john boalick on tue 21 mar 00
I am a art education student coming up on graduating next year. I would like
to develop my skills more so that I can someday set up run and live off of
selling my work as a studio potter. What I am wondering is what might be the
best route to take? Be an apprentice? Residency program? Craft school? Or
MFA program? If anyone has been through this before and has any suggestions
please let me know.
Paul Taylor on thu 23 mar 00
Dear John
In Thomastown Ireland the craft council run a ceramic skills course.
There they give instruction in skills and workshop practices. This course is
now being developed in other countries on that model. If you can get on to
one you have it made. The Irony is, due to the way the skills course is
financed it is in constant threat of being shut down.
So there you have it, a totally successful course that other countries
are thinking of using as a model could be closed down at any time. Whilst
those studying the people who are researching the people that are trying to
distill sunlight from cucumbers are secure in their Ivory towers.
Another way to go, but you need a lot of neck, is to teach yourself how to
production throw -to a minimum standard. Even an evening class will give you
the basics. Throw a ton or two of flowerpots (I am not exaggerating) the
more flowerpots you make the less neck you need. Walk into a pottery early
summer when the orders are piling up and offer to help out- explain that you
can production throw a bit. By the end of the month your either a thrower or
out on your ear - no more than you deserve. If you get to stick around do
not make the mistake of leaving too soon or staying too long. After three
years or so another chancer will be looking for a start.
Then you are a Journey man. Try to work in as many potterys as you can,
be honest about the temporary nature of your stay there are plenty of
potters that need a bit of short term help.
Starting for yourself will be a breeze. You will have an art
education all the skills of a production potter and the good will and genius
of the potters you worked hard for.
Regards Paul T
----------
>From: john boalick
>To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
>Subject: MFA OR CRAFT SCHOOL OR APPRENTICESHIP?
>Date: Tue, Mar 21, 2000, 5:57 pm
>
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>
>I am a art education student coming up on graduating next year. I would like
>to develop my skills more so that I can someday set up run and live off of
>selling my work as a studio potter. What I am wondering is what might be the
>best route to take? Be an apprentice? Residency program? Craft school? Or
>MFA program? If anyone has been through this before and has any suggestions
>please let me know.
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