Alisa Liskin Clausen on fri 4 apr 03
Manuals in 7 languages for even the electric screwdriver with a page warning
with pictures not to let your child chew the electrical cord. Yes, right on
the button Mel. However, my extruder. Nothing, nada. Just a handy eye
level steel plate to tell me to mount it eyelevel, use soft clay and two
other unmemorable tips.
I killed my shoulder because I did not constantly grease the barrel, I went
flying into that handy eyelevel panel when the middle section of the hollow
die snapped and what more. Oh, pound the clay to be extruded into a solid
brick for better extrusions. I worked it all out, but a piece of paper
could have gotten me there a little faster. The people are very nice to
talk to, but I had to call them on my Danish kroner to ask them about all
this stuff which I had no change to read about when I unpacked my beloved
extruder.
Why am I am griping so much today? I was rejected from a local show. It
was juried. Mostly paintings, a little mixed sculpture and ceramics
invited. The ceramic judge is a young ceramist from one of the design
schools. I am sure talented. She told the show's organizer she knows me,
but I do not know her, or at least, do not remember. Through a second voice
I was informed that I was rejected because my throwing is too "loose". She
is in doubt about my throwing ability. I am scratching my head. Was I
going up to my BFA studio final? The pots are loose and pushed around and
sparsely glazed. I usually try to exhibit cutting edge for me, my personal
best for the intentions I have right up to show time. I could label my
exhibition pots with date and time! Anyway, I am grumping, sour grapes,
around because I feel I paid some dues enough to have earned the right to
make pots stretching my abilities, not proving them. I should have my wheel
at the door so I can pull cylinders at ordered heights. Grump.
Am I discouraged?? Miffed. As it turns out she rejected all but 4 pots.
Not much of a show of clay left. I would have liked to see more embracing
of what we ceramists are doing here and now, encouragement and gladness.
This is a local show, yes a standard, but it seemed biased according to
what this juror considers "correct". I think there should work should be
technically sound as far as materials working, but aesthetically correct, I
cannot figure out. We have a lot of "correct clay" around here. I am sure
her picture of what is clay and mine are broadly different. All right. I
am right back in that studio making more loose pots. Next exhibition is May
1. Go for it.
Otherwise, happy and Spring like in little Aabenraa.
regards from Alisa in Denmark
chris on fri 4 apr 03
Alisa,
Don't be dicouraged by one person's opinon. I'm a student and we recently
had a visting artist - Jeff Oestriche - he really liked my pots - they are
very loose and just barely functional with big loopy handles - with all the
seams showing and decorated with sprigs- he really liked how much they
showed the touch and voice of the artist - so after that critique i entered
our lowly school competition pretty sure of myself - but my work was
rejected by the juror who later told me that he thought ceramics were
supposed to be thin and delicate and he couldn't understand why everything
coming out of our department was so "chunky".
oh well - you can't please everybody as long as you like your pots, i think
that is all that matters.
chris massingill
----- Original Message -----
From: "Alisa Liskin Clausen"
To:
Sent: Friday, April 04, 2003 2:29 AM
Subject: Re: shop manual/wheels and grump.
> Manuals in 7 languages for even the electric screwdriver with a page
warning
> with pictures not to let your child chew the electrical cord. Yes, right
on
> the button Mel. However, my extruder. Nothing, nada. Just a handy eye
> level steel plate to tell me to mount it eyelevel, use soft clay and two
> other unmemorable tips.
>
> I killed my shoulder because I did not constantly grease the barrel, I
went
> flying into that handy eyelevel panel when the middle section of the
hollow
> die snapped and what more. Oh, pound the clay to be extruded into a solid
> brick for better extrusions. I worked it all out, but a piece of paper
> could have gotten me there a little faster. The people are very nice to
> talk to, but I had to call them on my Danish kroner to ask them about all
> this stuff which I had no change to read about when I unpacked my beloved
> extruder.
>
> Why am I am griping so much today? I was rejected from a local show. It
> was juried. Mostly paintings, a little mixed sculpture and ceramics
> invited. The ceramic judge is a young ceramist from one of the design
> schools. I am sure talented. She told the show's organizer she knows me,
> but I do not know her, or at least, do not remember. Through a second
voice
> I was informed that I was rejected because my throwing is too "loose".
She
> is in doubt about my throwing ability. I am scratching my head. Was I
> going up to my BFA studio final? The pots are loose and pushed around and
> sparsely glazed. I usually try to exhibit cutting edge for me, my
personal
> best for the intentions I have right up to show time. I could label my
> exhibition pots with date and time! Anyway, I am grumping, sour grapes,
> around because I feel I paid some dues enough to have earned the right to
> make pots stretching my abilities, not proving them. I should have my
wheel
> at the door so I can pull cylinders at ordered heights. Grump.
>
> Am I discouraged?? Miffed. As it turns out she rejected all but 4 pots.
> Not much of a show of clay left. I would have liked to see more embracing
> of what we ceramists are doing here and now, encouragement and gladness.
> This is a local show, yes a standard, but it seemed biased according to
> what this juror considers "correct". I think there should work should be
> technically sound as far as materials working, but aesthetically correct,
I
> cannot figure out. We have a lot of "correct clay" around here. I am
sure
> her picture of what is clay and mine are broadly different. All right.
I
> am right back in that studio making more loose pots. Next exhibition is
May
> 1. Go for it.
>
> Otherwise, happy and Spring like in little Aabenraa.
>
> regards from Alisa in Denmark
>
>
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Alisa Liskin Clausen on fri 4 apr 03
Hi Chris,
Jeff was at the 92nd Y when I took classes there a few moons ago. His pots
have a lot of personality and show his voice with those spouts, etc. I am
pleased that you received positive reinforcement from him. Concerning a
juror who thinks that ceramics are supposed to be thin and delicate: I
suppose because it is a technical challenge to get a stone like material to
feel like paper, makes it an interesting goal. In many instances in life,
we think we want to be what we are not. There is nothing wrong with a pot
that weighs something. On the contrary, I like using pots that have a
reasonable weight, as opposed to lifting a mug that is so surprisingly
light that the coffee goes straight on my chest. Equally, for every nicely
weighted pot, there is a paper thin porcelain pot that is appealing. I was
at a very impressionable period in my life when I took a class from Peter
Volkous. No matter where else I go with clay, I migrate back to pushed
around forms.
Just that idea of what clay is supposed to be, is what I find extremely
wrong. Saying the same about people would be considered racism.
Anyway, good for you, enjoy your school time. It is a very special part of
the ceramic journey, that total immersion and support system. Looking
forward to hearing about your trials and successes on the list.
regards from Alisa in Denmark
PS You might enjoy looking at some of Betty Woodman's loopy handled
tray-bowls. The ones I am thinking of were made in the late 70's.
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