Bill Weaver on sat 28 apr 01
I have to agree with both Vince and Snail and would like to add some =3D
further issues. While getting my last graduate degree in a school of =3D
architecture I was first exposed to the concept of "crits" as we called =3D
them. That concept carried forth into the professional world and became =3D
something all of us sought out. The purpose of the crits was not to tear =
=3D
our work apart and belittle us ( even tho there were some who enjoyed =3D
doing exactly that) but rather to provide us with an external analysis =3D
and evaluation as to whether we actually were achieving the goal with =3D
our work that we set out to achieve. As Vince pointed out we are very =3D
close to our own work and since many of us work alone we can become to =3D
focused on producing "good" work instead of being clear regarding the =3D
goal we want our bodies of work to say. Consequently, we can lose sight =3D
of our original intention whatever that might be. I may spend hours and =3D
even days on a piece thinking I am creating my next "masterpiece" but =3D
unless I am clear as to where that piece fits in the context of my goals =
=3D
and the voice I wish to express I can become infatuated with the detail =3D
of the process, as in the firing technique or brush strokes or color =3D
choices. This infatuation and subsequent herculean ownership of my work =3D
can offer me a place to hide, away from a clear evaluation of where I am =
=3D
going.
I think there are many reasons why, as a culture we shy away from =3D
criticism, and I think some of the reasons are our tendancy to identify =3D
ourselves with what we produce, with our job. As artists and crafts =3D
people we are particulary vulnerable because so much of us goes into our =
=3D
work. Focusing on the craft process as the sole point of evaluation is =3D
a handy way for us to not be vulnerable about our work. A technical =3D
flaw can be fixed, can be learned, but questioning whether we achieve =3D
the artistic goal we have set for ourselves strikes deeper into our =3D
being, into our intention, something that may or may not be as easily =3D
changed or redirected. Redirecting our intention, requires some degree =3D
of introspection and non judgemental self evaluation, something our =3D
culture has not taught us. I think our collective fear of criticism =3D
stems in a large part from an in abliity to seperate honest evaluation =3D
=66rom judgment. Judgement can focus more on the "right, the good" while=
=3D
evalutation and critique looks more at matching the end product with the =
=3D
intention behind its creation.=3D20
Finally, I think that this thread has uncovered the fact that a sort of =3D
double standard ( for want of a better analogy) exists. I have always =3D
thought that the majority of clay is judged not on standards that =3D
include both art and craft but rather predominatly on one or the other =3D
or somehere in between. A judge who is immersed in wood firing might =3D
vote in favor of pots that present a high degree of technical knowledge =3D
and skill but may be lacking on the creative side. On the other hand a =3D
judge immersed in off the edge work might vote infavor of that style =3D
ignoring obvious flaws in craft. A good and honest balance would be =3D
nice. It would also be nice to have those values and standards out in =3D
the open. =3D20
Bill Weaver
bweaver1@quest.net
http://www.palemoonstudio.com
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