Janet Kaiser on wed 10 apr 02
>> "Its purpose is to show the jury you are able to bring to the show
an entire body of work consistent with the four sample slides you
provided." <<
That is precisely the crux of the matter! CONSISTENCY... How wonderful
to hear someone trying to emphasise the point. I hear a lot of whining
about not getting into shows and "the same old names" keep
reappearing. But in all honesty at least those "same old names" have a
reputation, because their style is reflected in all their current work
and the venue/gallery/exhibitor can rely on them "delivering".
I get really cross when artists and makers bring me "a bit of this
and a bit of that". Nothing holds together as a body of work should
for exhibition. For example: one plate, one vase and a storage jar
(functional) or a two cows, a giraffe and "one of my new" abstract
shapes (non-functional/decorative). I sometimes feel like shouting;
"What the hell do you expect me to do with them? Open a white-elephant
stall?"
Not least because I find it rather insulting... Why? Because it looks
like they have gathered together leftovers from around the studio.
Sometimes it is obvious they have done just that, by the layer of
dust, splashes and other signs of old age (the pots, not the maker!).
Obviously anyone presenting work to a gallery for exhibition is
PRESUMED to be a skilled and professional maker, but a rag-bag of
mixed styles and objects is usually the easiest way to weed out the
wheat from the chaff. Aspiring potters have as good a chance as the
big names, if they can present a cohesive body of work for selection.
Showing four or five totally different pots may underscore the
versatility of the maker, but it is not reassuring and it also
undermines any credibility in consistency by the maker. The idea of a
booth shot is an excellent way of overcoming the dilemma for
shows/fairs IMHO. Now galleries just need to get the same idea across
to up-and-coming wannabe professionals. Too often I hear "Oh, I only
do one-off pieces" which actually means there is no way they could
repeat a particular form, style, glaze or whatever. That is extremely
weak and not the confidence-building sort of information we (as
galleries and buyers) want to hear.
Before the ranting starts: Even clay artists should produce series and
develop a personal style. This does not undermine their "creativity"
and "freedom", but strengthens their work. It is a paradox: artists
need the stamina to continue producing huge numbers/amounts of work,
so even a man on a galloping horse will instantly recognise an item as
being theirs. The potter has the advantage here, because consistency
is a recognised target of proficiency and skill.
Thank you very much for posting that Richard. I sincerely hope many
will "listen and learn".
Janet Kaiser
The Chapel of Art / Capel Celfyddyd
Home of The International Potters' Path
8 Marine Crescent : Criccieth : GB-Wales
URL: http://www.the-coa.org.uk
postbox@the-coa.org.uk
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