Vince Pitelka on fri 20 aug 04
> it is the showing, being in shows, wanting
> to be on the cover of magazines....selling
> for big prices. wanting to be famous without
> ever working at it...dues. one pot ponies.
> limited skill, knowledge. to move into venues without
> any experience...then bitch and complain when folks
> do not `understand my work`. the copying of work seen
> in magazines or shows, then repeating it for another show.
Dear Mel -
You sometimes sound absolute in your proclamations, and I sometimes
overreact, but I have never doubted your abilities or experience as a
teacher and artist, or the vast resources of talent and ability that are out
there now because of your teaching. I know that I do tend to rant a little
about the whole issue of who is an "artist." I am a little driven in that
way. I just feel very strongly about making the whole idea of art more
accessible and less exclusive and elitist, and your statement struck a
nerve. But it is odd that there should be any disagreement between us on
this issue, since you have made a lifelong career of making art accessible.
Regarding your statement above, you are right, dead on, and I don't know the
answer. Is it just a flaw of contemporary culture and its quick routes to
satisfaction that some people expect an easy path to something so complex
and time-consuming as fine craft? Certainly we need to stress skill and
technique, but maybe we need to place a lot more emphasis on the whole issue
of inspiration - that the best craftspeople are inspired to pursue their
craft - the inspiration will drive them to constantly seek skills and
knowledge that will allow them to more effectively express themselves
through their work. Even that sounds pretty high-and-mighty, but it doesn't
have to be. Perhaps what we are both looking for in emerging
artists/craftspeople is a simple combination of sincerity and commitment.
- Vince
Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Craft, Tennessee Technological University
Smithville TN 37166, 615/597-6801 x111
vpitelka@dtccom.net, wpitelka@tntech.edu
http://iweb.tntech.edu/wpitelka/
http://www.tntech.edu/craftcenter/
- Vince
mel jacobson on fri 20 aug 04
this is an old debate, and i will not go on and on.
as a life long art teacher i cannot be accused
of stepping on amateur artists toes. that is my
life blood, teaching art to new artists. that is my
life to bring them along and help every way i can.
it is the showing, being in shows, wanting
to be on the cover of magazines....selling
for big prices. wanting to be famous without
ever working at it...dues. one pot ponies.
limited skill, knowledge. to move into venues without
any experience...then bitch and complain when folks
do not `understand my work`. the copying of work seen
in magazines or shows, then repeating it for another show.
it is the same reason i would never enter my students work in
contests. there is no level ground. who fires the work? who made
the glaze? what kind of facility did it come from? on and on.
who wins the prize, the kid or the teacher? it is all about
pix for the local newspaper. winning prizes does not let a person
know the value of ones work. it is a one day prize.
and yes, i can be a judge. that is also what i do.
i travel the world. i see art/pots/teach at very high
standard. i am also an art critic. that is what i
write about. it is my job.
and, i can be critical of certain types of art and artists.
it is what i am suppose to be doing. age and experience, that
is where critics come from.
no one has to listen, or agree. that is also the fate of critics.
so, i sleep well.
love, mel
From:
Minnetonka, Minnesota, U.S.A.
web site: my.pclink.com/~melpots
or try: http://www.pclink.com/melpots
new/ http://www.rid-a-tick.com
Mayssan Shora Farra on fri 20 aug 04
Hello Mel, Vine and all:
This has been such a thought provoking thread, although it has been around
many times, as I get deeper into art and craft and pottery it take on new
dimensions and meanings.
From where I stand in my little corner in the world, art is a talent, a God
given gift. I realized I was talented the day I looked at what my hands
created and could not believe that it was MY work.
Craftsmanship is something else, and it applies to everything we do in life
not just art or craft, It requires hardwork, experience and training
besides the natural gift, I realized I was on my way to becoming a
craftsman when I looked at my work, and although it was much better than
what I did yesterday, I knew that I have to do better tomorrow to become
the artist I need to be.
Now fame and fortune is a totally different thing. It is all about
marketing. and although a lot of artists are not gifted in that, some are
and they do get fame and fortune along with the fakers, while the rest have
to settle for fame after dying, or never.
Mayssan,
Maybe I should have stayed in my little corner:)of beautiful Charleston,
WV, USA
http://www.clayvillepottery.com
Kate Johnson on fri 20 aug 04
Mayssan, you make a good point.
> This has been such a thought provoking thread, although it has been around
> many times, as I get deeper into art and craft and pottery it take on new
> dimensions and meanings.
Not just the intangibles of art/craft, but ALL the aspects of what we do.
When I joined the list the first time, much of the technical stuff went
right over my head (and some still does). Now with a few more years of
work under my belt, I'm still very much a novice but at least not quite so
naive.
Having made my living as an artist for 30 years, of course, I'm horribly
opinionated about THAT part, though my "opinions" are rather a hodgepodge of
mixed feelings. Like Vince, I think everyone has the right to
self-expression and to sharing that self-expression, whether it turns me on
or not, and like Mel I have very little patience with the "Pretenders" who
puff themselves up and do the artspeak thing in order to snow the public.
The gallery scene is rather cutthroat, sometimes, and I don't care for the
clash of egos, wherever it occurs...but there IS that niggling need to make
a living.
Interesting discussion, from a new(ish) angle, for me...
Regards,
Kate Johnson
Graphics/Fine Arts
http://www.cathyjohnson.info/
http://www.epsi.net/graphic/
Bobbruch1@AOL.COM on sun 22 aug 04
Vince Pitelka
<<<<<<<<<<Is it just a flaw of contemporary=20
culture and its quick routes to=20
satisfaction that some people=20
expect an easy path to=20
something so complex and=20
time-consuming=20
as fine craft?=A0=20
One of the speakers at NCECA
dealt with the declining
enrollments in European
ceramics (and painting)
departments and I think
that some of the same is
occurring in the US. I
would guess that the
reasons for that are
tied in to what you=20
just noted about there
being no easy path in
the fine crafts field
for most people.
Bob Bruch
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