Lily Krakowski on tue 17 sep 02
Watched TV. Noticed we are in the 21st Century. Went to my studio. No
century at all. The clay was around since time immemorial, the water
recycled from day one, etc. Someone commented recently on our 'still'
working with fire, earth, water, and air--so how does the century apply?
Of course Binns--have not read Bourry, trying to locate, etc--lived in his
time. The equipment he used was different. He flung lead about, as did so
many till recent times--remember in the 50's we still handled raw lead with
bare hands and no masks--had far more limitted firing possibilities --anyone
remember Revelation Muffle kilns?-- BUT THE SPIRIT WAS THE SAME!!!
Steve Dalton speaks of philosophy. He is quite right. When we read Leach
and Binns and other older writers, even if we read old Craft Horizons and
Ceramics Monthlies we read about other times, and other thought. THAT IS
EXACTLY WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING. We should know our own history, we should
know those who came before us. Because we ourselves are the product of our
teachers who were taught by their teachers who were taught by theirs, and we
are only rethinking and reappraising what went before.
CERTAINLY RECIPES AND TECHNICAL ADVICE IN OLD BOOKS MUST BE EXAMINED AND
QUESTIONED AND EVALUATED FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF WHAT WE KNOW TODAY. AND
CERTAIN PROCEDURES DISCARDED AS THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY BETTER SAFER
MODERN ONES.
But the ideas.... no... they are part of us, and should remain.
Lili Krakowski
P.O. Box #1
Constableville, N.Y.
(315) 942-5916/ 397-2389
Be of good courage....
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