Vince Pitelka on sun 28 dec 03
learning functional pottery in universities
> There seems to be a lot of folks here who spend far too much time
> discussing the meaning of art. My comeback to that thought is: get
> real. I'm sure this comment will raise a little hell, but with the
> current education system leaning like the tower of pisa towards
> sculpture, not functional ceramics, people like us (functional
> potters) are a dying breed. I'm finding very few young potters
> coming behind us to fill in the blanks. Schools no longer teach the
> necessary skills to live a life with clay.
Mark -
Although I am one of those who occasionally discusses art issues (not the
meaning of art - that is entirely subjective and individual), I am also a
university educator who is very committed to teaching the skills necessary
for making fine pots out there in the real world. I did that full-time
myself for ten years before graduate school.
Our mission statement at Tennessee Tech University's Appalachian Center for
Craft specifically focuses on "the highest quality professional fine craft
education." That is what we are all about. Some of our students choose to
do sculpture, and that must always be an option in any university clay
program, but the majority of my students make pots. As a teacher, my
objective is to produce autonomous, self-directed, self-confident studio
artists. I believe that there are a lot of teachers in undergrad and grad
programs who share my commitment to this, and prospective students simply
need to do the necessary research. But if you know of people looking for a
program where they will get good direction in making functional pots, send
them my way. If my program is not appropriate for them, I will suggest
others.
I am a little entertained and intrigued by your opening statement, though.
Far too much time discussing the meaning of art? According to whom? You
say this in such a definitive fashion. If there is a series of posts on art
issues, and you are not interested, use the delete button, but please do not
suggest that such a discussion is inappropriate. The "meaning of art"
discussions belong on Clayart just as much as they do on any other list or
in any magazine.
Functional potters are not a dying breed. There are plenty of talented
potters coming up through the ranks. To me, the future of functional
pottery looks very positive. What has been happening to functional potter
in so many universities is an anomaly, a byproduct of nation-wide budget
shortfalls. Most art departments are traditionally controlled by the
painting, drawing, sculpture, and art history faculty.
When push comes to shove financially, the craft media gets scrapped, but
that is a short-term thing. Universities must respond to the demands of the
public, and as long as there are volumes of students wanting to learn to
make pots in the university environment, at least some universities will
respond.
Best wishes -
- Vince
Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Craft
Tennessee Technological University
1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166
Home - vpitelka@dtccom.net
615/597-5376
Office - wpitelka@tntech.edu
615/597-6801 x111, FAX 615/597-6803
http://iweb.tntech.edu/wpitelka/
http://www.tntech.edu/craftcenter/
Keisha on mon 29 dec 03
learning functional pottery in universities:Vince
Hey Vince
You taught for 10 years before going to graduate
school!!!! You waited so long. I was thinking I
might be too old for graduate school. Definitely an
encouragement.
Keisha
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Mark & Linda on mon 29 dec 03
learning functional pottery in universities
Vince.
I snapped at one of those art rants and went on one myself .Rikki
Gills reply set me straight
( Check it out). On with the rants. My delete button is poised.
My comment was off base. Lets move on
I know you pottery history as I ate my morning ceral from one of your bowls.
I in no way where refering to you in my comment on education.
But the current ed system has been getting away from pottery (Funtional)
for a long time not just this round of slash and burn bugets.
The feedback I hear from Alfreds to Kansas city and back from students is very
few programs teach the skills I learned in school. Funtional based
programs are
rare these days. Your program is one of the few I know about..
In the 12 to 16 juried art shows I'm doing per year one does not see young
upcoming potters much anymore. We fellow potters have talked about
this at great length.
This is true out west. Maybe east or south the story is different.
Here at out local school (HSU)
for example they do not teach glaze caculation anymore. Nor is clay
made there much.
The program is sculpure based. which is fine but it's a trend thats
been going on
for a long time now. I will use another example I got the royal tour
6 years ago of a very good clay program at Fresno state. The teacher
was retiring after 30 years. He told me that the clay program
functional, glaze cac ect was history soon. New part timers to
teach to save $, new adminisration building to go up where old clay
studio was. Its the same story in many a school.
