Lee Love on thu 10 jul 03
Hi Jeff,
Actually, I think you are in a pretty good environment, there in
Minnesota, because of all the work Warren MacKenzie has done. Most people he
taught or who have gone through his program at UofMN or who have studied at
Northern Clay Center do not become potters, but they do have a life long
appreciation of clay.
Did you read John's mentioning of Joan Mondale coming to the
Mashiko prize festivities, representing the Embassy when John was there?
Joan was there because of her pottery and craft associations back home in the
States. You know, she is a good friend of MacKenzie's and works at his studio.
If John was here during Ambassador Baker's stint at the Embassy, I'm pretty sure
Mrs. Baker wouldn't be making an appearance. Joan has done a lot of work to
promote craftwork in America. She and MacKenzie are two of our "National
Living Treasures."
So, there is a little bit of "the grass is always greener" effect going
on. One reason I think it might be easier for me to sell pots in Minnesota is
that while there is a population educated about pottery there, there is not the
same competition as there is here. Like I mentioned previously, there are
over 400 kilns here in Mashiko, in a small town of 25,000 people. At the
pottery festivals in the spring and fall, people come from Tokyo looking for
cheap pots. It is what the merchants promote at the festivals.
I chose to stay here in Japan and set up a pottery not because business
is better. The economic picture has been gloomy here, since the burst of the
"the Bubble." I made this decision because I wanted to learn more. Actually,
I know people who have studied with national living treasures, who are making
good work and they find it a struggle to make a living. All the "young"
potters I know, work long hours and usually have their pottery business
subsidized by outside work being done by themselves or their wives. They have
a strong work ethic here in Japan. It seems like the potters here work longer
hours than they do back home. They always seem busy. Many foreign potters
supplement their income by teaching english.
~~~~~~~Lee In Mashiko, Japan http://hachiko.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
* *
* Every man has enough power left to carry out that of *
* which he is convinced. *
~~~~~~~~~~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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