Tim Skeen on mon 2 oct 00
Alisa Wrote:
Absolutely. I think these sort of (expensive) wizamagiggys become a
disability later.
I am always, by far, most impressed by people who have their own grip, their
hands.
Best regards,
-----------------------------------------
Hi Alisa, this is not totally directed at you nor am I upset. I just have a
few things to say from a different perspective.
For those of us that don't have a great grip and we have disabilities like
joints problems or muscles problems these tools are a blessing. For people
that haven't experienced chronic pain to the point that your hand freezes up
or you can't get up from the wheel because you're knees or hips have locked
in place it is easy to call these wizamagiggys?. There have been a dozen or
more times on different threads I wanted to write what is following but
thought twice about it because I didn't want anyone thinking me rude or
difficult. But here it goes, everyone knows where the delete key is.
Everything that saves me time or I feel helps me throw a better pot or
handbuild a better pot I will use. Because every pot I make (maybe not
perfect in the eye of an expert potter) is precious to me because I don't
know from day to day when I wake up, if I will be able to throw a pot or
even handbuild a pot. I can look around my studio/gallery and I can tell
the pots that I made on good days or days that the pain has played a small
or great role in the life of the pot. It's wonderful when a customer
cradles in her/his arms a pot that I know I made while in pain because it
has certain character. Most of my pots are made with a dash of pain along
with clay and glaze. Off center yes, handbuilding is rough, not such a
smooth or balanced form maybe, but it's been made with loving hands, not
perfect hands with perfect technique but love... When your body doesn't do
what your mind and creativity wants it to do then the only thing you can
work with and draw from is your heart. But the worst pain is not to be able
to create at all. My doctor thought I was crazy when I told him I was
taking pottery classes and most people don't know what goes on in my studio
when I make pots. I love clay so much that if the only thing (and it may
happen in the future) that I can make are paper weight pots well that's what
I'll make and be thrilled and happy with each and everyone of them and hope
they find a home. Please be kind with comments and allow each and every
person to experience clay and create pots in their own way. One never knows
what it takes for certain potters to create a vessel or the story the pot
holds within it's walls.
So when I hear debates what is a perfect pot or throwing a thousand pots
before you can throw a good pot or be called a potter. Well I wouldn't be
working in clay if I let these topics influence my confidence in my clay
work. I don't have the time or energy to do these types of exercises. I
don't have the time luxury, energy or body stamina to throw pots, slice them
down the middle and recycle them. I'm not talking 10 lbs. pots, mine are 2
to 4 lbs. I can only be on the wheel long enough sometimes to make six to
ten pots a day if I'm lucky and that's on a good day. There are times my
hands or hips freeze and I can't make one pot on the wheel. My attempts to
make sectioned work is very hard on me so I handbuild my larger pots.
Everyone has a story so let people be people, potters be potters and do your
own thing and be happy doing it as long as it doesn't hurt others.
I didn't write this to whine or for anyone to say poor Audrey. I just
wanted to share a different perspective on these types of topics. I have
lived with this for eighteen years and I am so thrilled to be creating in
clay and have my dream come true to own a small studio/gallery. It's a pain
(pardon the pun) sometimes to get up and travel to the gallery to work but
once there my heart is full. There are days I could pack it all in but all
in all what a great life we potters have.... Life is tooooo short to fiddle
over the small stuff, make pots like it could be your last -- get a grip---
Best Wishes,
Audrey
mailto:t.askeen@att.net
http://www.mtdpottery.com
Absolutely. I think these sort of (expensive) wizamagiggys become a
disability later.
I am always, by far, most impressed by people who have their own grip, their
hands.
Best regards,
Alisa
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