claybair on mon 28 aug 06
Sending this posting for a third time.
Gayle Bair
Bainbridge Island, WA
Tucson, AZ
http://claybair.com
Fred,
This is an ever recurring theme.
I do not apologize for thinking of myself as an artist.
I have no overblown, pompous or annoying connotations attached
to that word when I describe what I have been most of my life.
If that means I open myself up to all manner of adjectives & pejoratives so
be it.
I'll spend less time worrying about it than those who write/say them.
Art is very subjective... what may be aesthetic to one may be trash to
another.
When I look at pieces be they paintings, sculpture or pots I seek & see art.
I believe craft and craftsmanship is integral to art which is also an
integral part of my life.
I didn't find clay until 10 years ago but when I did all my skills in the
arts flowed
seamlessly into my clay work. Prior to clay I have been drawing & painting
for most of my
61 yrs, received scholarship to Phila College of Art, graduated with a BFA
in Printmaking.
I have taught and encourage art awareness and appreciation.
My goal has been to take ordinary everyday functional items and turn them
into works of art.
You may not agree but the people who buy my work have no trouble paying for,
displaying,
and enjoying them as the product of Definition #1 below.
American Heritage Dictionary
artist art·ist (är't?st) n.
1. One, such as a painter, sculptor, or writer, who is able by virtue of
imagination and talent or skill to create works of aesthetic value,
especially in the fine arts.
2. A person whose work shows exceptional creative ability or skill: You are
an artist in the kitchen.
3. One, such as an actor or singer, who works in the performing arts.
4. One who is adept at an activity, especially one involving trickery or
deceit: a con artist.
[French artiste, from Old French, lettered person, from Medieval Latin
artista, from Latin ars, art-, art.]
Take your pick.... I'm ever working on #1
More definitions see:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=define%3Aartist
Gayle Bair - a member of the species Homo sapiens (Latin for "knowing man"):
a bipedal primate belonging to the superfamily of Hominoidea who for the
past 10 years has worked 8-18hrs a day creating clay pieces, sitting at a
machine which goes around, decorating said pieces, placing in a brick
container and making it hot, removing them applying coatings, placing in
brick container that gets hot again, taking them out when cool, packing them
up & taking places to be sold. Often wakes from brief slumber with new ideas
and rushes into room with machine that goes around to try then perfect
them..... Give me a break!
Bainbridge Island, WA where it's getting cooler and darker and yesterday I
was a different kind of painter....we painted our deck..... of course it
turned out to be one of our hottest days too!
Tucson, AZ
http://claybair.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Fred Parker
I'll take it a step further: I fervently believe the only way an
individual can be rightfully designated "Artist" is by others, as in "He
is an Artist." That's not to say the word cannot be used in its lesser
form by the individual involved. "Signed by the artist" is, in my
opinion, completely acceptable in marketing one's work, but "signed by me,
and I am an artist," is pompous, overblown and annoying.
Fred Parker
On Wed, 23 Aug 2006 08:49:57 -0400, clennell wrote:
>
>EP: Thanks for dubbing me Master Potter but once again I'm going to turn
it
>down. It sticks in my craw like calling Joe Blow, DR. Joe Blow does yours.
>We have a bunch of self proclaimed Ceramic Masters in Canada that pay a
>membership and get to put CM after their name, the same group nominates
>each other to receive another little title called
--
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
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Fred Parker on tue 29 aug 06
Hello Gail:
Glad you finally got through.
No one should ever apologize for thinking of themself as an artist. I
certainly did not say, nor do I believe that the word, "artist" is a
negative connotation. By the way, I also think the number of people
willing to pay for one's work is no more relevant to whether they might be
an "artist" than the number of people willing to buy tickets to a bad
movie might be a testament to its dramatic qualities. None of this has
anything to do with my comment.
I don't really care how good you are, what your credentials are --
including how many degrees you have from which prestigious colleges of
art, how many people buy your work, where it is displayed or even if it is
acknowledged by the World Court and Ultimate Authority on Art to be the
best that has ever, ever been produced on this planet. None of that has
one micron of relevance to what I said.
