mel jacobson on tue 24 jul 01
the concept of perfection is a wide open topic.
the answers to that question are often in the `eye of the beholder`.
we set our own standards of perfection, they often do not
belong to anyone else.
a good benchmark for throwing, i would think, is the japanese
master tradition of `consistency`or, can you repeat what you
do?
far too often folks think of `thin` as perfect. i have customers
that reflect on british bone china, thin as paper, as perfect. well,
i do not think so. first, it is cast. thin is fragile, thin breaks on the
edges. durability is sacrificed for thinness.
when throwing on a wheel, the potter should seek a thickness of wall
that can be learned, then repeated time after time. it should fulfill the
need of the pot.
for example:
tall vases should be thrown a bit heavy in the bottom. it keeps the
vase steady when filled with water and you have tall flowers in it.
just makes sense.
mugs should be thrown light...just a flare that fits the mouth.
pitchers should be thrown for balance. handle placement should
facilitate the pouring action. low, thin handles cause the pitcher
to seem to shift forward and down.
mixing bowls should be made for maximum durability...they will
have an electric mixer in them often, banging the sides.
dinner plates must be thrown to fit dish washers, and the pounding
that is received inside that turbulent machine.
well, you get the idea. the potter has to be a good designer, a
practical designer, along with an aesthetic designer. it is a wide
street of knowledge.
lucie rie pots are wonderful, delicate, made by a wonderful
artist. they have a three dimensional, sculptural quality. i care
for them a great deal...but, i do not use them for examples for
my work. it is not my aesthetic. lucie rie pots do not go in a
`kitchenaid` dishwasher...or, at least, i hope not.
we make things for many reasons...perfection is a concept. an idea.
we must blend that idea with practical, every day considerations for
making pots. it is the years of making, hundreds of makings that
give the potter the skills to reach for perfection. when you reach
it, well, it should be too late, you will be dead. (or let's hope so,
for you will have nothing to reach for.)
mel
From:
Minnetonka, Minnesota, U.S.A.
web site: http://www.pclink.com/melpots
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