John Jensen on thu 21 mar 02
Great post, Mark. I spent a couple of winters on a small unheated boat,
though in Annapolis, not Paris. And I did manage to find occasional refuge
during the bitterest weeks. I think I actually did come close to dying some
nights. Anyway, thinking about the subject of handmade objects, I'm
remembering that some of my wealthier friends have been real big on handmade
stuff. Starting back in the late sixties with the "back to the earth"
movement, the only people who had the handmade look going were those who
were relatively poor but had lots of time on their hands to make stuff and
those who were relatively rich and could afford to pay the others to make
stuff for them. It was an interesting symbiosis: The two groups looked a
lot a like, their clothes were hand made, their houses had handmade
furniture, they both had a lot of art and sculpture around. But then
fashions changed, I guess and the wealthier ones started spending their
money on other things. Pottery figured prominently in those days.
Nowadays I think a lot about the Global economy. Likely I can only afford
most of the consumer goods I have today because of cruel labour practices in
such places as China. I don't really like to think about it, but I can't
avoid it. I just looked at the bottom of my computer mouse...(made in
China). Doubtlessly, my shoes, too are made in china; and a whole host of
household items I'd likely decide to do without if the cost reflected a true
fair wage to the makers.
What you are saying about us (artist/craftsmen) functioning in society as
healers is interesting and sounds true. Wendy Rosen touches on this when
she identifies our market as being partly made up of people who have
sacrificed their creative life to make a comfortable living, and are now
trying buy back a part of it through our work. If we are to be healers,
then maybe it makes sense to obey the old dictum: Physician, heal thyself.
Thanks for a very thoughtful post, it bears a few re- readings.
John Jensen, Mudbug Pottery, Annapolis
mudbug@toad.net, www.Toadhouse.com
Mark Potter on thu 21 mar 02
Hi John,
I like the observation 'heal thyself'. Sickness, injury, the need for
healing presupposes that it is not a unique condition, thus the healer must
heal himself first, one to come to an understanding, two, to make it
possible to heal others.
I almost went on to say that the obligation of a healer (Hippocrates) is to
do so regardless of payment . . . . felt I would be hitting an already dead
horse though. . . . just finished reading Leach's "A Potter in Japan", he as
you know is obcessed with the craftsman vs. industrial age dilemna. We could
drink more coffee than is in all of Columbia discussing this though. If I'm
down in the Maryland area I'll bring two of my biggest mugs and give you a
ring . .
REgards
Mark
-----Original Message-----
From: Ceramic Arts Discussion List [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG]On
Behalf Of John Jensen
Sent: Thursday, March 21, 2002 8:13 AM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Re: a handmade life, pricing it, in a machine made
Great post, Mark. I spent a couple of winters on a small unheated boat,
though in Annapolis, not Paris. And I did manage to find occasional refuge
during the bitterest weeks. I think I actually did come close to dying some
nights. Anyway, thinking about the subject of handmade objects, I'm
remembering that some of my wealthier friends have been real big on handmade
stuff. Starting back in the late sixties with the "back to the earth"
movement, the only people who had the handmade look going were those who
were relatively poor but had lots of time on their hands to make stuff and
those who were relatively rich and could afford to pay the others to make
stuff for them. It was an interesting symbiosis: The two groups looked a
lot a like, their clothes were hand made, their houses had handmade
furniture, they both had a lot of art and sculpture around. But then
fashions changed, I guess and the wealthier ones started spending their
money on other things. Pottery figured prominently in those days.
Nowadays I think a lot about the Global economy. Likely I can only afford
most of the consumer goods I have today because of cruel labour practices in
such places as China. I don't really like to think about it, but I can't
avoid it. I just looked at the bottom of my computer mouse...(made in
China). Doubtlessly, my shoes, too are made in china; and a whole host of
household items I'd likely decide to do without if the cost reflected a true
fair wage to the makers.
What you are saying about us (artist/craftsmen) functioning in society as
healers is interesting and sounds true. Wendy Rosen touches on this when
she identifies our market as being partly made up of people who have
sacrificed their creative life to make a comfortable living, and are now
trying buy back a part of it through our work. If we are to be healers,
then maybe it makes sense to obey the old dictum: Physician, heal thyself.
Thanks for a very thoughtful post, it bears a few re- readings.
John Jensen, Mudbug Pottery, Annapolis
mudbug@toad.net, www.Toadhouse.com
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Imzadi . on thu 21 mar 02
mudbug@TOAD.NET writes:
<< Wendy Rosen touches on this when
she identifies our market as being partly made up of people who have
sacrificed their creative life to make a comfortable living, and are now
trying buy back a part of it through our work. >>
John, do you have the original source for this quote? I'd like to quote her
too and I want to get the exact wording and source.
Thanks!
Imzadi
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