JOYCE LEE on tue 7 feb 06
I am so glad to hear Wayne, Steve and others begin to mention the
indigenous potters on our continent from such a long time ago. The
black&white pots of Los Mimbres especially really touch me .... their =
designs
have
the look of current pots ..... their geometric ins&outs remind me of
Escher. I recall a mug in a museum in Demming, New Mexico (?)=20
or maybe it was at a smaller museum in the mountains among the
works of the Anasazi..... either way,
it was very difficult to believe that mug wasn't created within the most =
recent
load fired the previous week.
I do believe that the rare craftsmen in their villages could have =
qualified
as "studio potters" creating functional work to be used by their fellow
tribesmen ...... with their enjoyment of their work showing clearly in =
the
humor of their designs, as well as the care given to crafting it.
Kathleen Nez's work which is completely modern in form demonstrates
how well Los Mimbres designs can be incorporated today and look
absolutely right. I think Kathleen is Apache (right, K?) but she has =
the
sureness of hand that Los Mimbres did so long ago. Her casseroles
would have been admired by any of the Ancient Ones.... their potters
would have had many questions for her, and she for them.
I am sure that Kathleen considers herself to be a Studio Potter =
following
the traditions of other Studio Potters from long, long ago. Even if she
doesn't, I do.
Joyce
In the Mojave desert of California wishing I looked more Cherokee (1/16
does count but not much) so I could be credible as a Native American
potter. Mama Luce had some of the physical characteristics as did her
grandmother, Mammy Orr (I wish THAT were spelled Ohr, too! But no
point wishing. I'll just create my own version of my personal history.) =
By
the way, wouldn't Ohr be considered a Studio Potter, too? In my heart,
he definitely is. Hmmm maybe I'll just create an update of his history,
too. Some of our buds are fiddling with history pretty blatantly...... =
why
not I who have purer intentions, after all.... just to make myself feel =
good....
feel more significant than I may be. Hmmm would I be too far off the =
mark
of this thread with such manipulation of Our Past?
| |
|
