mel jacobson on wed 23 mar 05
i said `no more bitching about nceca and religious spam`
a fine post with constructive ideas is/are always welcome.
on any subject.
it is the repetitive, same old postings that get old fast.
in fact.
we could run all of the posts on nceca for the last three years
and you could not tell the city.
it is impossible to describe nceca as a thing, a reality.
it is committee driven, different people each year.
many follow a cookie cutter plan. a few develop
unique and new ideas. often it is just the same.
it is what it is...and it will remain what it is.
but, without question its greatest draw is bringing
clay people together each year in a new city.
the clayart room was designed to be a haven for folks
that did not know where to go to find a friend, a rest and
some talk about clay. it has grown a great deal, and it
seems its growth reflects a very nice common feeling.
that is good. i am proud of it. my own list of real time/honest
to goodness/in the flesh friends is growing at an alarming rate.
some wonderful people on clayart. kind and generous. diversity
does not describe it. it goes beyond that.
joe and i want to thank the many friends that have been
so helpful and supportive of our project. we have tried to bring
you all along with this endeavor. we both love the `iron saga` and
know many will find excitement using it in new ways. the concept of
non/reduction/oxidized firing is rather new...it should not be, many
of you have been doing it for years. it should be honored and respected.
there are many ways..many to make pots. many kinds of kilns. many
temperatures, many clays. they all have merit in the hands of skillful
dedicated potters. the most intellectual thing a potter can do and be
is learning to control their media and tools. understand the complexity
of the clay. i just watched a program on freida kalous)sp.rivera. she made a
wonderful statement about the painters of paris in 1934. `they drink,
talk and talk, poetry, social issues, philosophy and politics...but they
never paint.`
i think the most intelligent thing for a potter to do is make pots,
work with clay, new glazes, study and become excited about the craft.
then, pass it on. art is a passion. but when talk and writing over shadow
the act of art, it is no longer a visual art. i rather like to make things.
tangible things. they have to stand alone. you make them, stick them
out to be judged, then make some more. never stop.
mel
`
mel jacobson/minnetonka/minnesota/usa
http://www.pclink.com/melpots
http://www.rid-a-tick.com
luckisprepaid
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