Lily Krakowski on mon 25 aug 03
I will send a long, dreadfully boring off list argument [I hope] raisonné to
the several who went into longer responses.
PLEASE TAKE NOTE I DID NOT BRING THIS UP. I responded to someone and
said--if I recall correctly--that no one is a god, and I shudder at the
words "guru" and "artist." Vince asked me what Weatern Culture had done to
me that I avoided the word " artist".(Actually the High Culture did me a lot
of good as well as bad)
Although Gayle included a dictionary definition, etymological dictionaries
--vide O.E.D.-- have it a bit differently.
But that is not quite it. As I oft have said, I came into the clay life
when the Arts and Crafts Movement still had a lot of influence. I believed
then as I do now that skill and knowledge is the ONLY thing. I bow before
the master potter. I bow before the plumber Snail mentions who is a master
of his craft.
I also bow before my friend Debbie. We both were at a retirement dinner at
the local hotel, when one of the bakers failed to show up. Whisper whisper
in Debbie's ear by Owner, Debbie goes into kitchen (nosey me followed)
wraps apron around elegantly-clad self, grabs decorating tubes and
decorates and INSCRIBES cake one two three. A wondrous, Wondraugh-like
performance!
To my sorrow, the attempt of the A & C Movement to reunite intellectual and
craftsman, white and blue collar in an egalitarian world of skill failed.
It's a world that split apart a long time ago, and the A & C Movement tried
to fix it. But the Movement failed. Few now even think about it. The
Academic/Crafts Complex which was discussed a few days back has now made it
de rigeur that one must have a degree, two degrees, a third degree....
Anyway. I do not want to try Mel's patience. I will end my side of the
story here. Anyone who wishes to discuss offlist, you got my number.
And you now all understand why I call myself a beauty, a genius, and on some
days (like when I have made tons of applesauce) a saint.
Lili Krakowski
Constableville, N.Y.
Be of good courage....
| |
|
