Andi Fasimpaur on wed 10 oct 01
Greetings, Craig,
I suspect that there are several reasons why you got
so little response to your tile memorial suggestion.
1. as a lurker, most of the people on the list don't
really know you, they don't know whether you would
follow through with the project or were just suggesting
something because you felt like *something* needed to
be suggested... Since others, better known to the list
at large and to certain key people on the list
specifically, posted suggestions for other memorials,
people gravitated to the memorials proposed by those
who were better known or who were able to present a
clearer picture of what they were trying to accomplish.
2. There *were* a lot of suggestions thrown out at the
time, several were apperently discarded in light of
what seemed like better proposals at the time... the
fact that you did not follow-up made your tile memorial
appear to be one of those set aside in favor of one of
the other projects.
3. many of us are feeling pulled in different directions
by all of this... there are too many decisions to be
made and they all seem to trivial and meaningless to
devote much attention to... I was only able to return
to the studio this past weekend and have been keeping
busy working on projects outside of the studio like
stringing necklaces and trying to prepare for a show.
I'm hesitant to use metaphores like open wounds or
shell shock because they seem so over done lately but
there is a measure of truth to them... for many of us
getting back to work has meant going through the whole
process of validating our chosen path all over again.
Frankly, being a potter seems a little trivial to me
right now with so many dead and more dying. Creating
a memorial doesn't make my choice of profession suddenly
more important or more globally significant. But then,
maybe I'm the only one wrestling with this... Maybe I'm
universalizing feelings which I alone posess.
I will say this, and perhaps I am alone in these
sentiments as well. I would love to participate in
a tile mural where the tiles all had images of
birds, butterflies, bumble bees... things that fly
and are free... things that are beutiful and without
fear... I feel as though the human race has had it's
wings clipped, like we no longer rejoice at the feel
of the wind in our hair... I used to have flying dreams,
dreams where I flew like a creature of the air, fearless
and alive... i don't want to loose that, but I can't
seem to find it anywhere...
I find no comfort in nationalism... i don't even own a
flag... I realize that "America" was the name of their
target, I understand that "America" was their target,
but those who died, and those who were affected, were
not just citizens of the USA, and while I believe that
the acts of terrorism were horrible, and unforgivable,
our government, our foreign policy, our economics, and
our ignorance about the lives, beliefs, religions and
living conditions of the rest of the world must surely
have contributed a great deal to the symbolic image of
"America" upon which they painted their targets...
I also have a problem with the combination of "God Bless
America" signs and "United We Stand" banners every where
I look... it bothers me to see them together... it shows
a complete ignorance of diversity... There are many who
believe in different Gods, or in no God at all, and the
sight of those signs, the implication that we are all
United by love of God and Country that this tragedy has
put an end to all differences within our borders is a
complete fallacy.
I just read back over what I've written, I'm not sure,
really, how appropriate it is, so I will leave that call
to those wiser and more objective than myself.
Warmest Blessings,
Andi.
=====
Ceramic Artist, Writer, Workshop Facilitator.
http://www.mysticspiral.com
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Make a great connection at Yahoo! Personals.
http://personals.yahoo.com
Susan Otter on wed 10 oct 01
In a message dated 10/10/01 2:48:20 PM, afasimpaur@YAHOO.COM writes:
<< Frankly, being a potter seems a little trivial to me
right now with so many dead and more dying. >>
All civilized societies need both healers and creators. I do not think you
should second-guess your choice. I have bought some beautiful pottery over
the years. Should I now regret spending that money, when it might have been
sent to relief efforts somewhere? I think not. I am a more meaningful member
of my society because over the years I have kept a balance in my life.
I look at these pieces. Some of the people who made them are friends of mine,
and I saw two of them being made. I feel her hands on these pieces when I
hold them myself. We are connected.
We can do nothing if we are not connected to our greater society. If you're
not out robbing banks, if you are contributing to society, there is nothing
shabby or shallow about your choice. Life needs balance, and especially
during these times, we need something beautiful to look at and contemplate
from time to time.
Sharon Elliott on thu 11 oct 01
Thanks, Susan, for this lovely sentiment. I feel exactly the same. There is enough that is dark and gloomy about life. We all need to see the beauty in ourselves and share it with others. The cultures/societies/peoples of the world who have survived are those who were strong in the arts.
Sharon
>From: Susan Otter
>Reply-To: Ceramic Arts Discussion List
>To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
>Subject: Re: Tile Memorial
>Date: Wed, 10 Oct 2001 18:42:49 EDT
>
>In a message dated 10/10/01 2:48:20 PM, afasimpaur@YAHOO.COM writes:
>
><< Frankly, being a potter seems a little trivial to me
>right now with so many dead and more dying. >>
>
>All civilized societies need both healers and creators. I do not think you
>should second-guess your choice. I have bought some beautiful pottery over
>the years. Should I now regret spending that money, when it might have been
>sent to relief efforts somewhere? I think not. I am a more meaningful member
>of my society because over the years I have kept a balance in my life.
>
>I look at these pieces. Some of the people who made them are friends of mine,
>and I saw two of them being made. I feel her hands on these pieces when I
>hold them myself. We are connected.
>
>We can do nothing if we are not connected to our greater society. If you're
>not out robbing banks, if you are contributing to society, there is nothing
>shabby or shallow about your choice. Life needs balance, and especially
>during these times, we need something beautiful to look at and contemplate
>from time to time.
>
>______________________________________________________________________________
>Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
>You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
>settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
>Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at melpots@pclink.com.
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com
| |
|
