Anthony Allison on thu 10 jan 02
Dear Artimater,
I saved your message because i thought it was one of the most honest, best
written pieces i have ever seen on the condition of the arts and the plight
of the contemporary artist. I felt strongly compelled to write and let you
know> Very well done.!
You may not make a great deal of money, but i admire your tenacity and
integrity. Believe me, it is people like you that will further the cause of
Art in America, and your vigorous and courageous stand will make a big
difference for future artists.
I stay in the background, working away , trying to make art and help others
see the joy and excitement of what im doing. I personally believe that
elitism has played a major role in contributing to the condition of the
arts. Trying to make art and building a rapport with the public is a very
daunting task, but i believe it can and needs to be done. It also helps pay
those bills!
At any rate, thanks for standing up and taking the heat. Just know, i
personally morally support what you are about and what you are doing. You
are an inspiration!
Warmest Regards
Tony
----- Original Message -----
From: "artimater"
To:
Sent: Friday, January 11, 2002 8:40 AM
Subject: issues
Hey all,
In my clay work I am primarily interested in furthering the evolution
of my design
artimater on fri 11 jan 02
Hey all,
In my clay work I am primarily interested in furthering the =
evolution of my design .....I am fairly happy with my favorite =
glazes...The last real technical issue I had was about ten years ago =
when Mark looked in the salt kiln and said, "It looks like Dresden in =
there"....The answer was easy for that one too....Do not use bricks that =
melt to hold up the shelves....Problem solved....Shino obscures my =
carving so I don't use it often, which means I don't really need to pay =
close attention to the in and outs of it's use.....We don't have new =
kilns, broken kilns, or firing problems.....As I said I work at =
furthering the evolution of my design...This means I don't have a lot of =
need to read the posts on such technical issues....If that was all =
CLAYART was I wouldn't need to spend all the time I do involved with =
it....There are other issues in the world of clay and art that are very =
important to me...
I have long ago resigned myself to never making a living doing fine =
art....I have never had any interest in doing anything else with my =
life...I'm not a golfer....I work 24/7...Often even my dreams have =
contributed to my work, so I am never off the clock...To the casual =
observer it may look like I am not working if they could see me sitting =
here scratching my butt, but the fact is that itch I am taking care of =
is something that is keeping my mind from focus on the objective...That =
makes the scratching action that cures the itch a very important =
thing....The fact that I will never net a dime off a lifetime of work is =
a pain in the butt that if I could cure would free up great gobs of time =
to spend on the goal, which is furthering my designs....If I could turn =
my life's work into food, new shoes, car insurance, etc.......Then I =
would be able to put an end to the conflict I have with myself for doing =
what I do...If I could get a big fat paycheck from the government for =
creating art then all my problems would disolve....Unfortuately you only =
get big fat paychecks for being an art teacher..NOT FOR MAKING ART....I =
also firmly and logically believe that teaching will monopolize a large =
chunk of a person's time and energy and thus be yet another itch on the =
ass to be cured....There is some screwed up notion here where I live =
that artists should be OK with starving...UHHH, well if you are starving =
then you die eventually and dieing has a way of putting an end to the =
production....To be the best artist you can be you have to die....Well =
thanks but no thanks....I cling to the tiny hope that the status quo is =
not perfect....I deceive myself into thinking that that change is =
possible....
Mindless production work is not fine art either.....If I spend a =
great amount of time doing mindless prodution then I might as well be =
flipping burgers....It is not going to further my life's work....
I have not come to these conclusions easily...In fact I have fought =
tooth and nail to believe that there is hope for the fine artist to take =
a place in society beside warehousmen, truck drivers, ditch diggers and =
all the rest....Still the truth slaps me in the face on a regular =
basis....I will never make a decent living doing fine art...
Yes I know the truth in my life....I know it well but that does not =
mean I am accepting of it.....When my wife disses my finest effort you =
can damn well believe that I'm gonna let her know about it....She is the =
love of my life and my foundation but I will not let her slide by my =
work without some appreciation of what it took to make it...All my work =
is dedicated to her and springs from her, because without her I would =
have had to starve to death a long time ago....I still do not give her =
the right to belittle it...If that is the standard I follow with my =
wife, just what do you think I think about some puffed up poser spouting =
bullshit that belittles my effort....Do you think I should defer to =
those who have set up and contribute to the ruination of my chances to =
ever obtain any sort of respectability....Should I wipe the spit off my =
face with a smile and slink away to my groto, to emerge tomorrow with =
another offering to the betterment of men's souls...I think fine art is =
the only hope that stands between the power mongers and death dealers of =
my world and the enslavement of all my brothers and sisters....