If I pulled a basket of kittens from a burning building, then proceeded to
dance before the cameras proclaiming, "I am a hero" many would find me
pompous and annoying and most would soon ignore me.
However, If I retrieved the basket of kittens, made sure they were safe
with an ample supply of lapping cream in a nwell proportioned, food-safe-
glazed saucer, then quietly disappeared from the scene, the news media
would be frantic to "find this kind and modest hero so we can thank him
for his wonderful and brave deed."
I have no problem with someone labeling themself "ceramic artist," "Artist-
in-residence," "artist-of-record," "pop artist," "struggling artist,"
watercolor artist," "portrait artist," "unemployed artist," "angry artist
with an ax to grind" or "pompous artist." In fact, I have no problem with
anyone else self-proclaiming, "I am an artist." I will probably think
they are pompous and arrogant, but they are free to designate themselves
however and whatever they choose. I will not do it.
My problem is with the effect on the language that wholesale proclamation
ultimately has. Remember, if it's OK for you to say you are an "artist"
then it is OK for me to say it also. I might be the biggest hack going,
but I'm gonna tell the world "I am an artist" -- just like you, with all
of your credentials and patrons who spend all of the big bucks to own and
display your work. In other words, we are in the same club, with pretty
much the same qualifications (to many who don't know us.) "Artist" means
you, and "artist" means me. Linguistically, we are equal, even though in
actuality, you produce art and I produce crap.
Is this good?
Fred Parker
>Fred,
>This is an ever recurring theme.
>I do not apologize for thinking of myself as an artist.
>I have no overblown, pompous or annoying connotations attached
>to that word when I describe what I have been most of my life.
>If that means I open myself up to all manner of adjectives & pejoratives
so
>be it.
>I'll spend less time worrying about it than those who write/say them.
>Art is very subjective... what may be aesthetic to one may be trash to
>another.
>When I look at pieces be they paintings, sculpture or pots I seek & see
art.
>I believe craft and craftsmanship is integral to art which is also an
>integral part of my life.
>I didn't find clay until 10 years ago but when I did all my skills in the
>arts flowed
>seamlessly into my clay work. Prior to clay I have been drawing & painting
>for most of my
>61 yrs, received scholarship to Phila College of Art, graduated with a BFA
>in Printmaking.
>I have taught and encourage art awareness and appreciation.
>My goal has been to take ordinary everyday functional items and turn them
>into works of art.
>You may not agree but the people who buy my work have no trouble paying
for,
>displaying,
>and enjoying them as the product of Definition #1 below.
>
>American Heritage Dictionary
>
>artist art=B7ist (=E4r't?st) n.
>1. One, such as a painter, sculptor, or writer, who is able by virtue of
>imagination and talent or skill to create works of aesthetic value,
>especially in the fine arts.
>2. A person whose work shows exceptional creative ability or skill: You
are
>an artist in the kitchen.
>3. One, such as an actor or singer, who works in the performing arts.
>4. One who is adept at an activity, especially one involving trickery or
>deceit: a con artist.
>[French artiste, from Old French, lettered person, from Medieval Latin
>artista, from Latin ars, art-, art.]
>
>Take your pick.... I'm ever working on #1
>
>More definitions see:
>http://www.google.com/search?hl=3Den&lr=3D&q=3Ddefine%3Aartist
>
>
>Gayle Bair - a member of the species Homo sapiens (Latin for "knowing
man"):
>a bipedal primate belonging to the superfamily of Hominoidea who for the
>past 10 years has worked 8-18hrs a day creating clay pieces, sitting at a
>machine which goes around, decorating said pieces, placing in a brick
>container and making it hot, removing them applying coatings, placing in
>brick container that gets hot again, taking them out when cool, packing
them
>up & taking places to be sold. Often wakes from brief slumber with new
ideas
>and rushes into room with machine that goes around to try then perfect
>them..... Give me a break!
>Bainbridge Island, WA where it's getting cooler and darker and yesterday I
>was a different kind of painter....we painted our deck..... of course it
>turned out to be one of our hottest days too!
