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talking/doing art thank you

updated wed 4 jun 03

 

Sara Hadd on mon 2 jun 03


I have recently started teaching pottery, and It is amazing to me how
many people have know idea of what in-tells the creative process. And
they do not give themselves the time to learn it . When I describe
things as a feeling, most look at me as if I am speaking Greek. The
children I teach, are much more willing to learn than any adult.
Children haven't strayed so far from themselves, they still allow
this secret from within to emerge. Thank you for the incite!


On Sunday, May 25, 2003, at 08:12 AM, mel jacobson wrote:

> i have thought and discussed this phenomenon for
> years. as a doer of art and craft for almost 50 years,
> it seems to me, that, we do art, we do craft, we think
> and then others tell us what we just did.
>
> the most amazing thing to me is; that the one's that
> tell us what we just did, or categorized us, are people
> that have never done art or craft. they talk and write
> about art and craft. i really prefer critique from people
> that have done more art than i have.
>
> i know, that the world needs both of them, doers and
> talkers, but i like to think that doers start the `ball rolling`.
> and, doers let the process of art direct their lives. we as
> doers do not sit around hour after hour thinking great thoughts.
> `well, let us see if my work fits into the cosmos and sense
> of modernity in this century.` no, i think we get after it...we
> let the materials and ideas come to us. it is the process of
> doing that makes the work happen.
>
> i know for sure, that when i paint and draw, i do not have great
> thoughts. i spend my time `looking`. things that happen in the
> painting direct me. often i feel the painting has a life of it's own.
> i am just the mediator.
>
> it is of great value to artists to have a dialogue with other
> artists and people of value. it does stimulate us to communicate.
> but saying that, helps me realize that when i do art work and craft
> my mind is on the task....it is about a series of work. change is slow
> and deliberate. the process dictates what is happening.
>
> i find the talkers are a bother in most cases.
> they assume knowledge, that they seldom know little
> about. they put words in the mouth of artists...often
> treating them as children. museum curators do this, literally all
> the time. i have a great deal of first hand knowledge of this. it can
> be predicted. the talking heads rule. and, they truly believe this.
>
> historians are a different story. their role is to study the past,
> analyze
> and compare from history what has gone before us. they usually do
> not assume knowledge of the thoughts of dead folks.
>
> artists historically have not been writers. they are visual folks and
> the
> written word may be difficult. andy goldsworthy said it very clearly
> in
> his movie...`i don't like to talk very much, i don't like people around
> very much, i like to get involved in my work.` others try and tell us
> what he is, what he does, and what he is thinking. i just look at the
> work. it does speak for itself, very well.
>
> one does not have to discuss the work of shimaoka with me. just look
> at the pots. they scream quality.
>
> i look at the paintings of mattise, diebenkorn, gustin, and i know
> that no one has to explain them to me. just look.
>
> well, it is a big and long, wordy topic.
> just what we do not like to do. talk about
> art. think i will get some clay and make some
> stuff. it makes me happy.
> mel
> a message from the farm at hay creek
>
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Sara Hadd
Computer Village
601 12th st. #2
Rapid City SD 57701

ph#605 343 6264
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sara@compuvill.com