There are many, many on the LISTSERVE who are comfortable in their =
positions in the status quo, and would heartily disagree with every =
thought I have sacrificed and paid to own...If they read my posts it =
upsets their little myoptic views....They think I should stick to tool =
tips and the kissing of powerful asses which has brought THEM to the top =
tiers of the house of cards which supports them...I see the house of =
cards as something that needs to be blown to pieces....I would like to =
see a little of the truth of the situation rise to the surface and be =
noticed...
I am not a clown or a fool....In the late 19th century the people =
of America formed a political party to truly represent the people...They =
soon discovered that those they elected and sent to congress had no =
influence or power until they had been in Washington long enough to have =
totally forgotton the principles that got them there in the first =
place....The party failed....This list promises the opportunity for the =
lowly artist to be heard from the depths of the pit to which he has been =
thrown....Artists here in Dallas will not see any light in my lifetime, =
but perhaps there are places where the posers do not exercise the =
control they do here...I have heard of such places. Places where the =
work is what is important and not the count of asses kissed...Places =
where if you want to impress someone with your artwork you damn well =
better show them some artwork and not your address book..
Those of you who would like to quash the views of those who have =
fought against the exploitation and degedation of those who can do no =
less than work at their life's work are exactly those who need to read =
those views....If enough were to read them then perhaps the next Van =
Goph will not be half eared and dead of suicide early in their =
career....The fact that those of you who don't care might rub the =
printing off your delete key seems to me to be small sacrifice when I =
compare it to the sacrifice forced upon myself and others like me...
I am resigned that none of the truth I have uncovered will be of =
any help to me, but I have always been an idealist, I have always =
thought there are more important things than the garnering of cash and =
power.....Maybe I am a fool. =20
Rush
"I only indulge when I've seen a snake, so I keep a supply of =
indulgences and snakes handy"
http://artimator.com
rush@artimator.com
http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/texasceramics
Artimator Galleries
2420 Briarwood Ln.
Carrollton, TX 75006
972-841-1857
Tim Lynch on fri 11 jan 02
This list promises the opportunity for the lowly artist to be heard
> from the depths of the pit to which he has been thrown.
Rush, et al; this is the crux of Clayart. The internet and its various
tangents,i.e., email, the web, is a great equalizer. We can all be heard.
Your oratory is being printed and stapled next to the picture of the Pope
and Buddha in my studio.
In the words of Rufus from "bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure:" BE
EXCELLENT TO EACH OTHER.
Party on, dude.
Tim
--
Tim Lynch
The Clay Man
1117 Tedford St SE
East Wenatchee, WA 98802
hifired@earthlink.net
chris Campbell on sat 12 jan 02
arti-
I read your whole monologue and I don't buy it.
I think that you truly and honestly believe what you are saying, but
that only means that your beliefs are what is making it 'true'.
You are so firmly convinced that your work will not sell that you will
not permit success to enter your life.... if your work started to sell then
you would have to admit you were wrong.
Your work is beautiful. Get out of the way and let it happen.
Chris Campbell - in North Carolina - yeah, I am the one who loves marketing
!!
Jim Cullen on sat 12 jan 02
Chris,
It's called the Law of Allowing. You must allow it to happen before it will
happen.
Some call it positive thinking,. It's that and more, much more.
"The only thing wrong with a beautiful drive to work
is that you still end up at work."
KEEP CENTERED
Cullen
Naperville, Illinois
----- Original Message -----
From: chris Campbell
To:
Sent: Saturday, January 12, 2002 10:41 AM
Subject: Re: issues
> arti-
>
> I read your whole monologue and I don't buy it.
>
> I think that you truly and honestly believe what you are saying,
but
> that only means that your beliefs are what is making it 'true'.
>
> You are so firmly convinced that your work will not sell that you
will
> not permit success to enter your life.... if your work started to sell
then
> you would have to admit you were wrong.
>
> Your work is beautiful. Get out of the way and let it happen.
>
> Chris Campbell - in North Carolina - yeah, I am the one who loves
marketing
> !!
>
>
____________________________________________________________________________
__
> 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.
