Antoinette Badenhorst on thu 2 sep 04
Dear clayarters,
I would like to hear some discussion on the pot on the cover. Does
Michael Gustavson succeed with his design and if you do think so, why do
you think so, or why do you not think he is not successful. Also do you
think they chose the best pot or the best photograph for the cover or
did it play no role?
Thanks.
Antoinette Badenhorst
105 Westwood Circle
Saltillo MS
38866
662 869 1651
www.clayandcanvas.com
William Melstrom on thu 2 sep 04
Both the form and the decoration look incredibly retro to me. But then, a
lot of contemporary ceramics look retro, even my own work to a certain
extent...
I hope M.G. doesn't take offense at this. If it was my work, I wouldn't
give a darn what other people thought, as long as customers paid the prices
that he is commanding...
William Melstrom
Austin, Texas
www.handspiral.com
> Dear clayarters,
> I would like to hear some discussion on the pot on the cover. Does
> Michael Gustavson succeed with his design and if you do think so, why do
> you think so, or why do you not think he is not successful. Also do you
> think they chose the best pot or the best photograph for the cover or
> did it play no role?
> Thanks.
>
> Antoinette Badenhorst
Ivor and Olive Lewis on fri 3 sep 04
Dear Antoinette,
I'll let you know around the beginning of November.
Best regards,
Ivor Lewis.
Redhill,
S. Australia.
.
Darlene Fletcher on fri 3 sep 04
You know, I personally prefer the pot on p. 36. In my not-so-humble
opinion, the photo not only shows the variation in colour and texture
better, but, because we can see the opening, it shows the piece in a
greater dimension.
One thing in particular that I found interesting about the article is that
it states,"... the wall pieces outsell the vessels two to one--people have
more wall space to cover with art than they have places to properly display
sculpture" (p. 38). I wonder if others who sell both concur, or if this is
an anomaly based on this particular artist's work.
Darlene Fletcher
(Victoria, BC)
Wes Rolley on fri 3 sep 04
At 12:00 AM 9/3/04 -0400, you wrote:
>I would like to hear some discussion on the pot on the cover. Does
>Michael Gustavson succeed with his design and if you do think so, why do
>you think so, or why do you not think he is not successful. Also do you
>think they chose the best pot or the best photograph for the cover or
>did it play no role?
Antoinette,
Since you asked these questions, either you had some reservations or you were
just intending to provoke a discussion. In either case, I will rise to the
bait.
Many times, we hear things described as having a total that is greater than
the sum of the parts. The opposite may also be true, as evidenced by the
recent performance of the US Men's Olympic Basketball Team and by this
particular pot as shown.
There are many elements of design that, taken individually, seem to work.
The major design elements flow well across the pot in an interesting exercise
in positive / negative values and flowing lines that are unusual in a North
American Raku work. The rim makes a clean closure. The rise in the shape on
the right of the picture seems to suggest strength. The overall execution
and firing, reduction show considerable skill. It is far beyond my
capabilities.
Yet I find that the overall effect of this particular work is does not live up
to the expectation that I get from looking at it's individual aspects. I am
willing to suggest that the difficulty I have with it comes from the
relationship of the foot of the pot to the swelling, volume of form on the
left side. That, and the balance of the swelling volume on the left and the
rising volume on the right detract from what is otherwise outstanding work.
I would guess that this particular view of the pot was chosen because it
isolates and sets off the Ceramics Monthly masthead. It may not be the best
view of this work, but allows the composition of the best cover, again an
example of the total being greater than the sum of the parts.
"Art and thought. That's what lasts. That's what continues to feed
people and give them an idea of something better."
-- Susan Sontag
Wesley C. Rolley
17211 Quail Court
Morgan Hill, CA 95037
(408)778-3024
Neal on fri 3 sep 04
The current cover is on the website:
http://www.ceramicsmonthly.com/
I was disappointed in the whole issue--especially
considering we had to wait so long since the last issue.
But I guess "Ceramics Monthly Except for July and August"
would be too long a title for the magazine.
A lot of the time, I don't get much out of the magazine on
my first read. I find the valuable bits later and wonder
how I missed them the first time through.
Neal
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Antoinette Badenhorst on sun 5 sep 04
Wes and others, yes I have reservations and yes I do want some
discussion. Thanks for what came up this far. The idea is not to hurt,
but rather to learn from this. I will comment from an "amateur" point of
view and just from what I observed:
The form of these pieces is very strong and striking. The design by
itself is also very strong and can stand by itself as a piece of art.
Unfortunately the one distract from the other and vice versa. It
confuses me. I would like to see the artist use these elements of design
on his pots, but develop it further to fit the form better and enhance
the overall harmony(or contrast) of the piece.
I do think the cover piece was chosen for its photo quality and not for
its aesthetic quality, since I think some of the pieces in the article
are more successful. If it is true that there might be a better view
from another side of the pot, it still does not succeed, since the
little I've learned about design, says that a design should work from
all directions, including upside down.
As a sinner for using too many design elements in some of my own pieces
(lack of knowledge and maybe not always planning too well) I would love
to hear some more from more experts in this field. It is also good to
hear the "uninfluenced" opinion of amateurs like me.
Thanks.
Antoinette Badenhorst
105 Westwood Circle
Saltillo MS
38866
662 869 1651
www.clayandcanvas.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On Behalf Of Wes Rolley
Sent: Friday, September 03, 2004 11:22 AM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: September 2004 CM cover.
At 12:00 AM 9/3/04 -0400, you wrote:
>I would like to hear some discussion on the pot on the cover. Does
>Michael Gustavson succeed with his design and if you do think so, why
do
>you think so, or why do you not think he is not successful. Also do you
>think they chose the best pot or the best photograph for the cover or
>did it play no role?
Antoinette,
Since you asked these questions, either you had some reservations or you
were
just intending to provoke a discussion. In either case, I will rise to
the
bait.
Many times, we hear things described as having a total that is greater
than
the sum of the parts. The opposite may also be true, as evidenced by
the
recent performance of the US Men's Olympic Basketball Team and by this
particular pot as shown.
There are many elements of design that, taken individually, seem to
work.
The major design elements flow well across the pot in an interesting
exercise
in positive / negative values and flowing lines that are unusual in a
North
American Raku work. The rim makes a clean closure. The rise in the
shape on
the right of the picture seems to suggest strength. The overall
execution
and firing, reduction show considerable skill. It is far beyond my
capabilities.
Yet I find that the overall effect of this particular work is does not
live up
to the expectation that I get from looking at it's individual aspects.
I am
willing to suggest that the difficulty I have with it comes from the
relationship of the foot of the pot to the swelling, volume of form on
the
left side. That, and the balance of the swelling volume on the left and
the
rising volume on the right detract from what is otherwise outstanding
work.
I would guess that this particular view of the pot was chosen because it
isolates and sets off the Ceramics Monthly masthead. It may not be the
best
view of this work, but allows the composition of the best cover, again
an
example of the total being greater than the sum of the parts.
"Art and thought. That's what lasts. That's what continues to feed
people and give them an idea of something better."
-- Susan Sontag
Wesley C. Rolley
17211 Quail Court
Morgan Hill, CA 95037
(408)778-3024
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