Dupre Mr Marcy M on mon 9 dec 02
Dear World-wide Clayart Community and all Mudslingers everywhere,
The topic under discussion is =93Why, oh, why do we do this?=94 Why, =
indeed?
Emile Zola said, =93I am an artist=85 I am here to live out loud.=94 =
That about
describes it. For me, at least.
Some background for those who might be interested, or so crushingly =
bored
that you have nothing else to do but read the dribblings of a diseased =
mind=85
I was born into a military family 57 years ago. Nearly everyone in the
family has been in military uniform-Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, all =
the
way back to the 1600s. It is what we do. Nearly all those in uniform
practiced some form of art, as well. Painters, musicians, sculptors, =
and
one lousy potter (me!). =20
That is also something we do.
I studied both military science and pottery at the University of =
Florida in
the early 1970s. Served in the Army in one fashion or another from =
1963 to
1999. Couldn=92t very well carry a studio all over the world with me, =
so put
my love of clay in abeyance until after I retired from the Army. Now, =
our
garage is my studio, and I am having an unmitigated BLAST re-learning =
to
work with clay.
It is what I do.
My =93day job=94 is programming conflict scenarios for computer =
simulations for
the Marine Corps. I work in a highly charged atmosphere of wartime
preparations at the Marine University on Quantico in Virginia. I =
speak,
read, and write =93militarynamese,=94 so I work well with young =
warriors,
getting ready to go prosecute combat for the nation.
After I get through for the day, imagining the worst that could happen =
and
creating computer-based exercises to teach young warriors how to =
overcome
the setbacks and shortcomings of our method of war, I retreat to my =
studio
to attempt to make things of beauty. To offset the horrors I must =
imagine=85
When I was a teacher for the Army, I worked with young officers. =
Strong,
capable, eager, energetic, woefully ignorant and inexperienced. One of =
the
things I had them do was write poetry. Yes, poetry. Original, =
unfettered,
unashamed poetry. It could rhyme, or not. Iambic pentameter or free =
verse.
Sonota form or limerick...
But it had to be from the heart. =93Gee, sir. Poetry is for sissies. =
You
know, guys with lacy sleeves and a dreamy look on their face. Why do =
we
have to write poetry?=94
Because anyone who is conversant with language can write a fragment of
prose. Prose that means nearly nothing. When you write poetry, you =
have to
pull out a piece of yourself and bare it to the world. When you do =
this,
you are vulnerable and open. You now are aware of the cost of =
creation.
And perhaps you will be more aware of the worth of you have to destroy =
in
the conduct of our business of war.
=93Shit, sir. That=92s HEA-VY!=94
So, the short version of all this is that I do what I do because I =
cannot
avoid doing it. =93I am an artist=85I am here to live out loud.=94 My =
medium is
clay. Those who like what I do express that liking by exchanging =
pictures
of dead presidents for my work.
Will I ever achieve fame and fortune? Maybe, maybe not. As long as I =
can
work with Mother Earth, Water, Air, and Fire, I shall be content.
It is, after all, what I do.
Thanks for all the great suggestions on pulling handles. Yeah, yeah, =
yeah=85
=93Practice, practice, practice.=94 I already knew that, but I =
didn=92t want to
do it. Just wanted the =93E-Z Handle Way Out.=94 But =
then, you all
knew that, didn=92t you? :o)
Happy Holidays, Smooth Mud, and Hot Fires to all,
Tig
In Springfield, VA
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