Janet Kaiser on mon 11 sep 00
David Frith says: "Each pot is an individual and
considered alone, yet thrown in series. It is
vital to the process that the form develops as
the thrower warms to the shape, critically
assessing the subtlety of the forms and
discarding the ones that do not please.
Sensuality becomes an inner decision based on
experience, knowing the nature of the materials
and how they combine and bond in the fire."
David is in the Mengei/Leach/Cardew tradition
and one of my favourite British makers. See the
Brookhouse web site
http://www.pottery.demon.co.uk if you do not
know his work.
After a demonstration throwing of a faceted
bottle at the CPA in Oxford last year he sat
back and looked at the form... He did not like
the dumpy shape so it was immediately squashed.
A great gasp of disbelief came from the
audience. David just grinned although he looked
surprised. It was the first pot of the day and
he was "cold".
This little incident should have taught a lot of
people there that they should give themselves
time to get into the swing of throwing, as well
as to be extremely critical of their work at a
very early stage. If not on the drawing board,
then at the wheel.
David is a Master Potter. His designs and style
are instantly recognisable: the combination of
shapes, colours, patterns, glazes shout out who
made them. He has probably "internalised" what
he decided where his personal classic shapes at
an early age. This is not to say his work has
stood still over 30 odd years. Just subtle
development... Extended by using other
techniques such as extrusion. (His son Daniel
manufactures extruders).
David and Margaret Frith (also a very fine
potter) will be in Japan this fall. Both
teaching and exhibiting. So if you get the
opportunity, do go along...
Janet Kaiser
The Chapel of Art . Capel Celfyddyd
HOME OF THE INTERNATIONAL POTTERS' PATH
Criccieth LL52 0EA, GB-Wales Tel: (01766) 523570
E-mail: postbox@the-coa.org.uk
WEBSITE: http://www.the-coa.org.uk
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