iandol on mon 7 jan 02
Dear Jonathan,
Could not have said it as well as you have.
But then, you have possibly approached your task over those years as a =
Designer who is expected to solve problems, not as an artist who has =
been educated to pick up the "ready mades" for the job at hand. Besides =
designing your own clays and glazes I bet you can stretch a printing =
screen, forge some turning tools and cut an extrusion die to a custom =
shape.
But I can understand that people who are learning may be a bit timid or =
lack confidence in their own ability to master some of those necessary =
tasks needed to blend basic materials into original compositions. This =
may be a reflection on the quality of education, on the breadth and =
depth of the content offered in institutions where ceramic arts are =
promoted. Some who are starting out may not have access to resources =
which give the information (Aliakbar Heydari may be a prime example even =
though he is an undergraduate student) So they ask for help on this =
list.
We have several ways of responding. There is the direct answer, a =
straight recipe with the usual caveats. There is the direction to =
another well known source. There are suggestions for empirical =
exploration. There is the blunt response. Or there is silence. How we =
respond may depend on our interpretation of their communication. As you =
suggest, spoon feeding may be the worst thing we can do. But al little =
inquisitive rhetoric may assist in sharpening or perceptions of their =
needs if they make their situation and intentions better known to us
Best regards,
Ivor Lewis. Redhill, South Australia
Ceramic Design Group on mon 7 jan 02
on 1/6/02 9:48 PM, iandol at iandol@TELL.NET.AU wrote:
Good Morning Ivor:(at least from this part of the hemisphere!)
Thanks for your post and kind words.
>
> Could not have said it as well as you have.
>
> But then, you have possibly approached your task over those years as a
> Designer who is expected to solve problems, not as an artist who has been
> educated to pick up the "ready mades" for the job at hand. Besides designing
> your own clays and glazes I bet you can stretch a printing screen, forge some
> turning tools and cut an extrusion die to a custom shape.
All this is true, and more, but the point is that I do have a classic
education as a an artist and potter from both an undergraduate and graduate
perspective, including a BFA from Rhode Island School of Design and an MFA
from Southern Illinois University, as well as many many years in the
wholesale and retail areas of making and selling my pottery. Not that these
pieces of paper are what gives credence and validity to my thinking, my
continual sense inquiry, or my ongoing serious study within this field and
others. What was the major influence in my potter career was a potter named
Joe Zeller who served as a mentor for me for many years. Now that I am in
this position for some who cross my path, what I endeavor to put forth is
the development of sound fundamentals from not only a design and hands on
perspective, but also from one of leaning how to ask questions and
maintaining the excitement of the serious inquiry, and over time, developing
a well versed repertory of information and skills. Never loosing sight of
the gleaning of information and the necessity for serious inquiry.
I was also very lucky to be exposed to many who, like those on this list
shared their knowledge and expertise with me over time. I have no qualms
with sharing and imparting knowledge. But the wisdom gleaned from sharing
and imparting knowledge is developed over time and perspective.
> But I can understand that people who are learning may be a bit timid or lack
> confidence in their own ability to master some of those necessary tasks needed
> to blend basic materials into original compositions. This may be a reflection
> on the quality of education, on the breadth and depth of the content offered
> in institutions where ceramic arts are promoted. Some who are starting out may
> not have access to resources which give the information (Aliakbar Heydari may
> be a prime example even though he is an undergraduate student) So they ask for
> help on this list.
And yes, this is why this list is of such value and importance to many. But
I do think that your analysis of the educational system is correct in many
cases, but not all. So much of learning comes from the drive, the effort,
the degree of involvement, and again, that sense of inquiry, that is
necessary from a student's desire to learn. And yes, also from the same
qualities of the instructors and teachers. There is a symbiosis here and
that is what I feel, can be and perhaps should be a basis for a wonderful
and nurturing educational experience. But I do well agree and understand
that there are some serious issues and faults with the "system" of ceramic
education as has been discussed many times earlier and will probably
continue on this list. And it is through the valued input of dedicated
individuals like you, perhaps me, and a "core group" who can add to,
supplement, and help those who may lack the confidence and are just starting
out on the pottery learning path.
>
> We have several ways of responding. There is the direct answer, a straight
> recipe with the usual caveats. There is the direction to another well known
> source. There are suggestions for empirical exploration. There is the blunt
> response. Or there is silence. How we respond may depend on our interpretation
> of their communication. As you suggest, spoon feeding may be the worst thing
> we can do. But al little inquisitive rhetoric may assist in sharpening or
> perceptions of their needs if they make their situation and intentions better
> known to us
Yes, all this is true, and perhaps there are others. When I was a precocious
youngster, I can remember doing my homework from elementary school and
asking my mother "Mom, how do you spell ...............?" Her answer as
always "Look it up in the dictionary!" And this analogy is quite on the
money for the issues we are discussing. Your points are well taken, quite
astute, and your contributions to both this list and the publications I read
are valued, and I am both pleased and honored to have this opportunity to
talk with you in this way.
Take care,
Jonathan
Jonathan Kaplan, president
Ceramic Design Group
PO Box 775112
Steamboat Springs CO 80477
voice and fax 970 879-9139
info@ceramicdesigngroup.net
Plant Location:
1280 13th Street Unit 13
Steamboat Springs CO 80487
(please use this address for all deliveries via UPS, comman carrier, Fed Ex,
etc.)
"Custom design and manufacturing for the ceramic arts, giftware and pottery
industries. Molds, models, and tooling for slip casting, jiggering and
hydraulic pressing. Consultation on clay and glaze formulation, production
systems,firing, and kilns.
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