URL Krueger on thu 9 jun 05
On Thursday 09 June 2005 05:40 pm, Lili Krakowski wrote:
> Of course a pot can last forever. So what?
I'm with Lili on this one.
We have purchased a fair amount of pottery over the years.
Some we use every day, some has been relegated to nooks,
cranies and cupboards to gather dust, some has been taken
to thrift stores so that others may enjoy it in its second
life and of course some has broken and been thrown in the
trash.
I enjoy having handmade pottery at the table and on display.
It enriches my life over the Correlle ware and supermarket
specials we used to use. I have paid a premium for this
enrichment but it has been worth it. Should I keep all of
this pottery I now have for the rest of my life?
I think not. If I did then I would severly limit any new
purchases due to lack of space and there's just too much
beautiful pottery out there made by you folks for me to not
buy any more.
--
Earl K...
Bothell WA, USA
Lili Krakowski on thu 9 jun 05
Dear Gail.
I like and respect you, and will give you my most honest answer-although I
need to do something I loathe-intrude on my own privacy.
I make pots to give people instant pleasure. I do not want my pots in
musea, on shelves, in cabinets. I want it in daily use. Everyday I pick a
mug-mine, given or bought by/from a potter, commercial cheap, commercial
costly, just as others choose what to wear.
I feel we drift through life without Kavanah, receuil, focus..that small
gasp of recognition of THIS moment, THIS action. Paying attention to my
coffee and its mug is a good way to start my day.
Of course a pot can last forever. So what? That means nothing to me. My
parents had several china cabinets full of Europe's priciest, most valuable
porcelain.
It could not be used. It might break. I could look but not touch. My
parents married in 1923, much of that stuff was given them, much inherited.
In 1933 it made the trip from Berlin to Antwerp. In 1940 it all disappeared
into history.
All the synagogues of Europe and many schools and private homes owned
precious Torah scrolls. It takes forever to write one, it takes hours each
year for a scribe to check that no letter is broken an redo those that are.
There were the crowns and breast plates and pointers for the Torah scrolls.
Magnificent Ark curtains. Gold, silver wine cups and platters..Wonderful
books. And one day it was : " Oh, these will last forever, long after we
are gone." History happened. The priceless objects and their owners went
up in smoke together.
The word iconoclast was created for the destruction of the beautiful. Just
recently the Taliban blew up some statues of the Buddha, meant to last
forever.. History is a bitter ugly tale of beauty created for eternity and
destroyed in an instant.
Furthermore nature itself destroys works of beauty. Earthquakes, and
floods, and fires.
So I make pots that may last a week, a year, decades. And, while I
certainly sell, I swap for the good of my soul. The relish lasts about a
month a pint. The chili sauce may last longer. The relish and chili make
me happy. The plate my friend wanted -inscribed, an anniversary
present-made her and the recipients happy. If the plate breaks the memory
of it will remain-for about half a century as these folk are young. The
memory of happiness--others, my own-- means more to me than the money I
could have charged.
This probably makes no sense to you. In fact I hope you have seen too
little destruction to even know what I am talking about. Keep it that way!
Lili Krakowski
Be of good courage
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