Roger Korn on sun 13 jan 02
Hi Lee,
I'd sure like to see some old Jomon decoration. Can you point me at some pictures?
TIA,
Roger
Lee Love wrote:
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jim Cullen"
>
> > "The only thing wrong with a beautiful drive to work
> > is that you still end up at work."
>
> "A man whose work and play are the same is truly blessed."
>
> -Clyde Widdershins-
>
> The people I admire most don't know the concept of "retirement."
> On our 8 days vacation from the pottery, we left Shimaoka Sensei with 60
> cocubine (square bottles) and 20 large osara (platters) to do jomon decoration
> on. They were all finished when we got back from vacation. We always
> prepare work for him to do on the longer "holidays." I think he enjoys
> touching clay when he is there alone. Things are very busy, usually. He is
> 83 years old.
>
> --
> Lee In Mashiko, Japan Ikiru@kami.com
>
> "We can only wait here, where we are in the world, obedient to its processes,
> patient in its taking away, faithful to its returns. And as much as we may
> know, and all that we deserve of earthly paradise will come to us."
> Wendell Berry , Full Quote: http://www1.ocn.ne.jp/~ikiru/berry.html
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> 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.
--
Roger Korn
McKay Creek Ceramics
In AZ: PO Box 463
4215 Culpepper Ranch Rd
Rimrock, AZ 86335
928-567-5699 <-
In OR: PO Box 436
31330 NW Pacific Ave.
North Plains, OR 97133
503-647-5464
Lee Love on sun 13 jan 02
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim Cullen"
> "The only thing wrong with a beautiful drive to work
> is that you still end up at work."
"A man whose work and play are the same is truly blessed."
-Clyde Widdershins-
The people I admire most don't know the concept of "retirement."
On our 8 days vacation from the pottery, we left Shimaoka Sensei with 60
cocubine (square bottles) and 20 large osara (platters) to do jomon decoration
on. They were all finished when we got back from vacation. We always
prepare work for him to do on the longer "holidays." I think he enjoys
touching clay when he is there alone. Things are very busy, usually. He is
83 years old.
--
Lee In Mashiko, Japan Ikiru@kami.com
"We can only wait here, where we are in the world, obedient to its processes,
patient in its taking away, faithful to its returns. And as much as we may
know, and all that we deserve of earthly paradise will come to us."
Wendell Berry , Full Quote: http://www1.ocn.ne.jp/~ikiru/berry.html
artimater on mon 14 jan 02
Chris Campbell and Jim Cullen,
You wrote:
You are so firmly convinced that your work will not sell that you will
not permit success to enter your life.... if your work started to sell =
then
you would have to admit you were wrong.
Your work is beautiful. Get out of the way and let it happen.
I am firmly convinced that my work is very salable......I could have a =
garage sale today and sell out.....Better yet I could give it away and =
git mah name out there....I have a very positive attitude or I would =
have quit long long ago....What is holding me back is the look of fear =
in the eyes I encounter when I approach locals in the ceramic BIZ....The =
fear that potential customers have when they see something they know =
they cannot afford....They seldom bother to ask prices and when they do =
their fear is usually confirmed....I have sold plenty and I know my =
market....It is people with plenty money to burn and some appreciation =
of fine art(Maybe .01 of 1%).....If I still went to gallery openings I =
would see all the old crowd there........All the government subsidized =
show up to buy each other's stuff in the secure knowledge that they will =
receive payback when time comes to show their government subsidized =
work....And of course their prices leave plenty profit for the =
gallery...Real work makes them quiver with hatred and fear....
Little story:
One day when the government subsidized from SMU(tuition-$20000 a =
semester) were unloading a woodfire at our wood kiln(special price this =
semester: $39 for 3 hr class)....I made the mistake of unloading a full =
salt kiln of my own stuff.....They were all happily oooooing and ahhhing =
over their work as it emerged....I was back in the corner unloading my =
own....The son of our director was running around and ran up to momma =
and shouted, "But Momma, Momma, I like those pots over there =
better".....The ooing stopped...The ahhhhing stopped ....There was only =
stunned silence for a while(from the mouths of babes).....Then they =
recovered an went back to unloading.....HEHEHE
I managed to get one of my pieces in one of those woodfirings one =
time and when I came to collect the work, it was back in the corner and =
not up front with all the work of the elite club members....I guess it =
didn't make the pictures of all the pretty pots that were in that =
load...An artist penetrating American Art is a very frightening =
thing....Afterall there is a huge commerce supported by the house of =
cards....
