Jon Singer on wed 30 apr 03
I am very lefthanded, and although I can certainly throw with the wheel
going counterclockwise if there is real need, I'm not particularly good
at it
and I don't like it.
In other words, this DOES make a difference, at least to some of us.
I encourage all of you who throw, btw, to try it yourself if you
haven't
already done so: reverse your wheel or find one that goes the other way,
and throw on it. Give it a fair chance -- do it several times, so you
aren't
just having trouble because of the newness. If you happen to find that
the direction of rotation doesn't make any difference to you, which is
entirely possible, that's great. I suspect, however, that most of you
will
find, if you try it, that one direction works a lot better for you than
the other.
(In my more jaundiced moments I'd suggest that you do it until it really
bothers you, to drive home the point so you won't _ever_ force anyone
to throw in a way that doesn't suit them.)
I realize that most lefties are quite comfortable throwing on a wheel
that
turns counterclockwise. That's as may be, and it's fine; but it's
definitely
no excuse for a "one size fits all" attitude on anyone's part,
regardless of
their handedness. (I hope Tony Birks is out there listening, because I
found his book inaccurate and rather offensive in this regard.)
Cheers, all --
jon
PS: I spoke with a Japanese potter last summer, and he told me that a
few
extremely lefthanded potters in Japan run their wheels
counterclockwise...
Elizabeth Priddy on wed 30 apr 03
I wasn't dismissing lefties as having a mental need. i teach them how to do it in a way that is not as reliant on one hand or the other. My technique for throwing is honest to god different from others. I teach people in groups of six gathered in a circle. I let them throw whichever way they choose.I keep a mirror handy in the room. I let the lefties watch my demonstrations in it. I make sure my righties use both hands too.
Jon Singer wrote:I am very lefthanded, and although I can certainly throw with the wheel
going counterclockwise if there is real need, I'm not particularly good
at it
and I don't like it.
In other words, this DOES make a difference, at least to some of us.
I encourage all of you who throw, btw, to try it yourself if you
haven't
already done so: reverse your wheel or find one that goes the other way,
and throw on it. Give it a fair chance -- do it several times, so you
aren't
just having trouble because of the newness. If you happen to find that
the direction of rotation doesn't make any difference to you, which is
entirely possible, that's great. I suspect, however, that most of you
will
find, if you try it, that one direction works a lot better for you than
the other.
(In my more jaundiced moments I'd suggest that you do it until it really
bothers you, to drive home the point so you won't _ever_ force anyone
to throw in a way that doesn't suit them.)
I realize that most lefties are quite comfortable throwing on a wheel
that
turns counterclockwise. That's as may be, and it's fine; but it's
definitely
no excuse for a "one size fits all" attitude on anyone's part,
regardless of
their handedness. (I hope Tony Birks is out there listening, because I
found his book inaccurate and rather offensive in this regard.)
Cheers, all --
jon
PS: I spoke with a Japanese potter last summer, and he told me that a
few
extremely lefthanded potters in Japan run their wheels
counterclockwise...
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Elizabeth Priddy
www.angelfire.com/nc/clayworkshop
Beaufort, NC
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