m markey on tue 25 mar 03
My thoughts about this matter--
I'm glad one or two of you actually answered the question, providing
information about credit card machines, and not about the wares being
imported.
I wonder if there are any individuals in China struggling, like us in the
USA, to make a living being independent potters? Perhaps this is what's
being imported, not mass-made products.
There is no indication whether the pots mentioned by the person who wrote
the inquiry, are mass-made or made by folks in China, who are making little
for their hard work, like us!
I'd appreciate if we could get clarification about this?
Mohabee NakedClay@hotmail.com
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Lois Ruben Aronow on wed 26 mar 03
I am one of the people who actually answered the question. And
planning on commenting on the "buy american" propaganda, as always, I
feel hard pressed to keep my big redheaded new yorker mouth shut.
I make a point to try and raise my children to be both color and
culture blind. What an incredibly boring world it would be if we were
all the same. Likewise, what a dull world it would be if we weren't
exposed to the cultures of others. =20
There are indeed people all over the world who are struggling to get
their wares out there, noticed, sold and appreciated. My personal
collection holds pieces from all over the world - favorite british
potters - there are quite a few and I worship them. A large and
glorious crystalline platter my husband schlepped back from a trip to
New Zealand. How he got it back here is a miracle to this day - the
thing has to be 20" across at least. A small partridge feather piece
from Singapore. A handmade celadon bowl with sprig (complete with
wooden handmade box) from China - a gift as payment for work done by
my husband. =20
And, of course, my dinnerware - commercial and from France. I could
easily make our set, or buy from friends, but this set is a lively and
singing crackled green. I enjoy it every day and it is admired by
others, including other potters. I recently saw a commercial teapot
with a beaded glaze so very different from my own. It was in a
chinese medicine store, and the owner told me she bought it in
Chinatown. As commercial as you can get, and yet it yells my name
everyday as I walk past the store. I'll be making a trip to
chinatown to get one. And no, I don't feel threatened by it. I am
challenged and inspired. I want to figure out how they did these
pinpoint beads and use it to further my own work.
Another story: I recently had my work picked up by a chic housewares
store in a newly toney section of Brooklyn. A super large order! The
woman who owns the store also bought from a company in Australia,
called Mud Australia, who do super large earthenware bowls, platters
and vases. The company is really two women, and their work rocks.
The store owner features other commercial work that is well chosen,
lovely, beautifully made, and deserves to be seen, bought and
appreciated.
And then there are the local heroes - Jonathan Adler comes to mind -
who boast of being american and a potter, yet have their work made in
Mexico. So you really never know what you're getting by "buying
american".
I agree with the idea of buying locally, supporting mom and pop
business, and being both ecologically and economically green, But I
also feel it's just as bigoted and separatist to ignore and boycott
the works of other simply because they are from other places. What a
boring world it would be. =20
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