Lili Krakowski on tue 7 jun 05
Of course normal folk do not understand a $100 pot! This, in my opinion,
has nothing to do with Art, but with what they have seen and experienced.
Last week I was filling up the pickup and put $30 of gas in . I consciously
thought: "I used to work a 45 hour week for that!" A kind couple invited
me to dinner at a very classy restaurant in New York City a few years back.
They are very well to do, it is one of those "six degrees of separation"
acquaintanceships, and they said: "This is one of our favorite haunts...we
come here all the time." The food indeed was lovely, although this
garniture business has gotta go. It still looks like a bunny had a nibble
of my entree. Anyway. A plain appetizer of Feta and some wild
herb--forget-- was like $15. To this country girl $15 is dinner, in toto,
the whole thing.
Well to people who indeed go to Wal-Mart and the like (as do I) $100 is a
lot of money. It may not be a lot of money for winter tires, for a whole
set of dishes--but for one jar?
THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ART. Around here lots of people have creative
hobbies--woodworking, knitting, and like that. Our aesthetic may not
agree--but they work hard, turn out high quality stuff--same as what I aim
at.
It will shock you (no it won't) that I often swap. I made a custom ordered
plate some time ago for someone and traded for 6 jars of hamburger relish
and same of chili. Anyone who has made relish and chili knows there is a
lot of peeling and chopping, and cooking, and canning. The ingredients, the
jars, the lids, the gas/electricity cost plenty. The time is huge. So?
The plate (inscription in slip, decorated, made two --one for backup) took
me two hours AT MOST. How long does it take to make relish (and clean up
the kitchen)?
If one drops the I Am an Artist , and read CM, and go to NCECA, and Musea
posture, to focus on I put in two hours of work, and SHE put in three, so I
am getting the better part of the bargain...one gets a good grip on how to
educate a community. Do it by friendly barter...by getting people to
understand that you have your knowledge, and they have theirs and you are
swapping skills, not titles.
What would I swap for a face cord of wood? help with repainting a room?
not that I necessarily would do it....but it is a usefully humbling thought.
Lili Krakowski
Be of good courage
Kathi LeSueur on tue 7 jun 05
Lili Krakowski wrote:
>Of course normal folk do not understand a $100 pot! This, in my opinion,
>has nothing to do with Art, but with what they have seen and experienced.........
>
>THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ART. Around here lots of people have creative
>hobbies--woodworking, knitting, and like that. Our aesthetic may not
>agree--but they work hard, turn out high quality stuff--same as what I aim
>at........
>educate a community. Do it by friendly barter...by getting people to
>understand that you have your knowledge, and they have theirs and you are
>swapping skills, not titles......
>
>
>
>
When I moved to south Texas in 1982 most of the people I met had no idea
about handmade pottery let alone seen it. After I set up my studio I
woud bring seconds over to the greenhouse staff. At first they were
very excited. They set up a system so that everyone got a turn to choose
something. The next time around a different worker got first pick. After
about a year I noticed that there were some pots left over. They had
become educated just by living with my pots for a year. They had become
picky!! Once they saw the value it was possible to barter for things.
Fresh oranges and grapefruit from one's backyard. The best genuine
fajitas I've ever had. I always thought I got the better of the deal.
Kathi
Leanne Juliana on tue 7 jun 05
>If one drops the I Am an Artist , and read CM, and go to NCECA, and Musea
>posture, to focus on I put in two hours of work, and SHE put in three, so I
>am getting the better part of the bargain...one gets a good grip on how to
>educate a community. Do it by friendly barter...by getting people to
>understand that you have your knowledge, and they have theirs and you are
>swapping skills, not titles.
::muses:: that's how we get our taxes done.
claybair on wed 8 jun 05
Lili,
Here's an issue I've been thinking about
for a while....
When you barter you are often getting disposable items.
How long does that jar of relish last compared
to your piece of pottery? Your piece of pottery has the potential to
last thousands of years, become heirlooms handed down from generation
to generation and possible be very valuable. So how does this compare
to a cup or so of relish? Even if it doesn't last thousands of years there
most assuredly is a more lasting use/function for your piece of pottery.
This was brought home to me when I got a haircut and decided I didn't want
to barter.... I wanted to pay for my haircut but the owner insisted on
barter. So my
haircut may last a month or two but my pottery will last much longer. I'm
reconsidering bartering in instances such as these.
Gayle Bair
Bainbridge Island, WA
Tucson, AZ
http://claybair.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Lili Krakowski
snip>
It will shock you (no it won't) that I often swap. I made a custom ordered
plate some time ago for someone and traded for 6 jars of hamburger relish
and same of chili. Anyone who has made relish and chili knows there is a
lot of peeling and chopping, and cooking, and canning. The ingredients, the
jars, the lids, the gas/electricity cost plenty. The time is huge. So?
The plate (inscription in slip, decorated, made two --one for backup) took
me two hours AT MOST. How long does it take to make relish (and clean up
the kitchen)?
If one drops the I Am an Artist , and read CM, and go to NCECA, and Musea
posture, to focus on I put in two hours of work, and SHE put in three, so I
am getting the better part of the bargain...one gets a good grip on how to
educate a community. Do it by friendly barter...by getting people to
understand that you have your knowledge, and they have theirs and you are
swapping skills, not titles.
What would I swap for a face cord of wood? help with repainting a room?
not that I necessarily would do it....but it is a usefully humbling thought.
Lili Krakowski
Be of good courage
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