Elke Blodgett on wed 24 nov 99
fromm Monona
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> Date: Tue, 23 Nov 1999 10:47:12 EST
> From: David Hendley
> Reply-To: Ceramic Arts Discussion List
> To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
> Subject: Why I do use encapsulated cadmium stains
> Resent-Subject: Why I do use encapsulated cadmium stains
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> To Ray Aldridge,
SNIP
> From a marketing point of view, I think it would be a
> blunder for my literature to say that my pottery contains
> no cadmium or barium, even if it were true.
> Why in the world would I want to start talking about
> dangerous chemicals that I don't use?
> This would be akin to a politician stating on his literature
> that he is not a racist, when he has never been so accused!
> Also, Ray, and anyone else who advertises that they use
> no cadmium: Do you ever use those neat under/overglaze
> pens? Where does that bright stoneware red come from?
> Lead, of course is a different story, and is in the public
> consciousness.
>
> I also do not think I am being dishonest with my customers
> by using cadmium and not telling them.
> I use these stains only in slips that are painted on the
> outside of vessels. No food contact is possible. No glazes
> are put over the slips that could dissolve the color. And the
> color stays there; it's dense and opaque. In 5 years, I've
> used maybe 5 pounds of stain.
> I'm satisfied that this pottery is safe. I'd like to hear from
> anyone, hopefully to the whole list, who thinks that what
> I am doing is hazardous or irresponsible. <
I think you should just put your money where your mouth is and test some
pieces to be certain that fuming has not contaminated the kiln and allowed
some cadmium--and yes, some lead from the stain--to deposit in the insides of
the pots. Then armed with this data, you would have some ethical basis for
your "no tell" policy.
And the public is getting more sophisticated. One day they will ask. It
might be nice to be ahead of them. Good potters with good products have good
answers to any question about safety they may be asked.
I admire potters like Ray who not only sell, they educate.
Monona Rossol
ACTS
181 Thompson St., # 23
NYC NY 10012-2586 212/777-0062
ACTSNYC@cs.com
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