Lily Krakowski on sun 25 may 03
This celebrated, time-tested, culture approved potter charges $375 for a
mug. Outrage is heard on CLAYART! It is a scam! It is a rip-off! How
dare he!
Are we all floating around on lily pads? Are we all lilies in the field?
A permanent and hair dye job costs about $50 (no my hair is untouched by
chemicals or human hands-I keep a specially trained woodchuck to cut it for
me!)
I have read that a mediocre restaurant in Bigger Cities expects $200 for a
meal for two.
I have read that theatre tickets in NYC start at $55.
The Better Papers advertize LOAFERSfor $400....
Let me proceed to accountants and lawyers who do not hesitate to charge from
$ 100 to $600 per hour. For what? Is there a millionth of the magic in a
tax return that there is in a mug
So? Why are we defiling our own nest?
I will assume Koie Rioji buys clay and mixes his own clay bodies. He needs
to keep and maintain and heat and clean and light a studio. He needs to mix
the clay and wedge it, and throw a mug. While throwing the mug probably
takes him 1 minute max, he already has, as we all do, several hours behind
it.
He is at the height of his fame, and still has, God bless him, the physical
stamina to pot. He may, however, want to salt away some yen for his old
age, for his wife, for his children....
WHY ON EARTH SHOULD A MASTER CRAFTSMAN, A MAN WHO HAS SERVED A LIFELONG
APPRENTICESHIP, A MAN WHO HAS EARNED A REPUTATION, CHARGE LESS FOR HIS TIME
THAN SOME MBA, LLD FRESHFACED G.A.P DRESSED, S.U.V.-DRIVING KID?
We have had ENDLESS arguments on Clayart and in the Clay media about how it
should not be necessary for a potter to take vows of poverty--so? SO?
Lili Krakowski
P.O. Box #1
Constableville, N.Y.
(315) 942-5916/ 397-2389
Be of good courage....
Rikki Gill on sun 25 may 03
Hi Lily, You are so right. Why is it considered virtuous for an artist to
live on peanuts, and scamlike for those who actually live well on genuine
money paid for their work? Talk about a glass ceiling. This last show I
didn't even offer my most expensive pieces. I knew they wouldn't sell at
the prices I think they deserve, so they are waiting it out. Thanks for
the post Rikki Gill
----- Original Message -----
From: "Lily Krakowski"
To:
Sent: Sunday, May 25, 2003 9:43 AM
Subject: Koie Rioji's prices
> This celebrated, time-tested, culture approved potter charges $375 for a
> mug. Outrage is heard on CLAYART! It is a scam! It is a rip-off! How
> dare he!
>
> Are we all floating around on lily pads? Are we all lilies in the field?
>
> A permanent and hair dye job costs about $50 (no my hair is untouched by
> chemicals or human hands-I keep a specially trained woodchuck to cut it
for
> me!)
>
> I have read that a mediocre restaurant in Bigger Cities expects $200 for a
> meal for two.
>
> I have read that theatre tickets in NYC start at $55.
>
> The Better Papers advertize LOAFERSfor $400....
>
> Let me proceed to accountants and lawyers who do not hesitate to charge
from
> $ 100 to $600 per hour. For what? Is there a millionth of the magic in a
> tax return that there is in a mug
>
>
> So? Why are we defiling our own nest?
>
> I will assume Koie Rioji buys clay and mixes his own clay bodies. He
needs
> to keep and maintain and heat and clean and light a studio. He needs to
mix
> the clay and wedge it, and throw a mug. While throwing the mug probably
> takes him 1 minute max, he already has, as we all do, several hours behind
> it.
>
> He is at the height of his fame, and still has, God bless him, the
physical
> stamina to pot. He may, however, want to salt away some yen for his old
> age, for his wife, for his children....
>
> WHY ON EARTH SHOULD A MASTER CRAFTSMAN, A MAN WHO HAS SERVED A LIFELONG
> APPRENTICESHIP, A MAN WHO HAS EARNED A REPUTATION, CHARGE LESS FOR HIS
TIME
> THAN SOME MBA, LLD FRESHFACED G.A.P DRESSED, S.U.V.-DRIVING KID?
>
> We have had ENDLESS arguments on Clayart and in the Clay media about how
it
> should not be necessary for a potter to take vows of poverty--so? SO?
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Lili Krakowski
> P.O. Box #1
> Constableville, N.Y.
> (315) 942-5916/ 397-2389
>
> Be of good courage....
>
>
____________________________________________________________________________
__
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.
>
>
Tony Ferguson on sun 25 may 03
Lily,
To answer your question: The mugs are not very well executed. Had they,
then he could price them however and I doubt anyone would have anything
against it. I think that they are poorly crafted, the higher priced tag
adds insult to injury. Just my 2 yen.
Thank you.
Tony Ferguson
On Lake Superior, where the sky meets the Lake
Stoneware, Porcelain, Raku and more
by Coleman, Ferguson, Winchester...
www.aquariusartgallery.com
218-727-6339
315 N. Lake Ave
Apt 312
Duluth, MN 55806
----- Original Message -----
From: "Lily Krakowski"
To:
Sent: Sunday, May 25, 2003 11:43 AM
Subject: Koie Rioji's prices
> This celebrated, time-tested, culture approved potter charges $375 for a
> mug. Outrage is heard on CLAYART! It is a scam! It is a rip-off! How
> dare he!
>
> Are we all floating around on lily pads? Are we all lilies in the field?
>
> A permanent and hair dye job costs about $50 (no my hair is untouched by
> chemicals or human hands-I keep a specially trained woodchuck to cut it
for
> me!)
