Craig Clark on wed 11 sep 02
Mel, at risk of being reviled and ridiculed as a ditto-head.....AMEN
BROTHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Word Up,
What You Said,....Yeahussss, Yeahuss, Yeauss!!! Right on! Succinctly and
aptly put. It would have taken me at least twice the verbage to say less.
Craig Dunn Clark
619 East 11 1/2 st
Houston, Texas 77008
(713)861-2083
mudman@hal-pc.org
----- Original Message -----
From: "mel jacobson"
To:
Sent: Tuesday, September 10, 2002 4:35 PM
Subject: art/craft (long)
> those of you that know me, at least that know my
> work...know that i spend almost equal time between
> pots and painting.
>
> i have spent almost 40 years of my life teaching `ART`.
>
> i have very strong opinions about how to teach `ART`.
> and, very strong opinions as to what is `ART`.
>
>
> i have concluded over the years that art can be taught. learned.
> it can be studied, and taken in. people that say they have
> no talent, can be taught to draw. taught to paint. taught
> to be creative.
>
> it is a learning curve thing. the more you do, the more you
> learn, the more creative you become.
>
> as i told students for years. `creativity does not come in the
> form of a lightning bolt, wham, hits you in the ear...and
> creative things happen. it comes slow and steady with the
> most important findings coming at the end of a long series...
> or, at the end of the day when you have made 100 pots. or,
> perhaps completed a painting.` the world has it all wrong. art
> is learned for those that are normal, every day folks. genius
> is another factor, not to be confused with the run of the mill, normal
> folks that love to make things. we do not compare genius with us.
>
> craft is the work-a-day study of what we like to do. craftsmanship
> is the perfection of that study. craft is the building and making
> of art. ideas, creativity, spontaneity are all factors in becoming
> an artist. we have to be open to these elements, they are not
> born to many of us. the work, the study, the application of
> art, starts with craft. how do you make a stretcher, how do you
> apply canvas, how do you size it. how do you mix paint, how do
> you apply paint, what is the ground, what is the perspective, what
> is the color harmony, what is the space element??? these elements of
> art are worked on over a life time. when an artist has mastered these
> basic elements, has them as part of his or her body and mind, art
> proceeds without any hamper. the mind is turned to the `work`...not
> the how to do.
>
> when you make pots, you must master the elements of throwing, building,
clay
> body, glaze, chemistry, physics, fire. nothing much creative happens
until
> you are in control of your media. people think that they can make
> great art without study, but what happens is `accidental`. control
> of the media means that you can repeat success, over and over.
> craftsmanship means you have control. with control comes confidence,
> with confidence comes more work, more work makes the end
> result better, then you get more confidence.
> a wonderful cycle.
> craft, confidence, control, craftsmanship, creativity, art.
>
> when the world at large rejects your work, well maybe you have
> a problem. maybe it is time to re-evaluate. good friends and teachers
> will give solid critique, honest, straight forward critique with
constructive
> help. it often hurts those that have grown up thinking that whatever
> they do is wonderful, and they cannot do wrong. sorry, i have never
> found anyone that cannot get help, or that could not use solid discussion
> with friends and teachers. critique is about the work, not the person.
> the work must always be judged. often you are the worst judge.
> when the maker gets caught up in the work, it is hard to step away,
> judge objectively. others can see more clearly. (at least well trained,
> honest professionals.)
>
> it amazes me how we honor professional help in law, medicine, finance
> and auto repair, but will not accept that same help within art. i see
> it all the time, hear the same old saw. ` i am creative, have vision
> and always am looking for the new.` bull. it is solid work and study
> that comes from years of work that makes new....it comes in
> little pieces, not a tidal wave.
>
> it is like a teenage kid, baggy pants, ear rings, tattoos. just like
> all the rest. and they think they are being a cool `new wave`
> out there person. clones. all the same. and, being the same
> makes them comfortable. like art, they `think` they are doing
> it to be new.
>
> time, a great deal of time and work makes art.
> craftsmanship takes time and study.
> repeat lessons, over and over. mind, body, body memory,
> all working together. it does not happen in four years, or ten
> years, it happens over the life of the maker.
> we can hardly tell when we improve. it just happens.
>
> the big `A` art folks with ph.d.'s and run fancy museums
> and write for big magazines and papers do not do art.
> the talk of art. in many cases, over and over the artist
> and the crafts person is treated as a silly child. what makes
> and pisses many of us off...real big time, is that condescending
> attitude....`well you know, they are just potters and craft people.
> we are looking for great ideas`. and, it does piss us off. how many
> quality pot shows have you seen in major museums? none.
> they show old chinese and japanese pots. swoon over them.
> collect them. but, not many contemporary potters get their
> work shown next to those old pots. some, now and then, but
> not like painting, drawing, prints and sculpture. and it does not
> change. the attitudes are built in.
>
> just saw a show in mpls at the museum, a thousand rocks
> on the floor, about 80 pieces a clear plastic standing upright.
> what was it? junk. found objects placed together. it was
> something right out of the 70's. great vision, i think not.
> craftsmanship, i think not, control of media, i think not.
> artist, i think not. old idea? yes. i left that show again,
> pissed off. `what the hell was that about?` nothing.
> well, off the box.
> i have strong opinions, and they are mine.
> but, i have spent almost 70 years gathering
> them up. and i spit them out from time to time.
> with affection.
> mel
>
>
>
>
> From:
> Minnetonka, Minnesota, U.S.A.
> web site: my.pclink.com/~melpots
> or try: http://www.pclink.com/melpots
>
>
____________________________________________________________________________
__
> 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.
| |
|
