Lee Love on sun 8 oct 06
On 10/8/06, Vince Pitelka wrote:
> There's no defense for NOT writing about
> what you do, and so much to gain by the writing.
I disagree. It is just as foolish to think everybody must write
as it is to think nobody should. The uneducated shokunin I know
have skill up the wazoo. But they would laugh at you if you asked
them for an "artists statement."
Writing is a tool. Some people are able in its use. Some are not.
I don't believe we can take any fundimentalist view on this.
--
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 sun 8 oct 06
Lee Love wrote:
> I disagree. It is just as foolish to think everybody must write
> as it is to think nobody should. The uneducated shokunin I know
> have skill up the wazoo. But they would laugh at you if you asked
> them for an "artists statement."
Lee -
I didn't state my message very clearly. I believe that in the contemporary
Western art/craft world the artist's statement serves a very valuable
purpose. Writing one is entirely optional, of course, except in applying to
some exhibitions and other opportunities. We've been around the block on
the issue of artist's statements several times on Clayart, and I still have
heard no compelling or sensible reason for an artist/craftsperson to not
write an artist's statement. But again, I am talking about contemporary
Western culture. In many other circumstances, like the one you describe,
there is probably no parallel to the artist's statement.
- 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/
Lee Love on sun 8 oct 06
On 10/8/06, Mitchell Sewall wrote:
> Hi Lili,
> Indeed, "restrictive, elitist & an embarrassmet".
> To put it more simply if I wanted to write about pots (or anything else) I'd
> be a writer not a potter.
Actually, some people can chew gum and walk at the same time. ;)
I am greatful for Bernard Leach's writing.
Basic writing and thinking skills should be the foundation
of any education. While you don't expect every potter to have an
artist statement, to believe it takes their potter status away,
certainly is "restrictive, liliputian, and antiintellectual."
This is a totally different issue compared to a work
standing by itself. Talking or writing is not required for the
work. But if you want to enter anything competetive, including sales
shops, galleries, guilds, cooperatives, or school, you better be able
to present slides (or high quality digital images) and an artist
statement.
Does it seem that the same folks arguing against a potter
having an artist statement will not share images of their work either?
What does that mean?
--
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
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