Ned Ludd on sun 18 may 03
Hi Chris
My kind of Guild? Definitely Number Two.
Why?
Well, it's Medieval, for starters! The more I see of modern life the
more I love the 12th through 14th centuries. Great bread and all
kinds of cakes, thanks to the Bakers Guild, geddit, nudge nudge! Ale
for breakfast. Affordable housing. No time cards. No TV. No drug war.
Sumptuous clothing: codpieces that would make Clennell blush.
Women in long gowns and tight bodices. Oh!
Sure, there was compulsory churchgoing - but at least the Soul was
valued then, unlike now. It wasn't all solemn either - recall the
riotous Feast of Fools, which saw the clergy braying like donkeys,
hamming like apes - and in church too on that one day of the year.
There were fabulous and frequent Fairs on saints-day
holidays.....
But yes, horrible things could and did happen - one thinks of the
torture and execution of merely oddball men and women as witches. Yet
just as bad things happen in the world today - think Rwanda, Kosovo -
not to mention the unprecedented devastation to our precious planet
in the name of Progress. At least the Medievals did not suffer that
pernicious curse.
Most of all I respect that era because it admired and celebrated
beauty, beauty in all forms, whereas we serfs of modernity
increasingly scorn beauty. Don't believe me? Check out what our
rulers are wearing, and compare to the garb of the Kings, Queens,
Princes and Ladies of old Europe. Compare their homes, so far as
painters of old have depicted aristocratic interiors. See my point?
When it came to craft, those medievals did awesomely, considering
their low tech tools. And also when it comes to craft organisations.
Our rumored, exacting Potters Professional Association has _nothing_
on these guys.
For professionals and committed amateurs who care about making the
best work they can, and getting good exposure and a good price for
it, Guild number two, the medieval model, is the way to go. Such a
Guild is avowedly selective but also democratic. It makes sure that
ware for sale by members passes design and safety standards and is
not sold below a fair price. This is vital, as underselling pottery
damages ALL potters' interests by misrepresenting to the public the
value of good craftwork, misleading it to expect good craft to be
cheaper than it costs us to make.
A guild should work to guard the integrity of the Craft of Pottery.
It could sponsor awards, grants, residencies, set up shows, run
classes with certification for beginning students through advanced -
all with the mission of promoting high standards in our cherished
craft.
If we do not safeguard and pass on excellence, let us not be
surprised if our grandkids-in-clay start bringing home awards for
garish crap only feckless academics and trendy Manhattan gallery
owners could love.
Mind you, there's nothing wrong with definition Number One, if a
potters get-together and annual street fair and potluck is what we
want. But without high standards and noble goals, why bother?
best
Ned, off to Sherwood forest in his dreams, to feast with his outlaw
friends. Richard Coeur de Lion lives!
>Here are two common definitions of a 'Guild".
>
>1. a club, society, or other organization of people with common
>interests or goals.
>
>2. an association of craftspeople, formed to give help and
>advice to its members and to
>make regulations and set standards for a particular trade.
>
>If you had a choice of joining either one, which one would you
>prefer.... especially in
>regards to making regulations and setting standards?
>
>Chris Campbell - in North Carolina - whew ... it is cold and rainy
>down south !!!
ccpottery@BELLSOUTH.NET on sun 18 may 03
Here are two common definitions of a 'Guild".
1. a club, society, or other organization of people with common interests or goals.
2. an association of craftspeople, formed to give help and advice to its members and to
make regulations and set standards for a particular trade.
If you had a choice of joining either one, which one would you prefer.... especially in
regards to making regulations and setting standards?
Chris Campbell - in North Carolina - whew ... it is cold and rainy down south !!!
Chris
Chris Campbell Pottery, LLC
9417 Koupela Drive
Raleigh, North Carolina 27615-2233
Phone : 1-800-652-1008
fax : 919-676-2062
e-mail : ccpottery@bellsouth.net
web : www.wholesalecrafts.com
Jeremy McLeod on sun 18 may 03
ccpottery@BELLSOUTH.NET wrote:
> Here are two common definitions of a 'Guild".