I have seen yellow pots selling for $20000 because of the name on =
the bottom...We have a bucket of glaze that I don't think is very =
different....If I used it(seldom)!!!!....ZING! Pow!....The art BIZ has =
not one thing to do with the work as far as I can tell...
Years ago in my dark ages I entered a pot in a show for =
judgment....The winner was a four foot square canvas with a limb glued =
on the surface, with the canvas and the limb painted white.....What =
pissed me off was the poor paint job....Missed spots, poor coverage...It =
is in a landfill now....I still have my pot
As for me getting out of my own =
way????.....UHHH....duhhh....hmmmm...I'm =
trying!!.....Ouch!!!...HMMM!!!!!.....Anyone care to enlighten me on the =
procedure?
PAX,(more pretension than the pretentious)
Rush
"I only indulge when I've seen a snake, so I keep a supply of =
indulgences and snakes handy"
http://artimator.com
rush@artimator.com
http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/texasceramics
Artimator Galleries
2420 Briarwood Ln.
Carrollton, TX 75006
972-841-1857
Lee Love on mon 14 jan 02
----- Original Message -----
From: "Roger Korn"
> Hi Lee,
>
> I'd sure like to see some old Jomon decoration. Can you point me at some
pictures?
Roger, I just put up a photo of a Jomon shard my wife Jean gave me for my
birthday. I'll find some more links later.
http://hachiko.com/jomon.html
--
Lee In Mashiko, Japan Ikiru@kami.com
"We can only wait here, where we are in the world, obedient to its processes,
patient in its taking away, faithful to its returns. And as much as we may
know, and all that we deserve of earthly paradise will come to us."
Wendell Berry , Full Quote: http://www1.ocn.ne.jp/~ikiru/berry.html
Lee Love on mon 14 jan 02
http://hachiko.com/jomon.html
Jomon is the oldest pottery we know of so far and after seeing the
exhibition at the National Gallery at Ueno Park of Jomon and Yayoi pottery, I
believe it is the most magnificant pottery ever made. It was handbuilt and
probably made by women. These folks had not yet left the Garden of Eden.
Because of this realizaion, my personal goal is not to surpass this
work, the first pottery work ever made, but endevor to tap into the same source
where their inspiration came from. I believe this is where all great art
comes from, art that is more than just a simple record of an individual or a
time, creativity that is more than a mere journal or novelty.
If you've visited already, please hit refresh, because I've added three
links.
http://hachiko.com/jomon.html
--
Lee In Mashiko, Japan Ikiru@kami.com
"We can only wait here, where we are in the world, obedient to its processes,
patient in its taking away, faithful to its returns. And as much as we may
know, and all that we deserve of earthly paradise will come to us."
Wendell Berry , Full Quote: http://www1.ocn.ne.jp/~ikiru/berry.html
Carl Finch on tue 15 jan 02
At 07:57 AM 1/14/02 -0600, you wrote:
> As for me getting out of my own way????.....UHHH....duhhh....hmmmm...I'm
> trying!!.....Ouch!!!...HMMM!!!!!.....Anyone care to enlighten me on the
procedure?
Sure. Louis Jenkins has just what you need in his poem, "Walking Through a
Wall"
Unlike flying or astral projection,
Walking through a wall is an entirely earth-related craft.
But a lot more interesting than pot-making or driftwood lamps.
I got started at a picnic up in Bowstring,
In the northern part of the state.
A fellow walked right through a brick wall there in the park.
I said to myself, "Say, I want to try that!"
Stone walls are best--then brick, and wood.
Now wooden walls,
With fibreglass insulation,
And steel doors,
Aren't so good.
They won't hurt you;
If your wall-walking is done properly,
Both you and the wall are left intact.
It's just that they aren't pleasant, somehow.
The worst things are wire fences.
Maybe it's the molecular structure of the alloy,
Or just the amount of give in the fence.
I don't know,
But I've torn my jacket
And lost my hat
In a lot of fences.
The best approach to a wall is--first,
Two hands placed flat against the surface.
It's a matter of concentration--
And just the right pressure.
You feel the cool, dry, inner wall
With your fingers.
Then, there's a moment of total darkness,
Before you step through
On the other side.
(from An Almost Human Gesture)
--Carl (no indulgences needed)
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