Tig Dupre on sun 21 dec 03
First, my congratulations to ALisa! Good going! Glad someone out there recognizes all the knowledge and hard work you've put in to your profession.
Second, my personal best wishes to all during this special season. Irrespective of religious beliefs, this is a season of renewal and rebirth. I wish you all the absolute best in the year to come, and just enough clouds in your life to make a truly fantastic sunset!
Now, down the argument... I have met a number of soi-disant (self-styled) "artists" who are most emphatically NOT craftsmen. They do not make the stretchers for their canvas very well, they do not finish the joints in their welding or joins in wood very well, and they exhibit few of the qualities of those who appreciate their medium of expression. Yet, they insist they are artists. They have "voice." They express the "social conscious." They "cry out" for the "recognition" of the "uncaring public." And so on, ad nauseum...
And these are the same folks who sneer at those who shape the earth as being "mere potters." For their information (and speaking personally), I am not a "mere" anything. As Emile Zola said, "I am an artist. I am here to live out loud!" And, by some standards, I am most certainly NOT a "perfect potter," but I am trying to develop the skills necessary so that I may be considered a good craftsman, as well as a passable artist. My personal goal is to make "functional works of art for everyday living."
My soul and work tell me I am an artist.
My hands and my work tell the world I am *becoming* a craftsman.
The two are not necessarily exclusive of each other. Is someone who makes stained glass windows an artist? I say yes. Does the same person have to a good craftsman to be able to make sound and solid stained glass windows? I say INDEED!
I have seen paintings by "artists" that make me feel sick to be associated with them in any way. And I have seen simple teabowls that bring tears to my eyes.
The connection with the maker--the craftsman--is undeniable. The brush strokes of a master, irrespective of the medium are worthy of respect and admiration. One can be patient with a beginner, tolerant of a tyro, and in awe of a Master. The same piece of charcoal in the hands of Picasso makes a far different "statement" than in my hands. Whether you *like* Picasso or not, his life's work deserves respect.
The same with any other art--be it music, sculpture, photography, jewelry--any medium of expression. I look for the hallmarks of craftsmanship as much as any artist's signature.
I saw a piece of furniture this weekend, made for some friends of mine. It was extremely heavy, but appeared to light. The legs were made of Brazilian Rosewood, found in a defunct factory many years ago and kept for the potential of a project some time. The table top is birdseye maple, at least an inch thick, hand-rubbed, and fit together so that not a single seam is readily apparent. The entire effect is a work of art. The entire piece speaks subtly of superior craftsmanship. Many years from now, long after the current owners have passed into the Great Beyond, this table will still be in demand, because of what its maker says.
I can only hope that some of my pots will say the same. I can't even bury my mistakes without some anthropologist finding them in the distant future and wondering, "Were they really *this* primitive?" :o)
I can but try to better my skills, each and every time I make something. That's the goal.
Hope this makes sense,
Tig
in Port Orchard, WA
logan johnson on mon 22 dec 03
Hey Tig,
Logan in Smokey Point here, D*MN! all I can say is AMEN!!!!!
This post gets a file of it's own. Talk about gospel!
Tig Dupre wrote:
First, my congratulations to ALisa! Good going! Glad someone out there recognizes all the knowledge and hard work you've put in to your profession.
Second, my personal best wishes to all during this special season. Irrespective of religious beliefs, this is a season of renewal and rebirth. I wish you all the absolute best in the year to come, and just enough clouds in your life to make a truly fantastic sunset!
Now, down the argument... I have met a number of soi-disant (self-styled) "artists" who are most emphatically NOT craftsmen. They do not make the stretchers for their canvas very well, they do not finish the joints in their welding or joins in wood very well, and they exhibit few of the qualities of those who appreciate their medium of expression. Yet, they insist they are artists. They have "voice." They express the "social conscious." They "cry out" for the "recognition" of the "uncaring public." And so on, ad nauseum...
And these are the same folks who sneer at those who shape the earth as being "mere potters." For their information (and speaking personally), I am not a "mere" anything. As Emile Zola said, "I am an artist. I am here to live out loud!" And, by some standards, I am most certainly NOT a "perfect potter," but I am trying to develop the skills necessary so that I may be considered a good craftsman, as well as a passable artist. My personal goal is to make "functional works of art for everyday living."
My soul and work tell me I am an artist.
My hands and my work tell the world I am *becoming* a craftsman.
The two are not necessarily exclusive of each other. Is someone who makes stained glass windows an artist? I say yes. Does the same person have to a good craftsman to be able to make sound and solid stained glass windows? I say INDEED!
I have seen paintings by "artists" that make me feel sick to be associated with them in any way. And I have seen simple teabowls that bring tears to my eyes.
The connection with the maker--the craftsman--is undeniable. The brush strokes of a master, irrespective of the medium are worthy of respect and admiration. One can be patient with a beginner, tolerant of a tyro, and in awe of a Master. The same piece of charcoal in the hands of Picasso makes a far different "statement" than in my hands. Whether you *like* Picasso or not, his life's work deserves respect.
The same with any other art--be it music, sculpture, photography, jewelry--any medium of expression. I look for the hallmarks of craftsmanship as much as any artist's signature.
I saw a piece of furniture this weekend, made for some friends of mine. It was extremely heavy, but appeared to light. The legs were made of Brazilian Rosewood, found in a defunct factory many years ago and kept for the potential of a project some time. The table top is birdseye maple, at least an inch thick, hand-rubbed, and fit together so that not a single seam is readily apparent. The entire effect is a work of art. The entire piece speaks subtly of superior craftsmanship. Many years from now, long after the current owners have passed into the Great Beyond, this table will still be in demand, because of what its maker says.
I can only hope that some of my pots will say the same. I can't even bury my mistakes without some anthropologist finding them in the distant future and wondering, "Were they really *this* primitive?" :o)
I can but try to better my skills, each and every time I make something. That's the goal.
Hope this makes sense,
Tig
in Port Orchard, WA
______________________________________________________________________________
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.
Logan Johnson
Audeo Studios
"Carpe Argillam!!"
---------------------------------
Do you Yahoo!?
New Yahoo! Photos - easier uploading and sharing
| |
|