>Tucson, AZ
>http://claybair.com
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Fred Parker
>
>I'll take it a step further: I fervently believe the only way an
>individual can be rightfully designated "Artist" is by others, as in "He
>is an Artist." That's not to say the word cannot be used in its lesser
>form by the individual involved. "Signed by the artist" is, in my
>opinion, completely acceptable in marketing one's work, but "signed by me,
>and I am an artist," is pompous, overblown and annoying.
>
>Fred Parker
>
>
>On Wed, 23 Aug 2006 08:49:57 -0400, clennell
wrote:
>
>>
>>EP: Thanks for dubbing me Master Potter but once again I'm going to turn
>it
>>down. It sticks in my craw like calling Joe Blow, DR. Joe Blow does
yours.
>>We have a bunch of self proclaimed Ceramic Masters in Canada that pay a
>>membership and get to put CM after their name, the same group nominates
>>each other to receive another little title called
>
>
>--
>No virus found in this outgoing message.
>Checked by AVG Free Edition.
>Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.11.6/428 - Release Date: 8/25/2006
>
>__________________________________________________________________________
____
>Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
>You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
>settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
>Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.
Carl Finch on tue 29 aug 06
At 05:03 PM 8/29/2006, Mayssan Shora Farra wrote:
>Hello all of you artists or not:
>
>Have you all noticed how most of those objecting to the word artist as a
>discription of a proffesion always write it with an "A" not an "a".
I don't know how she spells it (capital or lower case), but my wife has a
way of pronouncing it that seems a bit different from the way others do--at
least when she applies it to me.
She calls me an "ar teest" (accent on the second syllable), and uses it as,
for example, "I'll leave the toilet paper pattern up to you. After all,
you're the arteest." Or, "Hey, Mr. Arteest, that garbage can isn't gonna
walk out to the curb by itself."
I'm not sure what to make of this. She's from Michigan--might that be a
midwestern pronunciation?
--Carl
in Medford, Oregon
Mayssan Shora Farra on tue 29 aug 06
Hello all of you artists or not:
Have you all noticed how most of those objecting to the word artist as a
discription of a proffesion always write it with an "A" not an "a".
I think that is where it all lies, how you think of the word as a heroic
Artist or just a normal discription artist.
Mayssan,
an artist in my own eyes not heroic or great and I don't even know if I am
acceptable but an artist by compultion not choice, and that is not
necessarily a blessing.
http://www.clayvillepottery.com
Robert Edney on tue 29 aug 06
I've been reading this thread with interest, in part because I'm in the
process of setting up a new website and I'm trying to decide what to =
call
myself. I get what Fred is saying, but I'm thinking I don't agree. The
kitten-saving hero is a hero regardless of the aftermath, simply by =
virtue
of having committed a heroic act. There are plenty of authentic heroes =
in
the world who are total jerks, just as there are plenty of acknowledged
artists throughout history who were self-promoting, arrogant and unkind =
to
animals. Might it have more to do with what we bring to the work =
itself?
Is there a "craft" approach to clay and an "art" approach, sometimes =
mixed
in varying degrees? I think so, I've seen it. I suspect that this has =
more
to do with what it is we take responsibility for being. If I choose to =
be
an artist I need a certain sense of inquiry, exploration and a =
willingness
-- even a need -- to take risks. My work may or may not always be
marketable. Craft, on the other hand, assumes a certain degree of
precision, repeatability and marketability. We can sympathize with an
artist who creates some work than nobody wants to buy, whereas such work =
is
probably misguided for a craftsperson. I see these as different =
mindsets --
with plenty of middle-ground. I've as much admiration for a master
craftsperson as I do for an acknowledged artist -- sometimes more. It's =
not
that a craftsperson might someday graduate to becoming an artist -- they =
are
different disciplines and call for a different creative focus to some
degree. In the end, however, I think we all have elements of both, and =
how
we self-identify has more to do with our internal sense of being than =
how
the world might see us from the outside. I think that it's a highly
personal choice, and less based on accomplishment than endeavor and =
process.
Being an artist ultimately includes a real willingness to risk in the
process of discovery, whereas a craftsperson needs to manage risk with =
care.
Craft is a process of refining, whereas art is often a process of =
leaping.
