Lili Krakowski on fri 19 nov 04
There are no categorically bad or good throwing postures, because every =
body is different--and, at different times of our lives our own body is =
different.
The thing is to find a posture that is right for you. I find throwing =
standing up ideal; someone tall and thin and young might be much =
happier sitting. A very small difference in the height of wheelhead can =
make a big difference in how one feels at end of day.
The same applies to wedging. We blame throwing postures etc but =
overlook that wedging is a back breaker. There was a recent thread of =
opinion on this with, as I recall, general agreement that a wedging =
table should be: at the height your knuckles are when you stand up =
straight, hands at side; or (my method) at the height you can rest your =
hand on it with your arms straight,.
Too many people wedge with their shoulders hunched because the table is =
too high. This esp. in shared studios, schools and such. The Lili =
Krakowski Memorial Platform is something every shared studio should =
have. This is an 18" x 18" "platform made of 2" x 6" and 2" x 4" =
scraps, something like a duckwalk, which one stands on to wedge at a too =
high table. Obviously, if that is too much, one builds one with 1" =
boards atop. If the floor is slippery a bit of that "do not slip and =
fall in the bathtub" tape helps.
It that does not do it, try wedging on a board on the floor. Put a =
thick pad under your knees, use a canvas covered plywood board. This =
posture allows your back to stay perfectly straight.
Ditto for shelves and kilns. When I was young I could lift a 25lbs+ =
pot board to the highest shelves in the damp box. Now I do it pot by =
pot. Reaching and lifting and like that in a top loading kiln can do =
damage. Nothing prevents you from having a few small platforms, little =
benches in the studio to stand on for these activities. (I have several =
small school desk chairs in the house to sit on when doing chores I used =
to do kneeling on the floor.) Stacking and unstacking a fuel burning =
kiln, lifting shelves and pots and reaching out to the back of the kiln =
can do real damage (a recommendation for flattops that have a roll-in =
ware cart.)
I think it was E P Thompson who wrote that in the "good old days" =
workers were through working at 40 from physical breakdown. Of course =
they started work at 5 as did a wonderful neighbor who ruined her back =
forever as a kid because of carrying milk pails too heavy for her.
PLEASE, fellow Aging Potters: next time you are in the studio do a =
health check. Is this table too high? Too low? Do I have to bend too =
much this way or that to do whatever...and so on. Wedge and throw =
thinking not about the pot but about every muscle and tendon and joint =
in your bod.
Do get the MD or chiropractor to look at your spine. You do not want to =
aggravate that old tennis or football injury.
One of the biggest differences that tells the amateur from the pro is =
TAKING GOOD CARE OF THE TOOLS. Yes, if you abuse your wooden ribs, =
they make new ones. If you abuse your body's ribs? If you damage a =
kiln hinge, they make new ones. If you damage your joints? If you =
want to pot to the grave then the best thing is to look after your body.
Lili Krakowski
Be of good courage
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