Darlene Yarnetsky-Mudcat Pottery on tue 24 aug 04
Finally jumping in on this one..
As a child, I could draw. I was very much a child in my own world,
quite content on my own, and I could spend whole days making up my own
worlds with crayons, a pair of scissors, and (hopefully yesterday's)
newspaper. As the sixth of seven children, it was quickly realized
that keeping me in paper and crayons kept me content and out of
trouble. We were as a group, no doubt, a handful to deal with.
When I started school, art was taught once a week by the phys. ed.
instructor. It was my favorite part of school. I can remember
outlining each other's bodies on long pieces of paper and then making
them into life size self portraits that hung in the hallways. Or
making patterns from multi colored squares of construction paper and
gluing them down.
At some point I knew I liked my drawings better, that I could do easily
what other kids struggled with. It was not a conceit, but a
realization, just like the girl who could kick the ball further than
any of us, or the boy who could run the fastest. I had years of
happily drawing away just for me before adults and my schoolmates
started taking notice. When they finally did, I was torn between
wanting to be left alone, and wanting the attention.
We had no three dimensional instruction at our school (very small - 52
in my class) so I did not discover clay until much later. A new
challenge! Something with whole new worlds to explore! Having a
business means that compromises must be made. I cannot follow an idea
for months at a time and let the shelves run empty of mugs and pitchers
for instance. Perhaps one day that will be an option, but for now it is
a good trade off, and I am still able to be happily able to create in
my own world.
So, where am I going with this? After quite a bit of persuasion, ( I
didn't want to feel like an animal in a zoo) I finally gave into having
an open studio - where I could work and people could come in and watch,
and hopefully some would buy a piece to take home. This has taken some
adjustment on my part, but so far it is working. I bring in money
every week and have not had so much interruption as to totally disrupt
my work. Some of my visitors are very curious and I have had some
really great conversations about life and art.
What amazes me is some (not all) people's perceptions on art as only
for the talented, and the continual comments of "I could never do that"
"I don't have any talent" etc.
The children are of course, opposites! Even the most timid find
themselves drawn in by the spin of the potters wheel, or the mark left
by a stamp into fresh soft clay. They don't care about what is "good"
only what is! I find myself wondering how many will grow up to
continue to be artists after having the adult view of art brought upon
them.
I think how much the adults limit themselves by saying "I could never
do that", yet watching the olympics, I find myself thinking it is not
in me to do that! While I am not a very coordinated person, I enjoy
walking and swimming, but I doubt any amount of instruction could make
me an olympic gymnast. I for many years avoided participating in even
casual games of volleyball, for example because I wasn't any good at
it. I limited myself needlessly, and missed out. If we could all
approach art (or sports, or writing) as we did as children, we would
all be the richer for it.
So, I for one welcome art for all. Even the paint your own pottery
studio that has opened up a block away. Anything to let adults (and
children of course) experience a bit of the joy of creating. Anything
to get past that "I can't, shouldn't, won't do that because I have no
talent"
Back to my own little world and a fresh bag of clay,
Darlene Yarnetsky
Madison, Indiana
| |
|
