lili krakowski on sun 18 jan 04
There is something so sad about all these off-road cars, these chariots =
of tires, that originated in exploration, and alas in war--and now are =
driven by city working suburban types in their suits and ties....It =
makes me think of La Fontaine's wonderful "The Wolf and the Dog." For =
those who have missed it: A wolf, cold and hungry in winter, trots up =
to a manor in the hope of food and shelter. And there is a mastiff who =
growls at him. The wolf is very submissive, and explains why he is =
there. The dog offers him some food, and say:"You are a jerk [of course =
this is said in perfect 17th Century Dog-French, very allied I don't =
doubt to 16th Century Pig Latin]. The people in this manor are always =
looking for watchdogs. You can get a job, they will give you plenty of =
food, servants will brush you, you will have a nice house like this, and =
you can sleep most of the day." "Wonderful," says the wolf. "Where do I =
apply?" The dog turns his head to point up the drive, and, as he does, =
the wolf sees the dog's collar. "What is that around your neck, kind =
sir? " the wolf asks. "'Oh , that is my collar." "And what is that =
for?" wolf asks. "So they can chain me up at night." Upon which the =
poet says, the wolf starts to run, and is running still.=20
Just as these sad folk drive Hummers and Jeeps and such, they affect =
cargo pants, and hiking boots, and Outback hats so that they can make =
themselves feel better about how they have ruined their lives. And in =
their shriveled hearts they envy us in our chicken coops, our dirty =
old jeans, and rusty old pickups.
AS TO COLO[U]R: I love "The Potter's Palette"by Christine Constant and =
Steve Ogden. My one reservation is that their Glaze B is a lead glaze. =
However, you all know about lead by now, and what mitigates this =
inclusion is that you WILL learn what colors you can't have because you =
are an angelchild and don't use lead....Knowing what you cannot have you =
can take educated guesses at best approximation.
=20
Lili Krakowski
Be of good courage
Lois Ruben Aronow on mon 19 jan 04
Lili Wrote:
> Just as these sad folk drive Hummers and Jeeps and such, they affect =
cargo
> pants, and hiking boots, and Outback hats so that they can make =
themselves
> feel better about how they have ruined their lives. And in their
> shriveled hearts they envy us in our chicken coops, our dirty old =
jeans,
> and rusty old pickups.
It seems a lot of potters have this obsession with function. Items that =
are
to be used the way the maker intended. What is wrong with wearing cargo
pants, for heavens sake?! My LL Bean hunting boots have gotten me =
through
the last 2 dreadful NYC snow and puddle filled winters. The only thing =
I
hunt here is a Starbucks. My life is not ruined. How incredibly =
grandiose
of you to think so. Seems like envy disguised as schadenfreude.
So many people have written about their work being used for the reason =
they
made it. Covered jars used to hold dog biscuits - The shock! The =
nerve!
C'mon people - we're supposed to be a creative lot! Think out of the
dreaded box. There are so many posts about doing things the "right" =
way,
the "proper" way. The only way? I don't think so. I once heard a =
story
about artists being able to see things "regular" people can't see, and =
to
show them with their art. That doesn't seem so on this group. =20
=20
Yes, I have a pet peeve about Hummer Drivers (the bigger the car, the
smaller the penis) and my across the street neighbor whose Escalade is =
so
big it won't fit into his garage. But really - does that mean Porsche
drivers should stick to the Autobahn? Can't it feel good to just have =
one,
even if one just lets loose for 10 minutes on a deserted highway every =
once
in a blue moon? My neighbor gets enormous pleasure out of washing that
dopey Escalade every weekend. Good for him. It makes him happy. Why =
can't
that be enough sometimes? Why must everyone have to justify their
happiness? Why do you imagine they have emptiness and misery, while =
the
lesser paid have full, rich lives? Why do you care so much?=20
Bottom line is: IT WAS JUST A TV ADVERTISEMENT. THEY SELL FANTASY. =20
Simona Drentea on mon 19 jan 04
gilois@bellatlantic.net writes:
<dreaded box. There are so many posts about doing things the "right" way,
the "proper" way. The only way? I don't think so. I once heard a story
about artists being able to see things "regular" people can't see, and to
show them with their art. That doesn't seem so on this group. >>
In a class I just took, every time I asked if a tool was the 'right' tool to
use for a function, the instructor asked me if the tool works. If it did,
then it's the 'right' tool. So creativity is alive out there in RL. She pounded
in my head that there is no wrong or right, it's a matter of experimenting &
being creative to see what works & what doesn't. I thought that's what
pottery was all about! Well that & selling it to make money ;-)
<< My neighbor gets enormous pleasure out of washing that
dopey Escalade every weekend. Good for him. It makes him happy. Why can't
that be enough sometimes? Why must everyone have to justify their
happiness? Why do you imagine they have emptiness and misery, while the
lesser paid have full, rich lives? >>
I think some people feel that the Escalade is your neighbors ONLY joy in
life. If that were true, then I might agree that his life is indeed sad, but I
suspect that like most people who have nice things, it brings him some pleasure.
Not more pleasure than his family or faith or whatever else he values, but
he likes having a nice car. Big deal, so what? As long as he can afford the
Escalade, why should it matter? I do not get this attitude that potters (or
anyone for that matter) must be poor to have a valuable & enriched life! It's
ridiculous.
Simona in CO - where I'm an anomaly b/c my vehicle DOES fit in my garage!
Russel Fouts on wed 21 jan 04
Simona
Re: Misc: Rovers; colors in glaze
>> but he likes having a nice car. Big deal, so what? As long as he can
afford the Escalade, why should it matter? I do not get this attitude that
potters (or anyone for that matter) must be poor to have a valuable &
enriched life! It's ridiculous. <<
I appreciated Larry's comment about having all the facts.
You can have an enormous car because you pay 1/4 what we pay for gas over here.
Russel
Russel Fouts
Mes Potes & Mes Pots
Brussels, Belgium
Tel: +32 2 223 02 75
Mobile: +32 476 55 38 75
Http://www.mypots.com
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"To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that
we are to stand by the president, right or wrong, is not only
unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American
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