The trickle down is we funtional potters (old timers) such as myself
see very few new ones coming along. It may be other factors as well
pottery is big work with little payoffs. That alone is not what many
young folks are looking for. Quality clay programs are not the rule
but the exception.
On a more personal note Resse Bullen passed away this fall if you
have not heard. Take care. Mark Cortright www.liscomhillpottery.com
> > There seems to be a lot of folks here who spend far too much time
>> discussing the meaning of art. My comeback to that thought is: get
>> real. I'm sure this comment will raise a little hell, but with the
>> current education system leaning like the tower of pisa towards
>> sculpture, not functional ceramics, people like us (functional
>> potters) are a dying breed. I'm finding very few young potters
>> coming behind us to fill in the blanks. Schools no longer teach the
>> necessary skills to live a life with clay.
>
>Mark -
>Although I am one of those who occasionally discusses art issues (not the
>meaning of art - that is entirely subjective and individual), I am also a
>university educator who is very committed to teaching the skills necessary
>for making fine pots out there in the real world. I did that full-time
>myself for ten years before graduate school.
>
>Our mission statement at Tennessee Tech University's Appalachian Center for
>Craft specifically focuses on "the highest quality professional fine craft
>education." That is what we are all about. Some of our students choose to
>do sculpture, and that must always be an option in any university clay
>program, but the majority of my students make pots. As a teacher, my
>objective is to produce autonomous, self-directed, self-confident studio
>artists. I believe that there are a lot of teachers in undergrad and grad
>programs who share my commitment to this, and prospective students simply
>need to do the necessary research. But if you know of people looking for a
>program where they will get good direction in making functional pots, send
>them my way. If my program is not appropriate for them, I will suggest
>others.
>
>I am a little entertained and intrigued by your opening statement, though.
>Far too much time discussing the meaning of art? According to whom? You
>say this in such a definitive fashion. If there is a series of posts on art
>issues, and you are not interested, use the delete button, but please do not
>suggest that such a discussion is inappropriate. The "meaning of art"
>discussions belong on Clayart just as much as they do on any other list or
>in any magazine.
>
>Functional potters are not a dying breed. There are plenty of talented
>potters coming up through the ranks. To me, the future of functional
>pottery looks very positive. What has been happening to functional potter
>in so many universities is an anomaly, a byproduct of nation-wide budget
>shortfalls. Most art departments are traditionally controlled by the
>painting, drawing, sculpture, and art history faculty.
>When push comes to shove financially, the craft media gets scrapped, but
>that is a short-term thing. Universities must respond to the demands of the
>public, and as long as there are volumes of students wanting to learn to
>make pots in the university environment, at least some universities will
>respond.
>Best wishes -
>- Vince
>
>Vince Pitelka
>Appalachian Center for Craft
>Tennessee Technological University
>1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166
>Home - vpitelka@dtccom.net
>615/597-5376
>Office - wpitelka@tntech.edu
>615/597-6801 x111, FAX 615/597-6803
>http://iweb.tntech.edu/wpitelka/
>http://www.tntech.edu/craftcenter/
>
>______________________________________________________________________________
>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.
Stephen on mon 29 dec 03
learning functional pottery in universities
I hear this all the time, that pottery is a dying art. I always answer to
the contrary. I know for sure that There are more potters in Ga. now than
when I was learning over 25 years ago. There are many more ways to learn
now as well. A show I was in in September of just Ga. potters Had 45
potters in it. These were all professionals. most of them were from around
Athens and Atlanta. The rest of the state was sparsely represented. I know
there are many more in Ga. than these and this is just in Ga. The
traditional potters alone in Ga. alone could keep pottery going. What I
have noticed is how much pottery remains in flux, constantly evolving.
Stephen
Steve Dalton on tue 30 dec 03
learning functional pottery in universities
On Monday, December 29, 2003, at 04:43 PM, Stephen wrote:
> I hear this all the time, that pottery is a dying art. I always answer
> to
> the contrary. I know for sure that There are more potters in Ga. now
> than
> when I was learning over 25 years ago.
Dying art? The Washington Potter's Association has at least 250
members and that's just a drop in the slop bucket of actual potters here
in Washington...the state.
