Janet Kaiser on thu 12 dec 02
With all due respect, David, you are confusing "wants" with "needs". A need
(as I use the definition) is something necessary to life. Sing with gusto
and jig along with Ballou: "The simple bare necessities, mother nature's
recipes..."
There are three basic needs: food/water, clothing and shelter. In western
society today, we could add other needs such as hygiene, heating and social
security. The latter being the fundamental meaning of the words as our
grandparents would have understood them, not the debased and abused meaning
with all the negative connotations the phrase awakens these days. Security
within society: the means by which individuals do not need to starve and or
be homeless at any time from the cradle to the grave. Only 10% of the
world's population can say their needs are secured for the present and the
future, so you are right to narrow the field of discussion down to the rich
west, even though 10% of your own population fall below poverty levels (UN
guidelines).
Everything above and beyond the basic needs or bare necessities becomes a
"want". Every penny which is spent above and beyond fulfilling the minimum
basic necessities becomes a "luxury". Bread is a need, butter and jam a
luxury. For sure, the more frivolous and faddish the luxury, the more
extravagant it is, but it is definitely not a necessity.
Yes, in this consumer-driven society, anyone who sells luxury products
manipulates the market so that everything from anti-aging cream to an
automobile appear suddenly appear to be needs. They are not. And once
people want, they start to make choices. A rescue dog from the pound versus
a $1,000 pooch with a pedigree. A 10 cent mug from a charity shop through
to a $1,000 cup from a ritzy gallery. What are the influences on the
choices they make? They are all economic, including fashion trends (=
market led). Sure the bag lady downtown would cherish a beautifully
hand-crafted soup bowl, but can she afford one? No, she will eat soup out
of a polystyrene bowl with a plastic spoon (which was possibly paid for by
an empty bowl donation by some poor? rich? potter). Does the millionaire
down the street who could afford a gross off the potter next door >wg<
choose to buy Wallmart or home-produced hand-crafted off his neighbour or
top-market, custom/import production ware? Not only aesthetic choices, but
market led and therefore economic.
The studio potter is definitely a player in the luxury league. They can
obviously play to win, but it takes a lot of hard work, skill, experience
and determination as you and others have pointed out so often. Even then, I
think we are all agreed, if there is some factor (such as health, age,
other economic commitments or location) not in their favour or one aspect
they overlook or disregard playing the game, they are not going to win...
THAT IS and has been the tenet of my posts. It is not meant to discourage
anyone from wishing or trying to become a self-employed, working potter.
But I feel it is a sort of moral duty to point out the true state of the
game. A bit of realism coming from a different angle if you will...
Whereas all you successful hands-on people are saying: "yes! go for it! BUT
be aware of this, this and that", I am saying "Beware of that, that and
this and if you are able to do this, this and that you will succeed".
However, I think we are all agreed, it takes more than mere courage,
commitment and hard work to become "successful"?
Sincerely
Janet Kaiser - on the coldest night of the year so far... A freezing East
wind straight from Siberia and Snowdonia dazzling in its first cloak of
winter snow. Just the day to have a rotten window taken out and replaced!
But the sun shone and the air had that wonderful clear quality so loved by
photographers and artists, as well as lesser mortals. But apparently too
cold for art lovers... Only eleven came to the preview today... No sales
:-( Nothing "cheap and cheerful" enough :-( But the 250+ invited guests do
not know what they are missing... "Winter in Wales" is a beautiful
exhibition... Over 30 artists and potters... AND THE POTS ARE WONDERFUL...
thank god so many did not take any notice of their parents, teachers and
well-meaning "career advisors"... The world would be a much poorer place
without them and their work. Just need people to come and share the
wonder... Anyone passing between now and January 5th? We are open every day
except Mondays, 24th and 25th December... Come help eat the 250 mince
pies!!
*********** REPLY SEPARATOR ***********
Subject: Yes, Virginia, there are successful potters
From: David Hendley
Time: 20:03 Date: 08/12/02
>snip<
>The argument that potters aren't paid well for their work because
>they do not produce something that is "needed" has no basis
>in reality. In this fantastically rich country (U.S.A., but equally other
>"developed" countries), mind-boggling sums of money are spent for
>trifles. Think "Pet Rock", or whatever the latest fad is. Think $90
>for a ticket to a basketball game.
>People routinely pay $40,000 for an automobile, when a $15,000
>vehicle can transport you with reliability and comfort. People pay
>$1,000 or more for dogs, when you can get all you want for free at
>the animal shelter. People spend billions for cosmetics, many of
>which contain clay that is being sold for the equivalent of $200
>a pound.
>snip<
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