william schran on fri 17 sep 04
Reading the thread on teaching craftsmanship and whether current
teachers/institutions sufficiently stress craftsmanship in the
ceramic arts (or other arts), it brought back memories of my early
training in undergraduate school.
I started at a junior college, unsure if I really wanted to attend
college. First courses in drawing & design stressed basic
fundamentals, including craftsmanship. Didn't have an opportunity to
explore clay, no clay facilities.
Moved on the 4 year college, major in art, concentration in painting.
Early 1970's, color field, minimal & hard edge painting the current
thing. Sorta left to our own devices. Professor came around once in a
while, didn't like the color yellow, so I concentrated on yellow
paintings. Became frustrated, took pottery the next semester,
switched concentration of study to clay. Pottery professor was
functional potter, everything on the wheel, no handbuilding. Comments
on my work - "nice form, too heavy" - and that was about it.
Perhaps it's now clay's turn to dump craftsmanship in many college
settings, like painting and sculpture has gone through.
Not a good thing, will not happen with my students. Have seen
students from other schools, graduated, majored in ceramics, don't
know how to throw on the wheel, sad.
Bill
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