I'd like it if you call yourself an artist based on your willingness to
assume responsibility for the hard work of artistic inquiry through =
process
-- through doing, experimenting, risking and making. I'd know who I was
talking with then. Many -- but not all -- clay-workers are both -- =
using
controlled repeated work to support the time when they explore at a =
riskier
level. The repeated work may be (and probably is) the result of the
successes generated by the riskier artistic process. When such work =
proves
to be popular it becomes the focus of craft -- to make more to sell.
In short, I think that Snail nailed it. It's a job description: If one =
is
committed to the process, risk and exploration of art, one is an artist =
and
is entitled to the title. After all, lots of people are runners, but =
very
few participate in the Olypmics.
Robert =20
-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On Behalf Of Fred Parker
Sent: Tuesday, August 29, 2006 7:00 AM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Re: FW: IMHO,CM,RCA,OC,BS, Artist
Hello Gail:
Glad you finally got through.
No one should ever apologize for thinking of themself as an artist. I
certainly did not say, nor do I believe that the word, "artist" is a
negative connotation. By the way, I also think the number of people
willing to pay for one's work is no more relevant to whether they might =
be
an "artist" than the number of people willing to buy tickets to a bad
movie might be a testament to its dramatic qualities. None of this has
anything to do with my comment.
I don't really care how good you are, what your credentials are --
including how many degrees you have from which prestigious colleges of
art, how many people buy your work, where it is displayed or even if it =
is
acknowledged by the World Court and Ultimate Authority on Art to be the
best that has ever, ever been produced on this planet. None of that has
one micron of relevance to what I said.
If I pulled a basket of kittens from a burning building, then proceeded =
to
dance before the cameras proclaiming, "I am a hero" many would find me
pompous and annoying and most would soon ignore me.
However, If I retrieved the basket of kittens, made sure they were safe
with an ample supply of lapping cream in a nwell proportioned, =
food-safe-
glazed saucer, then quietly disappeared from the scene, the news media
would be frantic to "find this kind and modest hero so we can thank him
for his wonderful and brave deed."
I have no problem with someone labeling themself "ceramic artist," =
"Artist-
in-residence," "artist-of-record," "pop artist," "struggling artist,"
watercolor artist," "portrait artist," "unemployed artist," "angry =
artist
with an ax to grind" or "pompous artist." In fact, I have no problem =
with
anyone else self-proclaiming, "I am an artist." I will probably think
they are pompous and arrogant, but they are free to designate themselves
however and whatever they choose. I will not do it.
My problem is with the effect on the language that wholesale =
proclamation
ultimately has. Remember, if it's OK for you to say you are an "artist"
then it is OK for me to say it also. I might be the biggest hack going,
but I'm gonna tell the world "I am an artist" -- just like you, with all
of your credentials and patrons who spend all of the big bucks to own =
and
display your work. In other words, we are in the same club, with pretty
much the same qualifications (to many who don't know us.) "Artist" means
you, and "artist" means me. Linguistically, we are equal, even though =
in
actuality, you produce art and I produce crap.
Is this good?
Fred Parker
>Fred,
>This is an ever recurring theme.
>I do not apologize for thinking of myself as an artist.
>I have no overblown, pompous or annoying connotations attached
>to that word when I describe what I have been most of my life.
>If that means I open myself up to all manner of adjectives & =
pejoratives
so
>be it.
>I'll spend less time worrying about it than those who write/say them.
>Art is very subjective... what may be aesthetic to one may be trash to
>another.
>When I look at pieces be they paintings, sculpture or pots I seek & see
art.
>I believe craft and craftsmanship is integral to art which is also an
>integral part of my life.
>I didn't find clay until 10 years ago but when I did all my skills in =
the
>arts flowed
>seamlessly into my clay work. Prior to clay I have been drawing & =
painting
>for most of my
>61 yrs, received scholarship to Phila College of Art, graduated with a =
BFA
>in Printmaking.
>I have taught and encourage art awareness and appreciation.
>My goal has been to take ordinary everyday functional items and turn =
them
>into works of art.
>You may not agree but the people who buy my work have no trouble paying
for,
>displaying,
>and enjoying them as the product of Definition #1 below.
>
>American Heritage Dictionary
>
>artist art=B7ist (=E4r't?st) n.
