clennell on mon 5 mar 01
Sour Cherry Pottery
> The traditional black woman in South Africa have the dubious
> honour of being one of the most downtrodden and exploited groups
> here. Our fine new constitution has not changed this , has not
> filtered down the ranks so to speak.
> Even so, 90% of the work and finding the means that goes into
> nuturing and sustaining the family is in their hands. In their hands
> also lie all the traditional craft be it pottery, beadwork or so many
> other things.These woman are quite literally the salt of the earth,
> good people in every sense of the word.
> With this in mind, it drives me wild with rage when I hear about
> things like the following. A person from the USA, who shall remain
> nameless sets up business importing African craft. An item is
> bought for +- $5.00 and sold for anything between $100 and $300
> Sometimes what is handed over as payment are old clothes and no
> money at all.
toni: If life is art, then it goes without question it must include
religion and politics. I know the Mayor keeps the rein tight in this subject
area. I ended up in the dog house in my community last year because of a
letter i wrote to the editor about something quite similiar to your
concerns.
20,000 households received a full colour brochure in the mail to come to a
crafts of the world sale at the local Church. Pictures of a Columbian
potter making pots that would be for sale at the local church. Pictures also
of his poorly clothed children. Most of the parishoners are fruit farmers
and growers that appeal to us all to buy locally and boycott South American
grapes etc, etc. Buy locally they squeal. They filled the parking lot and
down the road to buy the 3rd world pottery. How much did it cost to print a
full colour brochure and mail it to 20,000 households? I wish I had the
money to do that. How much of a fund raiser was it for the church?????
Support Your Local Potter was the stand I took. Perhaps toni you should be
a collector of their finery. If people with money would spread it around the
crafts community in canada, our craftspeople would also make a decent wage.
I am not saying we are as poor as these women but I am saying they are
exploited by all walks of life and often in the name of God- which is a sin.
tony
(My collar has been hot on this one before.)
Tony and Sheila Clennell
Sour Cherry Pottery
4545 King Street
Beamsville, Ontario
CANADA L0R 1B1
http://www.sourcherrypottery.com
clennell@vaxxine.com
cheers,
Tony
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