mel jacobson on thu 31 jul 03
i do not have to defend ron roy, he is more
than competent to do that, and he has.
it is important that folks do not mix oranges and apples.
because modern potters talk of the durability of functional
earthenware dishes, how easily they break, how they
can blow up in microwaves....is not an indictment to
those that make earthenware, or the vast history of
potters that made it...no one is bashing maria martinez...
no one is smacking pre-columbian potters...it is a scientific
fact that stoneware is more durable than earthenware...you
learned that in `clay 101`. (remember pounding nails
with a solid stoneware bowl.)
would anyone with a brain cook in a maria pot? would
you microwave in one of her treasures?
of course not. it would be silly to muck up her fine
work...with a burned taco.
most clear thinking potters know and respect the work of
earthenware potters. their place is fixed right next to, not
below, stoneware potters. each of us finds a work style, a
clay, a firing technique that fits our personality. we have
chosen how we want to work. that is the freedom of choice
that artists have. if a hierarchy exists, it is usually in the minds
of weak folks. those who have to bash others to make themselves feel
superior. it is like the ph.d. art historian working at the museum.
`oh, you dirty silly potters, get a life`. `no, we have ours, do you?
do you do anything but read about others work, no, we do our work.
we add to the millions of years of folks that make things, and we are
proud of it.`
i have some simple rules, see if they fit:
hand building is much more difficult than throwing.
controlling earthenware, and decorating it, is more
difficult than porcelain.
decoration on earthenware can be very flamboyant, it
takes that type of person to do it. stoneware and
porcelain is much more boring in glaze pallet.
high temperature kilns take a bit of learning.
pit firing, raku, and earthenware take a bit of learning.
if you do not understand and respect fire, you have
a problem. learning the entire curve of firing makes
you a complete potter. no one temp is better than
another temp, unless you want it to make a `hot dish`.*
learning and respecting all forms of clay-work is
essential to being a `complete potter`.
if you look down your nose at another potters work
as being inferior, well you have a personal problem.
(something like being an ass#&$# )
well, enough said. i have cleansed myself.
hot dish*
in a stoneware casserole place some
browned hamburger, add one can of
campbell's cream of mushroom soup. add
one can of green giant baby peas. stir around.
add to the top some canned onion topping.
bake in the oven for half hour at 350F.
serve to a church group with `bars`*
and some of the thousands of jars of jelly that
primmalmommy is spreading across the country.
soul food for nordics.
*bars
lots of gooey sugar stuff in a square pan.
bake, and serve...all will go...`hey, der youse,
what great bars. serve in slices 2X3x1"...and
force at least six on each person , serve
with that jam/jelly stuff.
From:
Minnetonka, Minnesota, U.S.A.
web site: my.pclink.com/~melpots
or try: http://www.pclink.com/melpots
new/ http://www.TICK-ATTACK.COM
Kathi LeSueur on fri 1 aug 03
melpots@PCLINK.COM wrote:
> hot dish*
> in a stoneware casserole place some......
> add one can of green giant baby peas.>>
Mel,
Just make sure those green giant baby peas are LESUEUR baby peas in the
silver can.
Kathi LeSueur
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