Ivor and Olive Lewis on sat 18 sep 04
clay...prerequistie skill....
Dear Bonnie,
I was once faced with a similar situation. I was ordering some ceramic
books from the local bookseller when a lady walked into the shop. He
introduced me to her. She started to complain that she no longer went
to night school classes because the instructors would not let her do
what she wished to do, they insisted on making things on the wheel.
I suggested she join with me and told her when, where and at what
time. She turned up and was patient while I got the rest of the folk
started. I asked her what she wished to do. "Make these" she said
bringing out some sketches of figurines. Asked her if she wished to
have a demonstration."Yes please" Took ten minutes to get her started.
Only needed one lesson and after that she was away, a "Happy little
Vegemite". She made many terra cotta figures and animals.
Ran a class for Y.W.C.A. for a year with the permission of our
Principal. Abused Women, some of whom were not even allowed by their
husbands to have spending money and would have not been let out of the
house at night to go to college classes. What enthusiasm ! !
Best regards,
Ivor Lewis.
Redhill,
S. Australia.
claybair on sun 19 sep 04
clay...prerequisite skill....
We should accept that there are some
instances when one has specific goal in mind.
Not everyone has the goal to become a
great potter. The goal for some, as in Ivor's example,
is a simple one. Did she have to learn more than she
needed to attain her goal? No... what she needed
was someone to listen to her.
Years ago I was given the task of dealing with a difficult
beginning pottery class student. This was a very "tight"
woman whose goal was to make a 9-10" bowl.
Several weeks into the class she was having great
difficulty centering. The instructor said she was driving
him crazy... would I give it a try.
I sat down with her and in 20 minutes got her to loosen up
and she "got" centering.... (harrumph.... on my own it took me a year to
"get" it). She made her bowl.... she was very happy with it....she didn't
need to continue pottery as she reached her goal. However she came
away from the experience with great appreciation and respect.
I have been exposed to the arts all my life. When a very young
child I sat under my mother's baby grand piano listening
to her play. My favorite was the "Moonlight Sonata".
I told her later I would like to learn how to play it. She enrolled
me in piano lessons. Torturous months/years later I still had not
been allowed to play that piece. One day I dug up my mom's
sheet music, sat down and learned to play it.
I was done.... that's all I wanted to do.
My interest was in other art forms.
My passion/goal was not to be a famous pianist.
Now my sister who followed me in painting went
to the Academy of Art in Phila. She did some very
nice paintings but never pursued it as a career.
She is a fabulous mostly self taught musician. She plays
a harmonica better than ANY man I have ever heard,
writes fabulous songs and has the ability to get a
bored crowd hoppin'.
The whole issue comes down to pursuing one's passion.
If one has a goal the skills to perform/reach
the end result must be acquired.
Goals may be approached from various angles
but will always demand the skills to attain them.
If a college degree is the goal I'm sorry to say
that can be attained without specific skills...
but if the goal is to be...say...a good potter
it becomes evident real fast if the skills are
not present.
Gayle Bair- ever working on that good potter thang.
Bainbridge Island, WA
http://claybair.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Ivor
Dear Bonnie,
I was once faced with a similar situation. I was ordering some ceramic
books from the local bookseller when a lady walked into the shop. He
introduced me to her. She started to complain that she no longer went
to night school classes because the instructors would not let her do
what she wished to do, they insisted on making things on the wheel.
I suggested she join with me and told her when, where and at what
time. She turned up and was patient while I got the rest of the folk
started. I asked her what she wished to do. "Make these" she said
bringing out some sketches of figurines. Asked her if she wished to
have a demonstration."Yes please" Took ten minutes to get her started.
Only needed one lesson and after that she was away, a "Happy little
Vegemite". She made many terra cotta figures and animals.
Ran a class for Y.W.C.A. for a year with the permission of our
Principal. Abused Women, some of whom were not even allowed by their
husbands to have spending money and would have not been let out of the
house at night to go to college classes. What enthusiasm ! !
Best regards,
Ivor Lewis.
Redhill,
S. Australia.
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