Lee Love on tue 22 mar 05
Ken Chin-Purcell wrote:
> "Craftsman" could be bent to describe her but misses the mark.
> She puts something in to her pots that is more than excellent skills
>or extensive knowledge.
>
We used to fire together when we both had studios at Northern
Clay. I think she'd accept the title craftsman. She deserves it.
She also has a strong sense of esthetics. But, I know what you mean
by saying that there is something more than just being a craftsman.
Sometimes people hide behind the title of craftsman, when their work
lacks in the artistic area. Shirley's work certainly encompasses both,
in a quiet and unpretentious way. I like the work of Willem Gebbin in
Colfax, for the same reasons.
When MacKenzie arranged the "MingeiSota" show in Nikko in
'98. (It was 100 pieces by MacKenzie and 10 pieces each by 12
Minnesota and Wisconsin potters), We were asked to send "art pieces"
rather than strictly "functional" pieces. The curator wanted work
labeled that way, for customs purposes: utilitarian ware is charged
a customs tarrif while artwork is not taxed. Shirley was invited but
said she only made functional pieces and so, did not choose to be in the
show. Funny you know, the label was just for customs purposes,
because all the work at the show (which most sold within the first
couple hours of the opening), was functional work.
--
Lee in Mashiko, Japan http://mashiko.org
http://potters.blogspot.com/ WEB LOG
http://claycraft.blogspot.com/ Photos!
Lee Love on tue 22 mar 05
Lee Love wrote:
> labeled that way, for customs purposes: utilitarian ware is
> charged a customs tarrif while artwork is not taxed. Shirley was
> invited but said she only made functional pieces and so, did not
> choose to be in the show.
Relating this to Jean I recalled more of the even. More specifically,
the curator thought that sets would mark any work as functional and not
art. The focus of Shirley's work is sets of things.
I believe the curator was wrong. I helped pack up many
sets of my teacher's work for shipping overseas and they all seemed to
pass as un taxed "art." I only recall him having trouble one time,
for a show shipped to America, but it was eventually straightened out.
--
Lee in Mashiko, Japan http://mashiko.org
http://potters.blogspot.com/ WEB LOG
http://claycraft.blogspot.com/ Photos!
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