>
> I have read that a mediocre restaurant in Bigger Cities expects $200 for a
> meal for two.
>
> I have read that theatre tickets in NYC start at $55.
>
> The Better Papers advertize LOAFERSfor $400....
>
> Let me proceed to accountants and lawyers who do not hesitate to charge
from
> $ 100 to $600 per hour. For what? Is there a millionth of the magic in a
> tax return that there is in a mug
>
>
> So? Why are we defiling our own nest?
>
> I will assume Koie Rioji buys clay and mixes his own clay bodies. He
needs
> to keep and maintain and heat and clean and light a studio. He needs to
mix
> the clay and wedge it, and throw a mug. While throwing the mug probably
> takes him 1 minute max, he already has, as we all do, several hours behind
> it.
>
> He is at the height of his fame, and still has, God bless him, the
physical
> stamina to pot. He may, however, want to salt away some yen for his old
> age, for his wife, for his children....
>
> WHY ON EARTH SHOULD A MASTER CRAFTSMAN, A MAN WHO HAS SERVED A LIFELONG
> APPRENTICESHIP, A MAN WHO HAS EARNED A REPUTATION, CHARGE LESS FOR HIS
TIME
> THAN SOME MBA, LLD FRESHFACED G.A.P DRESSED, S.U.V.-DRIVING KID?
>
> We have had ENDLESS arguments on Clayart and in the Clay media about how
it
> should not be necessary for a potter to take vows of poverty--so? SO?
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Lili Krakowski
> P.O. Box #1
> Constableville, N.Y.
> (315) 942-5916/ 397-2389
>
> Be of good courage....
>
>
____________________________________________________________________________
__
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.
>
Tony Ferguson on sun 25 may 03
Lily,
I have advocated and been repeatedly shot down for my idea that we should
all charge more for our work. WE have, in fact, people who still have 80's
or earlier prices on their work. I don't know about you, but a little extra
money and greater respect for our profession I think would be a good thing
for us all.
It is not what Koie is charging but what he is charging for and some folks
saw this as he taking advantage of his station--but I doubt it. Had the
work been better executed, in my opinion, then the price wouldn't matter. I
am reminded of Tony Canada's "You can shit the fans team but you can't shit
the players." A few of my potter friends (although its hard for them
because they are from Minnesota because we don't like to say anything
"mean") usually tell me straight up if something sucks or doesn't work. Of
course, it is a matter of subjectivity and sometimes we need to work through
cruddy work to get to the good stuff. Cruddy might also be seen as
experimental--whether or not it is well executed is another story and
whether or not you should put them up for sale, well, I guess, that is up to
you.
No doubtedly a collector of his will purchase the mugs because he made them
and good for him BUT COME ON, would you even put those up after a so many
year career in clay?
Gosh, when I think about it, after 40+ years I might just put something like
that up to see what kind of reaction I might get!
Maybe Koie is having the last laugh.
Koie has some extrememly kick'in teabowls. I suggest people check them out.
http://www.logix-press.com/artaccess/artpage99/koie1/koie.htm
Thank you.
Tony Ferguson
On Lake Superior, where the sky meets the Lake
Stoneware, Porcelain, Raku and more
by Coleman, Ferguson, Winchester...
www.aquariusartgallery.com
218-727-6339
315 N. Lake Ave
Apt 312
Duluth, MN 55806
----- Original Message -----
From: "Lily Krakowski"
To:
Sent: Sunday, May 25, 2003 11:43 AM
Subject: Koie Rioji's prices
> This celebrated, time-tested, culture approved potter charges $375 for a
> mug. Outrage is heard on CLAYART! It is a scam! It is a rip-off! How
> dare he!
>
> Are we all floating around on lily pads? Are we all lilies in the field?
>
> A permanent and hair dye job costs about $50 (no my hair is untouched by
> chemicals or human hands-I keep a specially trained woodchuck to cut it
for
> me!)
>
> I have read that a mediocre restaurant in Bigger Cities expects $200 for a
> meal for two.
>
> I have read that theatre tickets in NYC start at $55.
>
> The Better Papers advertize LOAFERSfor $400....
>
> Let me proceed to accountants and lawyers who do not hesitate to charge
from
> $ 100 to $600 per hour. For what? Is there a millionth of the magic in a
> tax return that there is in a mug
>
>
> So? Why are we defiling our own nest?
>
> I will assume Koie Rioji buys clay and mixes his own clay bodies. He
needs
> to keep and maintain and heat and clean and light a studio. He needs to
mix
> the clay and wedge it, and throw a mug. While throwing the mug probably
> takes him 1 minute max, he already has, as we all do, several hours behind
> it.
>
> He is at the height of his fame, and still has, God bless him, the
physical
> stamina to pot. He may, however, want to salt away some yen for his old
> age, for his wife, for his children....
>
> WHY ON EARTH SHOULD A MASTER CRAFTSMAN, A MAN WHO HAS SERVED A LIFELONG
> APPRENTICESHIP, A MAN WHO HAS EARNED A REPUTATION, CHARGE LESS FOR HIS
TIME
> THAN SOME MBA, LLD FRESHFACED G.A.P DRESSED, S.U.V.-DRIVING KID?
>
> We have had ENDLESS arguments on Clayart and in the Clay media about how
it
> should not be necessary for a potter to take vows of poverty--so? SO?
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Lili Krakowski
> P.O. Box #1
> Constableville, N.Y.
> (315) 942-5916/ 397-2389
>
> Be of good courage....
>
>
____________________________________________________________________________
__
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.
>
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