>1. One, such as a painter, sculptor, or writer, who is able by virtue =
of
>imagination and talent or skill to create works of aesthetic value,
>especially in the fine arts.
>2. A person whose work shows exceptional creative ability or skill: You
are
>an artist in the kitchen.
>3. One, such as an actor or singer, who works in the performing arts.
>4. One who is adept at an activity, especially one involving trickery =
or
>deceit: a con artist.
>[French artiste, from Old French, lettered person, from Medieval Latin
>artista, from Latin ars, art-, art.]
>
>Take your pick.... I'm ever working on #1
>
>More definitions see:
>http://www.google.com/search?hl=3Den&lr=3D&q=3Ddefine%3Aartist
>
>
>Gayle Bair - a member of the species Homo sapiens (Latin for "knowing
man"):
>a bipedal primate belonging to the superfamily of Hominoidea who for =
the
>past 10 years has worked 8-18hrs a day creating clay pieces, sitting at =
a
>machine which goes around, decorating said pieces, placing in a brick
>container and making it hot, removing them applying coatings, placing =
in
>brick container that gets hot again, taking them out when cool, packing
them
>up & taking places to be sold. Often wakes from brief slumber with new
ideas
>and rushes into room with machine that goes around to try then perfect
>them..... Give me a break!
>Bainbridge Island, WA where it's getting cooler and darker and =
yesterday I
>was a different kind of painter....we painted our deck..... of course =
it
>turned out to be one of our hottest days too!
>Tucson, AZ
>http://claybair.com
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Fred Parker
>
>I'll take it a step further: I fervently believe the only way an
>individual can be rightfully designated "Artist" is by others, as in =
"He
>is an Artist." That's not to say the word cannot be used in its lesser
>form by the individual involved. "Signed by the artist" is, in my
>opinion, completely acceptable in marketing one's work, but "signed by =
me,
>and I am an artist," is pompous, overblown and annoying.
>
>Fred Parker
>
>
>On Wed, 23 Aug 2006 08:49:57 -0400, clennell
wrote:
>
>>
>>EP: Thanks for dubbing me Master Potter but once again I'm going to =
turn
>it
>>down. It sticks in my craw like calling Joe Blow, DR. Joe Blow does
yours.
>>We have a bunch of self proclaimed Ceramic Masters in Canada that pay =
a
>>membership and get to put CM after their name, the same group =
nominates
>>each other to receive another little title called
>
>
>--
>No virus found in this outgoing message.
>Checked by AVG Free Edition.
>Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.11.6/428 - Release Date: =
8/25/2006
>
>________________________________________________________________________=
__
____
>Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
>You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
>settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
>Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.
_________________________________________________________________________=
___
__
Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.
Vince Pitelka on wed 30 aug 06
Robert Edney wrote"
If I choose to be an artist I need a certain sense of inquiry, exploration
and a willingness -- even a need -- to take risks. My work may or may not
always be marketable. Craft, on the other hand, assumes a certain degree of
precision, repeatability and marketability. We can sympathize with an
artist who creates some work than nobody wants to buy, whereas such work is
probably misguided for a craftsperson. I see these as different mindsets --
with plenty of middle-ground. I've as much admiration for a master
craftsperson as I do for an acknowledged artist -- sometimes more. It's not
that a craftsperson might someday graduate to becoming an artist -- they are
different disciplines and call for a different creative focus to some
degree. In the end, however, I think we all have elements of both, and how
we self-identify has more to do with our internal sense of being than how
the world might see us from the outside."
Robert -
You have much good to say, but I think you are still being far to limiting
in your definitions. I suppose you could say that someone is a craftsperson
but not an artist if they never create anything original, perhaps if they
work for some other artist/craftsperson, simply recreating volumes of the
other person's work, like the journeyman production potter working for hire.
He/she is certainly a craftsperson, but not an artist, unless you use the
term as "He/she is a real 'artist' of his/her trade." However, if someone
is designing and creating original craft work, I think you would have to
call them an artist. As I have said in previous posts, it may not be great
or even good art, but if you don't call them an artist, what are they? This
is really such a simple matter - we need to demystify the terms "art" and
"artist," to make them everyday terms in our culture. "Artist" simply means
anyone who makes art, which is a form of visual communication, and the
design and decoration on pottery must certainly qualify as visual
communication - even simple form and color communicate so much. Determining
the quality of art is always subjective, and to say that someone else is not
an artist seems far more pompous than for them to say that they are. To say
that you are an artist is simply an admission that you make art. What could
possibly be wrong with that?
