mel jacobson on fri 4 mar 05
as with all translations from one language to another, there
are many ways to spell a thought or a word.
jon singer has been very helpful to us with translations.
again, thanks jon for so much support and help.
it all depends on the translation book you are using.
we now feel that temmoku is proper here in the west.
that is what sherman hall is using at cm. that is
what joe likes, and jon singer. it is based on a mirror black
, iron saturated glaze...hundreds of variations.
i always used tenmoku.
now i have changed. it is just about publishing with
consistency.
the root word seems to be chinese, and it refers to a
wonderful historic mountain in northern china.
turn the bowl over, and there is the mountain. the ring foot
is the crater. generic wording tien moku
the japanese used the word to describe the early very black
teabowls from china...the one's we have been looking at in
this study. i have one in my hands right here, right now. made
in 1125. hare's fur. it even feels magical. (many words in japanese
have chinese roots, like french, english, italian have many words in common.
there will be a great deal of very `authoritative` discourse on this, and
it will be debated forever....i like rick's narrative.
`your mileage and language may vary.`
i am one of those very lucky people that has spent an entire
day with mr. hamada. i sat with him alone for three hours looking
at pots from his collection.
a totally delightful man. you could feel it.
his words of wisdom to me:
`melsan, go back to america, minnesota and be a nordic
potter...make your own ideas work...you can never be japanese
or mingei...just be yourself.` and that is a direct quote.
i have lived that now for almost 50 years. if you join an art
club, you will have trouble with new and exciting ideas.
and, of course the debate is never about the pots, it is always
about the politics. the pots where terrific, and still are.
mr. leach told me the very same thing. do your own work.
mel
mel jacobson/minnetonka/minnesota/usa
http://www.pclink.com/melpots
http://www.rid-a-tick.com
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