyfriend. Is there any
hope for me and my inferior esthetic views?
Just kidding. But seriously-- do you think it impossible for famous
Japanese potters to make bad pots? And if not, does the willingness of the
Japanese public to accept these pots as good reveal any flaw in the
Japanese cultural esthetic?
We have our own trend-riders here, famous potters who make bad pots and
pitch them successfully to collectors, but the fact that the Japanese are
no more successful than we are in sniffing out this bogus work argues, in
my mind, for the proposition that the typical Japanese is no more capable
of perceiving beauty on a direct and personal level than the typical
American. He may be more aware of the processes and watermarks that define
"good" pottery, in Japanese terms, but this superior education seems to be
cancelled out by the conformism that largely defines Japanese culture as a
whole.
But, as I say, I don't know. I'm just thinking out loud.
Ray
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