- Vince
Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Craft, Tennessee Technological University
Smithville TN 37166, 615/597-6801 x111
vpitelka@dtccom.net, wpitelka@tntech.edu
http://iweb.tntech.edu/wpitelka/
http://www.tntech.edu/craftcenter/
logan johnson on wed 30 aug 06
>>I'm not sure what to make of this. She's from Michigan--might that be a
midwestern pronunciation?
Carl<<
Carl,
Of course it is "DEAR"!
Logan
--
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.11.7/433 - Release Date: 8/30/2006
______________________________________________________________________________
Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
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Logan Johnson
Yakima Valley Pottery & Supply
719 W Nob Hill Blvd. Ste C
Yakima, WA 98902
509.469.6966
www.audeostudios.com
"Carpe Argillam!!"
Vince Pitelka on wed 30 aug 06
This post was one of so many that disappeared into cyberspace, so I am
reposting, because it's an important discussion.
Fred Parker wrote:
> However, I would not go so far as to say each of my students was
> an "artist." Sad to say, some of them had it right in the first place
> when they told me there was nothing creative about them.
> In fact, I do place a value within the term, "art." I realize this is not
> in keeping with everyone's opinion about art. And in these pc days
> of "everybody wins a medal because there are no losers" it is stylish to
> call anyone with a paint brush, a potter's wheel or a sketch pad an
> artist, but I simply do not believe an Elvis painting on black velour is
> art. Decoration maybe. "A picture" maybe. Crap probably. But, in my
> opinion, it is definitely not art. I'd be hard pressed to designate the
> painter of something like this, an "artist."
Dear Fred -
I am afraid that you completely missed my primary point, and that is
frustrating. I abhor the "dumbing down" of American public school education
and the notion that everyone must be treated like a winner. What claptrap!
But that has nothing at all to do with my premise. My point is that with
the proper encouragement, every kid would think of themselves as an artist
and would use art as visual expression and communication. That doesn't mean
that they all should be acknowledged as good artists - the competition would
still be there - but at least they would use visual expression, and they
would have a much greater chance of becoming good artists/artisans. That is
the way it is in many tribal cultures where art is just part of everyday
life. It could be that way in Western society, if as a culture we didn't
have such suspicion and paranoia about artists and art-making.
To deny some people the use of art as visual expression is like denying some
kids spoken language as a means of communication. It really is that basic,
except for the fact that given the opportunity, all children make art much
more naturally and easily than they learn spoken language. Given the right
atmosphere of support and encouragement, many kids would become fluent in
art and design, as happens in some East Asian cultures.
Regarding those cases where someone in your classes initially says "I am not
creative." and where you subsequently determine that they in fact are not
creative - those are simply the ones who were so thorougly convinced that
they are not creative, and at this point it might be debateable as to
whether anyone can break through the fear and lack of confidence. But you
as a teacher should be the last one to acknowledge a lack of creativity,
because it simply ain't true, ever. It is a matter of getting through to
them. You might not be able to, but don't ever admit to yourself or them
that they are not creative, because they ARE! It is just a matter of
learning the language of art and having the courage and encouragement to
release oneself from the fear of visual expression.
To say that someone who makes bad art is not an artist is like saying that
someone who speaks bad English is not a speaker. It just doesn't make any
sense. What we need to do is demystify the terms "art" and "artist" so that
people think of those terms as part of everyday life. The GOOD and GREAT
artists will still stand out, but we would end up with a lot MORE good and
great artists if most people thought of themselves as artists and made art
as a natural and accepted form of expression and communication.
Do you understand what I am saying now? Please think about it carefully.
This is very important.
- Vince
Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Craft, Tennessee Technological University
Smithville TN 37166, 615/597-6801 x111
vpitelka@dtccom.net, wpitelka@tntech.edu
http://iweb.tntech.edu/wpitelka/
http://www.tntech.edu/craftcenter/
claybair on wed 30 aug 06
Sorry Carl,
I have heard that pronunciation all over East to West coast
and have used it myself. However I cannot find a definition for it.
