The Chapel of Art on fri 8 apr 05
From what has been said so far, TURNING is what is under discussion, rather=
than trimming. That is putting a leather hard or green pot back onto the=
wheel, then shaving off clay with a sharp tool as the pot rotates. The=
hand remains still or fixed, the pot moves. Yes, it is also trimming, but=
in the absence of our Australian friend, I feel like being pedantic about=
it! Seriously, of course "to turn" also means "to trim", (except in those=
areas where "turning" means "throwing" :o) but trimming can also mean=
scraping such as cleaning up the joints on multi-part mould-made pots or=
cleaning up handles, spouts, lips, sprigs etc.
Those who graduated from the "no turning" school, simply equate turning in=
certain (not all) situations, with anything from inadequate skill levels=
right through to downright incompetence. This includes turning inside a=
bowl or vessel, trimming walls to a uniform thickness, etc. Indeed all the=
work which could have been and therefore should have been done when=
throwing and certainly would have been by any proficient thrower/maker.
And that is the crunch! When work is being selected for shows, any sign or=
indication that it was not made by someone with advanced skill levels, the=
jury/curator will name the most obvious of maybe several reasons for=
turning their work down. That is normal practice in galleries and=
exhibitions and it is just another one of those extra bits of information=
which add up to "knowledge" for those starting out.
Of course "no turning" presumes that the maker was using normal plastic=
clays suitable for throwing straight off, not exceedingly short clays=
which have to be thrown thick and then turned to the required thickness=
later. I have used porcelain mixes which were really only usable for that=
"eastern" production method. Horrible stuff!!!
Turning has always been primarily on the outside of vessels, including=
bowls, not least because the foot is of great aesthetic as well as=
technical importance. I may add that this has been the case both in the=
East and the West, even making is semi automated. The perceived "rule" is=
one which stems from the economics of workshop time and motion as much as=
aesthetic considerations.
It is no big deal if students, apprentices, hobby potters and any other=
occasional makers do indeed "trim" whereas the Master Potter would throw=
the same size & shape straight off, but the goal of everyone will/should=
be the learned ability/skill to get it right first time around just like=
the Master Craftsman i.e. when throwing the pot whenever possible.
Why? Most obviously it saves time and effort in the prime objective of=
making a pot which pleases, as well as reduces secondary time / effort=
wastage cleaning up and recycling the clay. We think that "time is money"=
is a new concept, but it has been a relevant part of all production for=
centuries. What started out as a simple "time saver" can soon become an=
"aesthetic" or "unwritten rule". Not trimming also reduces the amount of=
dust generated, something more important now than ever before in the=
history of ceramic production.
It depends on how much is trimmed/turned and the manner in which it is=
done, but beyond these practical reasons, there are also aesthetics to=
consider. The splendid irregularities of a thrown pot are obscured and any=
jauntiness of a thrown form is often obliterated by more than basic=
turning or initial foot making prior to cutting off the wheel (when newly=
thrown). Pre-planned form-shaping types such as faceting and "extreme"=
foot shape designs aside.
Sincerely
Janet Kaiser - about to evacuate to our friend`s house whilst Himself sands=
the stairs and decorates the stair well... We already have about half an=
inch of wood dust covering everything, so not too sure why we are=
bothering. Except it will be nice to wake up without a nose full of filthy=
wood snot!! Can you believe it... This spell checker does not know what=
that is!!?
THE CHAPEL OF ART - or - CAPEL CELFYDDYD
8 Marine Crescent : Criccieth : GB-Wales LL52 0EA
Plan visiting The International Potters Path?
Contact: Janet Kaiser
Tel: ++44 (01766) 523122
http://www.the-coa.org.uk
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