Lili Krakowski on sat 29 may 04
Pricing is a sensitive topic, because so many potters think their =
personal worth as people relates to the price of their pots.
But pricing is A PART of the communication between potters and the rest =
of the world. Our pricing says: "I want my bowl to hold the cereal of =
someone like me." Or it says, as apparently Robert Deblander (p.50 CM =
June/Juluy/Aug 2004) "I don't want anyone who cannot pay $1045 to have =
on of my cereal bowls." The price we ultimately will ask does affect =
what we make. As much as the other way round. Some things I make and =
give away simply because I cannot ask for them what they represent in =
hours of work. Generally I barter, because, yes, yes, yes, that plate =
took me the same time to make it took you to make 6 jars of hamburger =
relish! (We can replace everything except time!) And in deciding what =
to make for sale, I do consider what the market with bear. =
Communication. Talking together. Sitting together over a cup of tea. =
You, sitting, drinking tea. I, far away, having made the cup.
With the chat about Pinnell's green glaze the topic comes up again. Is =
there a way publications could make a note when they publish glaze =
recipes that publication does not mean they necessarily are food safe?
I have tried several times to convince magazines that show native ware =
of diverse countries to warn that while the locals may happily be using =
galena glazed pots for food (of course the natives die at 45) pots =
brought home should be considered hazardous for food use, unless the =
prospective user has had them tested. Walking to and fro upon the =
earth, made Satan do bad things-- he still plagues tourists! I dread =
the thought of Granma and Grandpa going on a cruise to Godknowswhere, =
and bringing back adorable mugs for the grandkids--adorable mugs glazed =
with 85% lead, 5% antimony, and 10 %clay. All fired at c.08. =
Unfortunately Customs does not do a thing...but our publications =
should--and that goes not only for clay publications, but for shelter =
magazines and such like.
Lili Krakowski, AFC
| |
|
