mel jacobson on wed 16 may 01
in my opinion, learning to throw is a great deal
about concentration and focus.
in so many ways i use the `betty edwards`, theory of
deep concentration when doing art. `drawing from the
right side`...sort of stuff.
she suggests covering the clock, turning off radios, and
`switching the brain`....
these things are important in throwing...so, i do those things.
turn the wheel to the wall, get the kids to focus.
we have far too much `art fun` theory still floating out there..
`oh, just do what feels good kids`...make us all happy...cold
towel for your neck?` bs.
`good feelings` are real and good when success happens. that
is the best feeling there is. you cannot talk a kid into good feelings.
success is the best good feeling, it comes from dedication and work.
same in art.
it is like how hard my swimmers worked, focused, dedicated themselves../
and the reward was a state championship....now that is a happy kid.
saw many coaches doing `feel good`....warm fuzzy...kids placed
85th. (i know, broad brush here.)
i taught throwing the same way i coached swimming...love, help,
care and concern, but....`gd it, you are going to learn this...no
stopping, no whinning. and they did...oh man, did they ever.
then you had very good kids, no problems, they advanced to
the chatty areas of the room. (the big glass window, with wheels
pushed against it....clay from 30 inches down. only seniors...they
talked and talked while doing great work...stuff make you blush.
when they lived in a room with trust, when they trusted the system,
well, they open up. talk of real stuff. make friends for life.
the homecoming queen, academics plus, with her butt crack showing...sweating,
making a 25 pound pot, sitting next to a special ed kid, also
making a 25 pound pot...both pottery stars and friends.
(funny, that was tara, from dock six, still a great potter with
her masters degree in science. kerry from dock six...ph.d in
`women's studies.`
make `hand eye talent` the star. you got it or you don't. if you
don't, the struggle is the same as the average kid in algebra, hard,
but you have to do it. the world will not make that switch...never.
only academic talent is rewarded...and it is getting worse...we
only hire 4.0 teachers in the big schools...`total suck holes mostly`.
how can you go to college and only get A`s. never once challenging
a prof? give me a break. just do whatever it takes to get that A.
dumb system. inflation.
so, this entire thought and philosophy starts with wheels to the wall.
it is an attitude about what goes on in a pottery. it is learning at
its finest...or just a recess, playground.
many of you out there have learned to throw with my system. it starts
with physics, then switches to how the `person` learns, stories, demos,
reading..whatever it takes, but the system varies with the student.
each learns hand eye based on a style that the brain makes..find it
and you will have a throwing fiend on you hands.
mel
trust is the key. each kid has to trust you totally. you will come
into their physical space...explain that, let them lead you there..
then the kid is happy. never abuse that, or all is lost. if your student
knows that you are going to touch them...is prepared, well they
mostly accept. i always carefully explain, then demo with an
older student how i place my hands, how i touch them...all gets
simple then. trust...what a concept.
(eyes are the big abuser, ask any 18 year old girl.)
the worst abuse is leaving a kid out, ignoring, minimizing...that
is the one i do not tolerate. (same in a workshop)
from the farm in wisconsin
http://www.pclink.com/melpots
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