Fred Parker on sat 14 oct 06
Thanks for asking, Lee. I wanted an excuse to report on something so
positive that would not have happened without CLayart. You've given me
that excuse.
First, note I have changed the reference line to something more
uplifting...
My wife and I had an incredible opportunity to spend three days at Mark
Issenberg's studio on top of Lookout
Mountain in northwest Georgia. I have long admired Mark's work, and when
the opportunity came there was no way I was going to miss it.
I am a relatively new potter, having begun with clay last Spring. I was
having trouble with mugs and handles, and Mark offered to help if I could
get to his studio.
Incidentally, many other Clayarters also generously offered their
assistance when I posted my cry for help, but location made it impractical
for us to go to them. (Mark is only a few hours from my home.) Pottermim
even took the time to photograph her process for making handles, and send
me the images with a running narrative describing each step (which I used
successfully to move from just god-awful to some pretty decent mugs.)
Thanks again, Pottermim. You have no idea how far you brought me.
When we arrived at Lookout Mountain Pottery, Mark was hard at it at his
wheel preparing for an upcoming show. I suspect he really didn't have the
time to spend on a couple of tinhorns, but he did anyway -- and he did so
enthusiastically. By the time we left, I had produced 9 damn impressive
mugs and evolved into some very nice handles. He tells me I only need to
do 50, and then I'll pretty much have it down. I have 37 to go, and I'm
starting to think he's right on target. Each one gets easier, and it
looks better.
So, between giving lessons, glazing and loading two big Alpines, Mark
didn't get a lot of sleep over those three days. Now I understand he had
two good firings from the Alpines. I KNOW we came far from where we were
when we first got there, thanks to his incredible teaching abilities and
his generosity. As a bit of lagniappe, one night after dinner we got to
watch as he assisted a neighbor potter with a salt firing in a new kiln --
something I never could have imagined before.
I have long maintained that "artists" and "teachers" can be rightfully so
designated only by others, although I realize both titles are in common --
and often reckless -- use within the language. In my opinion, Issenberg
is both, and is also a great example of a "real" potter.
Fred Parker
On Thu, 12 Oct 2006 22:03:16 +0900, Lee Love wrote:
>On 10/11/06, Fred Parker wrote:
>
>> Fred Parker
>> Who spent an incredible long weekend learning his ass off on top of a
>> mountain with a real master potter and genuine artist.
>
> Where and who? :^)
>
>--
>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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Janine Roubik on sat 14 oct 06
Hi Fred,=0AHow nice that you got to work with a very talented potter!! It s=
ound like you found a good teacher and a darn nice guy!=0AI looked at the w=
ebsite you posted and drooled over the ash glazes and the teapots - been th=
inking alot about teapots lately.=0AI noticed that most people who do ash g=
lazes spray them. Since I've never tried one, what happens if one were to =
dip the top half or so in the ash glaze? Would I be scraping kiln shelves?=
: )=0APeace,=0AJanine =0A- who just got back from 5 hours of "flyering" Mi=
lwaukee with suspect info about a MURDER that happened a few dozen footstep=
s from my front door. Depressing, yet uplifting as people really seemed to=
care and took extra flyers to post in their neighborhoods and apartment bu=
ildings.=0A=0A=0A----- Original Message ----=0AFrom: Fred Parker PRODIGY.NET>=0ATo: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG=0ASent: Saturday, October 14, 2=
006 10:32:26 AM=0ASubject: Artists, Potters and Teachers=0A=0A=0AThanks for=
asking, Lee. I wanted an excuse to report on something so=0Apositive that=
would not have happened without CLayart. You've given me=0Athat excuse.=
=0A=0AFirst, note I have changed the reference line to something more=0Aupl=
ifting...=0A=0AMy wife and I had an incredible opportunity to spend three d=
ays at Mark=0AIssenberg's studio on top of=
Lookout=0AMountain in northwest Georgia. I have long admired Mark's work,=
and when=0Athe opportunity came there was no way I was going to miss it.=
=0A=0AI am a relatively new potter, having begun with clay last Spring. I =
was=0Ahaving trouble with mugs and handles, and Mark offered to help if I c=
ould=0Aget to his studio.=0A=0AIncidentally, many other Clayarters also gen=
erously offered their=0Aassistance when I posted my cry for help, but locat=
ion made it impractical=0Afor us to go to them. (Mark is only a few hours =
from my home.) Pottermim=0Aeven took the time to photograph her process fo=
r making handles, and send=0Ame the images with a running narrative describ=
ing each step (which I used=0Asuccessfully to move from just god-awful to s=
ome pretty decent mugs.)=0AThanks again, Pottermim. You have no idea how f=
ar you brought me.=0A=0AWhen we arrived at Lookout Mountain Pottery, Mark w=
as hard at it at his=0Awheel preparing for an upcoming show. I suspect he =
really didn't have the=0Atime to spend on a couple of tinhorns, but he did =
anyway -- and he did so=0Aenthusiastically. By the time we left, I had pro=
duced 9 damn impressive=0Amugs and evolved into some very nice handles. He=
tells me I only need to=0Ado 50, and then I'll pretty much have it down. =
I have 37 to go, and I'm=0Astarting to think he's right on target. Each on=
e gets easier, and it=0Alooks better.=0A=0ASo, between giving lessons, glaz=
ing and loading two big Alpines, Mark=0Adidn't get a lot of sleep over thos=
e three days. Now I understand he had=0Atwo good firings from the Alpines.=
I KNOW we came far from where we were=0Awhen we first got there, thanks t=
o his incredible teaching abilities and=0Ahis generosity. As a bit of lagn=
iappe, one night after dinner we got to=0Awatch as he assisted a neighbor p=
otter with a salt firing in a new kiln --=0Asomething I never could have im=
agined before.=0A=0AI have long maintained that "artists" and "teachers" ca=
n be rightfully so=0Adesignated only by others, although I realize both tit=
les are in common --=0Aand often reckless -- use within the language. In m=
y opinion, Issenberg=0Ais both, and is also a great example of a "real" pot=
ter.=0A=0AFred Parker
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