Steve Dalton
Clear Creek Pottery
Snohomish, Wa
clearcreekpottery.com
Vince Pitelka on tue 30 dec 03
learning functional pottery in universities:Vince
> You taught for 10 years before going to graduate
> school!!!! You waited so long. I was thinking I
> might be too old for graduate school. Definitely an
> encouragement.
Keisha -
Actually, I made pots professionally for ten years before graduate school.
And before that I was a mechanic/welder for the City of Arcata for quite a
few years, all this after undergraduate school. I was 37 when I started
graduate school. But ultimately, that is irrelevant. It is never too late
to begin any stage of education. Personal-enrichment and self-fullfilment
should be life-long pursuits.
Best wishes -
- Vince
Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Craft
Tennessee Technological University
1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166
Home - vpitelka@dtccom.net
615/597-5376
Office - wpitelka@tntech.edu
615/597-6801 x111, FAX 615/597-6803
http://iweb.tntech.edu/wpitelka/
http://www.tntech.edu/craftcenter/
John Windus on wed 31 dec 03
learning functional pottery in universities:Vince
Keisha,
I started engineering school at 28 after having worked for 8 years. =
Going
back was really great. I arrived focused and on target to learn. In 15
days, I will be starting to study with Professor Pitelka at the age of =
54
after a successful and interesting career in engineering. So you see, =
to me
education is a very important and life long experience.
One of my jobs was running a consulting firm for an older gentleman. He =
was
82 at the time. He started the firm at age 55 after being a freighter
Captain for 25 years in his second career change, his career before that =
was
as an organ tuner. Don't tell him it is too late to do anything; he is
still working at 89.
Regards,
John Windus
Student {again}
-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On Behalf Of Vince =
Pitelka
Sent: Tuesday, December 30, 2003 10:31 PM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Re: Mark's post: meaning of art, learning functional pottery in
universities:Vince
> You taught for 10 years before going to graduate
> school!!!! You waited so long. I was thinking I
> might be too old for graduate school. Definitely an
> encouragement.
Keisha -
Actually, I made pots professionally for ten years before graduate =
school.
And before that I was a mechanic/welder for the City of Arcata for quite =
a
few years, all this after undergraduate school. I was 37 when I started
graduate school. But ultimately, that is irrelevant. It is never too =
late
to begin any stage of education. Personal-enrichment and =
self-fullfilment
should be life-long pursuits.
Best wishes -
- Vince
Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Craft
Tennessee Technological University
1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166
Home - vpitelka@dtccom.net
615/597-5376
Office - wpitelka@tntech.edu
615/597-6801 x111, FAX 615/597-6803
http://iweb.tntech.edu/wpitelka/
http://www.tntech.edu/craftcenter/
_________________________________________________________________________=
___
__
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.
Tom Sawyer on wed 31 dec 03
learning functional pottery in universities:Vince
Got you beat. I was 57 when I started law school and 65 when I retired from
law and medicine to attempt to become a ceramic artist.
Tom Sawyer
tsawyer@cfl.rr.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On Behalf Of Vince Pitelka
Sent: Tuesday, December 30, 2003 11:31 PM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Re: Mark's post: meaning of art, learning functional pottery in
universities:Vince
> You taught for 10 years before going to graduate school!!!! You
> waited so long. I was thinking I might be too old for graduate
> school. Definitely an encouragement.
Keisha -
Actually, I made pots professionally for ten years before graduate school.
And before that I was a mechanic/welder for the City of Arcata for quite a
few years, all this after undergraduate school. I was 37 when I started
graduate school. But ultimately, that is irrelevant. It is never too late
to begin any stage of education. Personal-enrichment and self-fullfilment
should be life-long pursuits.
Best wishes -
- Vince
Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Craft
Tennessee Technological University
1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166 Home - vpitelka@dtccom.net
615/597-5376
Office - wpitelka@tntech.edu
615/597-6801 x111, FAX 615/597-6803
http://iweb.tntech.edu/wpitelka/
http://www.tntech.edu/craftcenter/
____________________________________________________________________________
__
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.