Methinks she is being lovingly ironical!
I think the true test is whether she giggles when she says it? :-)
If she snickers & sneers you are in danger Will Robinson! :-O
Gayle Bair
Bainbridge Island, WA
Tucson, AZ
http://claybair.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Carl Finch
At 05:03 PM 8/29/2006, Mayssan Shora Farra wrote:
>Hello all of you artists or not:
>
>Have you all noticed how most of those objecting to the word artist as a
>discription of a proffesion always write it with an "A" not an "a".
I don't know how she spells it (capital or lower case), but my wife has a
way of pronouncing it that seems a bit different from the way others do--at
least when she applies it to me.
She calls me an "ar teest" (accent on the second syllable), and uses it as,
for example, "I'll leave the toilet paper pattern up to you. After all,
you're the arteest." Or, "Hey, Mr. Arteest, that garbage can isn't gonna
walk out to the curb by itself."
I'm not sure what to make of this. She's from Michigan--might that be a
midwestern pronunciation?
--Carl
in Medford, Oregon
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Lee Love on wed 30 aug 06
On 8/29/06, Carl Finch wrote:
>
>
> She calls me an "ar teest" (accent on the second syllable), and uses it
> as,
> for example, "I'll leave the toilet paper pattern up to you. After all,
> you're the arteest." Or, "Hey, Mr. Arteest, that garbage can isn't gonna
> walk out to the curb by itself."
>
> I'm not sure what to make of this. She's from Michigan--might that be a
> midwestern pronunciation?
>
I am from the MidWest too. What this means is that she is a fan of
John Le Feet, the Barefoot Pirate! ;^)
--
Lee in Mashiko, Japan
http://potters.blogspot.com/
"Let the beauty we love be what we do." - Rumi
Lezlie Finet on thu 31 aug 06
On Tue, 29 Aug 2006 20:59:55 -0700, Carl Finch
wrote:
>I don't know how she spells it (capital or lower case), but my wife has a
>way of pronouncing it that seems a bit different from the way others do--
at
>least when she applies it to me.
>
>She calls me an "ar teest" (accent on the second syllable), and uses it
as,
>for example, "I'll leave the toilet paper pattern up to you. After all,
>you're the arteest." Or, "Hey, Mr. Arteest, that garbage can isn't gonna
>walk out to the curb by itself."
>
>I'm not sure what to make of this. She's from Michigan--might that be a
>midwestern pronunciation?
>
>--Carl
>in Medford, Oregon
>
Carl -
=91ar teest=92 IS a real word but it=92s spelled =91artiste=92.
My dictionary defines it:
1) A skilled public performer or entertainer...
2) A person with artistic pretensions.
In the context of toilet paper patterns and trash cans, I=92m sure your
sweet wife=92s intent was of the FIRST definition.
;-D
Lezlie, enjoying almost-Fall in Spokane.
www.LezlieFinetPottery.com
Jeanie Silver on thu 31 aug 06
Dear Vince, Language is important, and words do count. Thanks for taking
the time to say again what is so important, not just for the egos of people
and how they think of themselves, but for the health of society. (How's
that for pomposity?) An artist is someone who makes art. Period.
Thinking of oneself as an artist does not entitle you to anything except
acknowledging the impulse to make art. It doesn't tap into any supposed
hierachy of value. It doesn't elevate you or denegrate you. Its not a
license or a free pass. Its not a limitation or a character assassination.
Its not a career move or something to do instear of a 'real job.' If you
think of yourself as an artist and you describe yourself as an artist, and
you make art,then you're an artist. The fact that the word is such a hot
button for some people is in a funny way, not your business. People will
come around or not, understand or not, tolerate you or not. Either way you
will be too busy making art to give it much mind. And if you have invested
yourself in the word artist, you will approach it exactly like a good
plumber or a good surgeon. You are out to make connections, and you bring
to it all the integrity , intelligence, and energy you have to offer. Why
worry about anything else?
Jeanie in Pa.
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