Ellen Currans on wed 3 may 06
Here is a quote that gave me great comfort years ago when I was confronted
with the fact that I tend to be a tight potter. It is from a monograph edited by
Robert Fournier in l977 from tapes made by Bernard and David Leach. This
was David speaking.
"As a potter, I do not think of myself as one of what I call the "looser"
potters: I am not a Hamada or a John Reeves. I am a much more precise potter and
I am led towards porcelain which is rather demanding in these terms.
Stoneware needs to be broader and stronger, This is not my nature particularly. My
father says that I do not let the fluidity of the process speak enough. We
cannot fight against our natures which will always come out in our work. I cannot
escape CONSIDERATION. I remember my father asking me to glaze a bowl with a
very rough-cut foot in a granular clay. I set to, cleaning away these bits
and chips and father came up and caught me at it and gave me hell! I used to
fight against or apologise for this desire for finish and precision but not now:
I can't change it, that's how I am. When one grows older one learns to
accept oneself, warts and all, although I still have a certain envy for those
whose work mirrors a more relaxed approach. I am talking more about personality
than performance. The pot must be the expression of the man."
I have always preferred David Leach's pots to Bernard's. Just my internal
compass
which says so, and many will not agree. That's OK.
I think Mel must have been a very good teacher to understand and encourage
the unique need of each student to express what is in him, rather than training
them all to conform to the latest trend sweeping the pottery world, or even to
his own style. And to get them to clean up after themselves as well! Very
good! I sent Mel's story about how he got the studio cleaned up to my brother
who was metal shop teacher in High School for 32 years. I knew he would
appreciate it. He taught real skills with a firm hand and a lot of love, and has
students all over the Wenatchee Valley who learned enough from him to go on and
get good jobs and find their way in life.
I imagine Mel has had that kind of impact on his students as well.
I started packing up today for the Oregon Potters Showcase with set-up on
Thursday. I'm right at that stage where it all looks like just too much work - I
don't like my pots (especially under the fluorescent lights where I am
packing) - I'm wondering why I didn't make more of some things and so many of others
- and I'm wishing there was an easy way to decide what goes on the shelves
and what is packed away in plastic storage boxes for restocking. The convention
center won't let us store anything unless it is in plastic boxes, so you have
to make all the decisions at home or else you wind up unpacking and repacking
when you get there. Every joint in my body is sore or stiff after two weeks
of glazing and firing about 750 pieces. ( Nothing huge. My kiln holds about
150 in a firing). Don't ask me this week about the "joys of being a potter".
Hopefully I will feel good about it again after the show.
Off to bed.
Ellen
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