John Rodgers on wed 31 dec 03
learning functional pottery in universities:Vince
Keisha,
It's never to late to learn.
My life after high school for me began with a stint in the US. Navy,
next came college where I tried out several things.... business,
psychology, art, physical education, science. I finally settled on a
degree in biology and minors in physical science( physics and chemistry
emphasis) and psychology, with a teaching certificate as a after
thought. During that time I also became a Water Safety Instructor for
the Red Cross, learned to fly an airplane and received my private pilots
license. I taught for a couple of years and then went back to school and
earned the FAA Airframe and Powerplant Certificate (A&P Mechanics
License), acquired Flight Instructors Certificates for single and
multi-engine aircraft - land and seaplanes. Later I acquired the Airline
Transport Pilot Certification. After moving to Alaska I became a Bush
Pilot and flew all kinds of airplanes and had a variety of experiences
at that .... some of enormous pleasure --- like seeing the comet
Kahoutek from 30,000 feet as it passed the earth back in 1969, and some
were terrifying .... like the day I flew the uncontrolled outside loop
in an airplane not designed for such maneuvers and flew upside down
between the treetops over a slough on the Yukon River while hanging
from my seat belt. Very stimulating adventures, filled with learning.
And then there was working with the US Public Health Service who sent
me to school at East Tennessee State U. for studies in Public Health.
Later they sent me to the Air Force Cool School up near Fairbanks, AK to
learn how to survive during an emergency in an Arctic environment.
All along the way, I found myself teaching, teaching, teaching, all
kinds of subjects deriving from my accumulating experiences in life. The
one constant thing in my life was the teaching theme. It has never
stopped and continues to this day ... I teach. Either to groups or
individuals. It may be something in the blood, as my Mother was a
teacher all her life, and so are my sisters and my brother and his wife.
And I enjoy it immensely. I worked for the Corps of Engineers and they
sent me to school to train in construction and inspection the Army way.
Later I went into the private sector and the Architectural and
Engineering firm I worked for trained me in their methodology.
I lived for a long time in the "Alaska Bush" and I went to "School"
there, essential learning daily life and survival in the bush from the
real teachers out there ....the Alaska Natives, and in my case mostly
the Yupik Eskimo people. They were great teachers, and I learned much.
Later in life through circumstance I fell into an exposure to clay. It
began in the the typical slip casting hobby craft realm, but because of
my curious nature, I could not stop with just a little knowledge. I had
to know more and more and more. It has never stopped. The world of clay
and it's related activities has engulf me. I am now into pottery, slab
and hand built works, slip cast works, glazing, and china painting,
sculpting and mold making. I do jiggering work AND throw on a wheel.....
it goes on and on. And I hope it never stops.
At some undefined point, one comes to realize that one have lived past
the halfway point of life, and that the bottle of life is less than even
half full. Some time ago I cast my eye to the future, and I could really
sense for the first time the finite time line of my life. But even so,
I cannot see that I will ever quit the clay until that appointed day. I
began clay work late in life by comparison to many --- I was 47 ---and
now I am 64......... but it is my avocation and my life, and I find
that only when I am completely immersed in the work, am I truly happy.
And that is what drives me. It is hard at times, but I find that when I
am centered, fully focused on what I am doing, clay works for me. It
makes me happy, and it makes me a living. What more could I possibly
ask for? I am extremely fortunate, that at this time of my life, I can
be so content and do what I want. As long as my health permits me, I
will remain in the clay. even unto my last day.
My life has been very blessed and rich with experience - both of
quantity and quality. And I thank my Maker for it.
Learning is a lifelong experience, college learning is only a very small
piece of the total experience you will gather over a lifetime. Only you
can determine how rich with experience your life will be. I hope in
time, you will be able to return to society, some of that rich
experience you have gained in your lifetime.
Regards,
John Rodgers
Chelsea, AL
Lee Love on thu 1 jan 04
learning functional pottery in universities:Vince
I started studying pottery when I was 37, began a traditional
apprenticeship when I was 46, graduated at 49. Have thought if I move
back to the States, I might look into an MFA. Why? Just to keep
learning.
--
Lee In Mashiko, Japan
http://Mashiko.us
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