mel jacobson on wed 13 jul 05
here is a real life story that may help
illustrate the need for american design, in america.
one of our good friends...and a friend to many clayarters,
kevin caufield, got a call from lund's /byerly's food store chain
and they asked him to design dishes to be sold at their
new shushi bar area in 8 stores.
full sets of dishes.
he came up with a porcelain/pink to aqua plate
that sold very well in his studio.
they rejected the idea.
they wanted him to do black dishes with japanese
slash designs on them...he said...`i am not japanese, and
this is not what i make...i don't think minnesota buyers will
even look at that design`. they insisted.
he included about one fourth of the order..that was in the thousands,
some of pink and aqua dishes. they sold out the first month...the
japanese fake design dishes are still on sale...few sold. now three years ago.
the woman that ordered the dishes has been fired.
kevin has the money.....but he is sad to see those
dishes, with his name on them....floundering for buyers.
the potter knew what would sell. he worked hard to get them
to understand. they had fake japanese design in their minds..would
not change. so, he filled the commission.
sad.
i really know what will sell here in minnetonka, mn..out my back door.
aqua, soft blue, tan and pete pinnell's crandberry red. it flies off the
shelves. simple shapes that function well in an american kitchen, or
an american dinning room setting. mugs with solid handles. bowls that
hold food. pitchers that really pour.
i love making kilns, chinese hare's fur glazes, salt firing..wood firing.
but, it will not sell out the back door of my studio. those pots are
for me and the farm gang. we have a ball. we learn a great deal.
they become gift pots for great customers that understand the new
ideas. my japanese inspired tea bowls are basically not for sale.
they are gifts to those that understand a bit about the function of
that sort of pot...i hate seeing chip dip in one of my teabowls...so i do
not sell them for that reason.
every time tony clennell talks about his wood firing, his new pots...i know
what he and sheila are going through...`they have to make pots for them...
they have to move the barriers...they have to seem in their hearts that
they are making new pots....moving on out. `
that is to be admired. i have to do the same things. and it causes a great
deal of nervous time. but, it keeps one alive.
mel
from mel/minnetonka.mn.usa
website: http://www.pclink.com/melpots
http://home.comcast.net/~figglywig/clayart.htm
for gail's year book.
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