JOYCE LEE on thu 6 oct 05
I'd been in pottery a couple of years when I attended a Jack Troy
woodfiring workshop at Mesa. I didn't know much about pottery and
knew that I didn't..... normally I still didn't trust my judgment about
what makes a Good Pot. =20
However, all week I watched Jack sitting quietly, demonstrating for
us his style of creating pots.... so careful, so meticulous, so =
involved.
Of course, Jack didn't MEAN to demonstrate his "style" ; he was
simply showing us HOW to make some specific forms. He talked
through some of his throwing but often he was quiet, and we were quiet
as we marveled..... turns out it doesn't take much noise to "marvel."
By the end of the workshop we were fortunate enough to have an
opportunity to purchase some of Troy's work which was on display that
night. All of it was wonderful. BUT ONE was absolutely awesome.... as =
in
"inspiring awe." Most pots seemed to run around $85 to $150. But the =
one
I desired was a couple times the top price of the others. I'd never =
paid that
much money for a pot! This pot was luscious. Difficult for me to =
describe
even now. I hurriedly wrote a check.... deliberately didn't bring that =
much
cash with me so I wouldn't buy too foolishly. This was NOT a foolish =
purchase,
I've since learned. Jack himself had kept this pot (vase) in his home =
for
several years withstanding many offers to purchase from visitors. Pots =
were
filling his home (naturally) and he decided to give up a few. Mine was =
one.
One of Troy's Behind The Couch pots. I'm still impressed every day. =20
Coincidentally enough, Jack's pot sits adjacent to another beautiful =
large pot... on
my fireplace for now.... I move them around often. The second pot is =
Vince's.=20
I say good morning to them both most days. They nod sedately which =
distracts
not a whit from their magnificence. Like the guards at Buckingham, =
though, they
do not speak...... nor do they dance..... just a royal nod.... and =
that's enough.
Joyce
In the Mojave where it is truly cool this morning, and Pat's cannon is =
going off
every 20 minutes or so to scare away the ravens from her pistachio =
orchard.
My senses thus inform me that summer may be close to over for the upper
Mojave desert. My neighbor, Jeff, planned to attend the tile conference =
coming
up in Pomona. I hope so. I can see his place from mine; he's doing a =
dandy
job learning to make the tiles he used to covet. Moved out from town =
and is making
that little corner of the desert his and June's own.
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