Chris Schafale on mon 18 oct 04
I've finally worked through the backlog of teapot images that accumulated
while I was in the hospital, and the gallery is now up to date. Very long
list of new submissions, so just go take a look! http://www.potteryforms.org
If anyone sent a teapot image that doesn't show up on the site, please let
me know. I'm working on a different computer, and while I think I have all
the submissions accounted for, something may have slipped by.
Next, I will update all the other galleries with the new images that have
arrived.
Please feel free to send more images for any of the
galleries. Instructions are on the site. By popular demand, the next
gallery will be bottle/vase forms.
Chris Schafale
recovering well, if slowly. Ankle will be in a cast until Thanksgiving,
elbow is more usable but still has only about 60 degrees of range of motion
-- gotta do better to get back to potting! Started doing some handbuilt
whistles yesterday, which I've never done before -- one of them actually
whistles! Felt great to get my hands back in clay.
Light One Candle Pottery
Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, USA (near Raleigh)
www.lightonecandle.com
Galleries of Pottery Forms by Clayart Potters: www.potteryforms.org
Email: chris at lightonecandle dot com
Ivor and Olive Lewis on tue 19 oct 04
Dear Chris,
First, I hope you are recovering well from your recent injuries, that
the fractures are repairing well and the other scrapes and bruises are
healing rapidly.
I was uncertain whether or not you would accept "Work in Progress" but
felt it was worth a try. Not bad pics for a digital "box brownie"
There is a wonderful diversity of work being presented by our
companions in cyber space. Thank you for making this facility
available to all of us.
Best regards
Ivor.
Ivor Lewis.
Redhill,
S. Australia.
MarjB on tue 19 oct 04
----- Original Message -----
From: "Chris Schafale"
To:
Sent: Monday, October 18, 2004 5:05 AM
Subject: teapot gallery updated
Morning Chris , I do hope that you are mending well and the pain is easing.
I had a look at the various teapots and was struck by the picture of Ivor's
drying teapots. Ivor - Stop Making My Knobs !!! No, I am Not Serious.
Mine are basically the same shape with a slightly deeper curve under the
top, and proportionally smaller.
I am located in a small village in Ontario and Ivor is in Australia, my pots
have evolved over 30 odd years - I suspect Ivor has been at it longer.
I wonder, where are the six degrees of separation that exist between our
knobs? The books we have in common ? The publications that we read?
The potter's work that we both admire? Our learned "eyes" for form and how
did that evolve and what in common, were the influences ?
I am sure I am not the only person who has been struck by a similar
observation when viewing others work, especially now with the scope of the
internet.
One day I will get organized and get a picture of a teapot to Chris, but in
the meantime, believe me, those knobs are nearly the same. MarjB
Gene and Dolita Dohrman on tue 19 oct 04
MarjB, It is funny you sent this post to Chris because I had the same
reaction when I looked at the teapot gallery. Not that anything I make
looks like the teapots there (I wish) but I make the knobs on my ginger jars
very similar to Ivor's also. It came about as a result of throwing the knob
on the leather hard lid as opposed to attaching it. I just found it so much
easier. Also, when I saw Jancy Jaslow's work my first reaction was, "Oh no,
I wanted to do that and now it has been done!" I wondered if she had taken
Dannon Rhudy's workshop. Her pieces are similar but, at the same time, so
wonderfully different.
I just attended a free workshop held by the University of Louisville and one
of the artists was Sam Chung (he demonstrated at NCECA in Indianapolis).
There were a number of things I learned but one strong message was the
belief that everything functional has already been done, you can only add
your own unique style. He did not look to contemporary pieces from which to
get inspiration. During his slide show he put up two slides; one of an
ancient teapot, jar, or other form and then his interpretation of that piece
in his own work. The similarity was there, but the uniqueness and design of
his pieces were breathtaking (not to mention his ash glazes). It made me
look at Robin Hopper's book in a whole new light. I have that book on my
beside table (in addition to Vince and Mel) and read sections here and
there. I should have gotten the message from Robin, but it takes someone to
grab me by the neck and rub my nose in it before I really get it. When I
lived far away and worked in a very isolated studio, I accidentally
chattered a piece while trimming. Loved the look and thought I had invented
it! Too funny. Next thing I know, PMI comes out with an article on how to
make your own chatter tools.
Dolita-getting ready for Dannon's arrival. Woohooo!
dohrman@insightbb.com
Louisville, KY
> I am sure I am not the only person who has been struck by a similar
> observation when viewing others work, especially now with the scope of the
> internet.
Ivor and Olive Lewis on wed 20 oct 04
Dear MarjB,
I have fond recollections of Ontario, London to be precise, July 1953.
Went to the RCAF base there for indoctrination before moving to
Winnipeg. Had a great time with those hospitable young ladies at the
YWCA. Great dancing partners. I was told that the place was raised to
the ground by fire, but much later.
The 'Grasper' on my tea pot lid !!! I designed this one for little old
ladies who now suffer from arthritis (I might have danced with them
in 1953). Some people make pimples on the top of the lid with a cone
shape which is difficult to grasp. It will, if the lid itself is
heavy, tend to "Squirt" from between your finger tips as you increase
pressure to maintain a grip.
If people make a form repeatedly over a long period of time and use
their own utensils they come to realise the shortcomings and the
advantages of the elements they introduce or omit from a design. This
"Semi Mushroom" form is a case in point. Many people come to the same
solution, with minor variations. A case of learning by approximation
to achieve the most efficient solution.
Since you are interested in this Genre I will privately post a
graphics file for you to think about.
John Dermer was my mentor for tea pots. Had a week with him more than
ten years ago when he did a Master Class in the Design of Domestic
Wares.
Best regards,
Ivor Lewis.
Redhill,
S. Australia.
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