>
> 1. a club, society, or other organization of people with common interests or goals.
>
> 2. an association of craftspeople, formed to give help and advice to its members and to
> make regulations and set standards for a particular trade.
>
> If you had a choice of joining either one, which one would you prefer.... especially in
> regards to making regulations and setting standards?
>
The Medieval resonances of the second definition make it less attractive to me. I'm not
against help, advice, standards and even regulations, mind you. I simply prefer to understand
them in community structures that are less heirarchical, more collaborative.
That's why I appreciate being part of a Potters Association, a group of folks with common
interests (clay) and goals (hawking our wares, socializing, being collegial clay folks).
There's lots to appreciate about Medieval culture/etc. as well... I'm just not enamored of the
ill effects of top-down exercise of power/authority. Yes, the Guilds were a way for artisans
to gain and hold power overagainst the ill effects of feudal society. They did so, however, by
establishing as rigidly heirarchical structures and if one was an artisan and NOT in a Guild,
well... it wasn't pretty.
Climbing down off my soapbox.
Jeremy McLeod
Penni Stoddart on sun 18 may 03
In our guild it is both.
We have fellowship, friendships. It is a like a club sometimes. Relaxed,
friendly, informal.
We also do yearly sales (2x a year) and there are set standards for these
sales. Members who have not previously been in the sale are juried in by the
guild executive. We have a quality control group that goes around just
before the sale opens and checks for flaws (glaze, bottoms, chip, cracks)
anything that would be considered a second. We also have classes and
workshops and monthly programs. All of which promote the art, set standards
and give help and advice to the members.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Penni Stoddart
of Penelope's Pots
Full Time Education Assistant,
Part Time Potter
I live in my own little world.....but it's okay, they all know me here.
Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, because you are crunchy and
taste good with ketchup.
Susan Setley on sun 18 may 03
In a message dated 5/18/03 10:51:00 AM, ccpottery@BELLSOUTH.NET writes:
<< Here are two common definitions of a 'Guild".
1. a club, society, or other organization of people with common
interests or goals.
2. an association of craftspeople, formed to give help and advice to its
members and to
make regulations and set standards for a particular trade.
If you had a choice of joining either one, which one would you prefer....
especially in
regards to making regulations and setting standards? >>
The first. The last thing art needs is group standards. Carpenters should
have standards. Sculptors in wood should be free.
Bob Nicholson on mon 19 may 03
>Here are two common definitions of a 'Guild".
>
>1. a club, society, or other organization of people with common
>interests or goals.
>
>2. an association of craftspeople, formed to give help and
>advice to its members and to
>make regulations and set standards for a particular trade.
>
>If you had a choice of joining either one, which one would you
>prefer.... especially in
>regards to making regulations and setting standards?
Chris, this is a really good question.
Our Guild has formally surveyed about 18 others (you can see the results
at http://www.ovcag.org/guilds/), and we've communicated with at least 50.
The activities amf d goals of the guilds vary widely, but almost all fall
within definition (1). About the closest that most groups come to (2) is
jurying of members.
And yet, it seems to me that the standards role is an important one that
is totally missing. I've seen too many practicing potters who do not
understand how to formulate or test for a safe, durable glaze. I've seen
people sell work that was not properly vitrified, or was carbon-cored.
When, through lack of knowledge, people sell work that is not properly
made, it reflects badly on all artisan potters, and can pose real health
and safety risks. Yes, these problems should be corrected in schools,
but many do a poor job, and in any event, many potters don't get formal
training. There are laws in most states regarding glaze safety, but there
is no inspection or enforcement.
So yes, I could envision a (voluntary) Guild certification that served a
real purpose and made a real contribution to our profession. I think a
good follow-up to your question might be:
(A) What standards would be appropriate for Guilds to set, and
(B) How could a standards program be set up and run?
Personally, I'd like to see a heavy educational aspect. I don't think
anyone sets out to make bad ware, but many have never been taught
any better. (I also notice that most people who responded to your
message reacted to the "regulations" part, and didn't comment on
the "help and advice." The two need to go together!)
- Bob
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