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the influence of clayart (was transporting glazes...)

updated thu 7 sep 00

 

John Hesselberth on wed 6 sep 00


Veena Raghavan wrote:

> I would like to take this opportunity to thank John Hesselberth
>and Ron Roy for their great article in the September 2000 issue of Ceramics
>Monthly. I hope that their dedication and commitment will be shared by all
>potters, experienced and inexperienced. As potters, we have a
>responsibility not only to those who buy our wares but to other potters.
> Thank you, everyone.
>All the best.
>
>Veena
>
>Veena Raghavan
>75124.2520@compuserve.com

Your're welcome Veena. We enjoyed doing it.

There is a story here that illustrates what an influential group Clayart
is becoming. You may remember that about last April there was a thread
on how to make glazes stable or "food safe". After that thread had gone
on for a while, I wrote an long letter outlining some steps one could
take to try to assure durability in a glaze. At the end of that letter I
offered to write it up a little more formally if there was interest.

Several people replied off-line that they would like to see it written
up. One of those people was Ruth Butler, editior of Ceramics Monthly.
She suggested that instead of limiting this discussion to 3000 Clayart
members, I ought to consider writing it as an article for CM and reach
40,000 people instead. I agreed and asked Ron Roy to help me write it
(how much better could it get that to be a coauthor with the primary
glaze guru on Clayart???).

After some back and forth discussion with Ruth on ways we might reach
even more people with this message, she agreed not only to publish the
article, but to send out a "press release" to every other ceramic
publication in the world offering them the opportunity to publish the
article royalty-free. That was done in July.

This is a very unusual and helpful step for a magazine publisher to take.
Thank you very much Ruth for agreeing to do that!

Now here is a challenge to Clayart members around the world. The editor
of your favorite journal now has a copy of this article in his/her hands.
If you would like to see it published in your part of the world (and,
perhaps, translated into your own language) write them a note and ask
them to publish it. Ruth assured us that ceramics magazine/journal
publishers like the word "free" and some would probably take us up on the
offer. Ron and Ruth and I have done what we can to make this available.
Now it is in your hands to help us.

I think this is an excellent illustration of the influence Clayart is
having. It all started right here!

All the best, John

John Hesselberth
Frog Pond Pottery
P.O. Box 88
Pocopson, PA 19366 USA
EMail: john@frogpondpottery.com web site: http://www.frogpondpottery.com

"It is, perhaps, still necessary to say that the very best glazes cannot
conceal badly shaped pots..." David Green, Pottery Glazes