C. Clark on wed 4 oct 06
We have all read our share of poorly written artist's statements. Full of cliche college-talk, they seem
hollow, contrived, and unconvincing. It is true that the work itself should serve as a statement, but
there is no reason why an artist's statement can't be an honest reflection of that work. As Charlie
Cummings mentioned, the statement can help people who are unfamiliar with the visual vocabulary
of ceramics (and all art) understand the purpose of the work.
There are a lot of really bad artist's statements out there, and I understand how they can turn people
off to the idea of writing their own. There are a lot of bad pots out there too, right?
So must we be successful writers to become successful potters? No. A good statement will never fix
a bad pot. But a good statement sure can't hurt. We spend so much time learning to craft our clay,
why do we resist learning to craft our words as well?
Lee Love on thu 5 oct 06
On 10/4/06, Charlie Cummings wrote:
> Does a humble cup need an artist's statement?
I believe this is where the confusion begins. Artist statements
are not cup statements. Artist statements are about the artist.
Some folks may never give a thought to why they do what
they do. So they write dumb artists statements. That's okay, but
just because some folks are not skilled at doing it, doe not mean
nobody can find some value in them.
If you have given the "why" some thought, are
interested in the process, then I might want to know these things
about you. An artist statement will give me me some clue about how
much "the why" means to you.
--
Lee in Mashiko, Japan
http://potters.blogspot.com/
"Let the beauty we love be what we do." - Rumi
"When we all do better. We ALL do better." -Paul Wellstone
Vince Pitelka on thu 5 oct 06
C. Clark wrote:
> We have all read our share of poorly written artist's statements. Full of
> cliche college-talk, they seem
> hollow, contrived, and unconvincing. It is true that the work itself
> should serve as a statement, but
> there is no reason why an artist's statement can't be an honest reflection
> of that work. As Charlie
> Cummings mentioned, the statement can help people who are unfamiliar with
> the visual vocabulary
> of ceramics (and all art) understand the purpose of the work.
C. -
I appreciate your comments, except for the second sentence. Cliche
college-talk? Come on. Exactly the same things you say about good and bad
artist's statements can be said about good and bad teaching, and any teacher
worth her/his salt would never allow a student to get away obscuring their
language with artspeak in a critique or artist's statement.
Periodically, comments surface on Clayart implying that college instructors
are purposefully teaching artspeak, and I always wonder where such
misconceptions originate. Every college art teacher I have known has worked
hard to get students to communicate clearly.
- 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 fri 6 oct 06
No, No, Dannon it started in the Painting department
at the Philadelphia College of Art. I was there in 1963!
The one instructor who didn't comply was ostracized.
Gayle Bair
Bainbridge Island, WA
Tucson, AZ
http://claybair.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Dannon Rhudy
Vince said:
Cliche college-talk? > Periodically, comments surface on Clayart implying
that college instructors
> are purposefully teaching artspeak, and I always wonder where such>
misconceptions originate. ......>>>>>.
Oh, Vince, I can answer that one. I'm pretty sure that
it originated in the Painting/Drawing department of the
University of North Texas. Trust me - I have a good ear.
Not all teachers, mind you. But an impressive number.
regards
Dannon Rhudy
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Dannon Rhudy on fri 6 oct 06
Vince said:
Cliche college-talk? > Periodically, comments surface on Clayart implying
that college instructors
> are purposefully teaching artspeak, and I always wonder where such>
misconceptions originate. ......>>>>>.
Oh, Vince, I can answer that one. I'm pretty sure that
it originated in the Painting/Drawing department of the
University of North Texas. Trust me - I have a good ear.
Not all teachers, mind you. But an impressive number.
regards
Dannon Rhudy
Maurice Weitman on sat 7 oct 06
Vince complained:
>Cliche college-talk? Periodically, comments surface on Clayart
>implying that college instructors are purposefully teaching
>artspeak, and I always wonder where such misconceptions originate.
Dannon replied:
>Oh, Vince, I can answer that one. I'm pretty sure that it
>originated in the Painting/Drawing department of the University of
>North Texas. Trust me - I have a good ear. Not all teachers, mind
>you. But an impressive number.
Well, not that I'm trying to top anyone, but here's proof of its
existence going w-a-y back:
(http://oybobby.com/early_artspeak.jpg)
Regards,
Maurice, in Fairfax, California, happy about my Oakland A's sweep of
Mel's Twins (sorry, Mel... you know I wear my #34 Twins shirt with
pride), but absolutely ecstatic about the Tiger's last two wins over
the Damn Yankees.
Go Tigers!!! Go Cards!!! And I'd be thrilled with either the Mets
or Dodgers winning, so long as the Yanks get yanked. Like those
artspeaking teachers.
(But having been tormented by those arrogant pinstripe Bronx Bombers
and their fans, I know they can never be counted out until you see
Steinbrenner having a meltdown on ESPN and on the back page of The
Post. I can't wait!!!)
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