Taylor Hendrix on fri 1 dec 06
Dear Wayne,
I knew what you meant :)
I do have some of my pit pieces in my house. They are the ugly ones
and I look at them almost daily to help me never make any another ones
like them. Other pots I have because I needed a cat bowl or something
to scoop out chicken feed. I am quickly bored with my pieces, but I
have always learned something new from taking a 10th and 11th look at
one. Often it takes at least that long. On the contrary, it takes
maybe two looks at someone else's pot for me to learn something, and
then I have some tea.
Peace out,
--
Taylor, in Rockport TX
http://wirerabbit.blogspot.com
http://wirerabbitpots.blogspot.com
W J Seidl on fri 1 dec 06
Dolita brings up a very interesting topic for discussion. This would make
for an interesting topical discussion at NCECA, if anyone cared to run with
it.
I now know of at least eleven potters whose homes contain decent (sometimes
amazing) collections of pottery. The potters own work, however, is
relegated to a bathroom, or a basement, or never displayed at all.
Why do you suppose it is that we feel it's ok to sell (or give) our work and
have others collect and display US in their homes, but it is not ok to
display our own work in our own homes? (That was a "royal" "we" by the
way.) Yeah, I am guilty as charged. Mine is mostly in boxes in the garage.
The only porcelain in my bathroom belongs there.
Is this an issue of humility, shame, low self-esteem, lack of pride, or just
a lack of space?
Thoughts on this would be appreciated.
Best Regards,
Wayne "You wanna put THAT awful thing in the living room?? How about NO!"
Seidl
-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On Behalf Of Dolita Dohrman
Sent: Thursday, November 30, 2006 6:28 PM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Re: Is it just me or what?!
It just may be you. I buy pottery all the time and would not mind one bit
if someone bought it as a gift for me. I do not want to look at my own pots
in my house, and I do not want to have other people's pots in my studio. I
have pottery all over my house, none of it is mine (one exception..in a
bathroom). Do you like the pieces that were given to you?
Dolita
snip
Dolita Dohrman on fri 1 dec 06
I did not mean to convey that I thought negatively about my own work. I do
not. At least not anymore than the rest of us. One is always looking for
ways to improve but I do get pieces out of the kiln that I really like.
However, it is much more exciting and refreshing for me to go to my cupboard
and pull out the mug made by Connie Christiansen or Mark Issenberg or Sandy
Miller and have coffee with them in the morning. I look around me and all
the pieces I have are made by friends and it makes me feel good. I don't
get attached to my own work, it has to go to another home, the sooner, the
better! The other thing is the constant analysis of my own work. I know
every flaw and by the time it comes out of the kiln, I am thinking, I should
have done this, I should have done that....it never ends!
Funny story about other potters work in my studio. I had this one
particular piece made by a friend on which we did some glaze testing and the
piece happened to come out beautifully. He left it in my studio for quite
some time. Every time someone walked in, they would spot it and say, "Oh,
this is beautiful, did you make this?!" I, of course, got very tired of
saying no. It prompted me to duplicate it (more like a challenge to see if
I could) and my piece also came out quite nice. I have noticed the same
thing happens to a couple of Sandy Miller pieces I have in my studio, mainly
as a glaze reference. People gravitate toward them, "Oh, I love this, did
you make it?" Boy do I hate saying no...and in my heart I know I couldn't,
even if I tried!
Dolita
--
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
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Lee Love on fri 1 dec 06
Neither. When you are doing it for a living, you always end up
having to sell it all, except for flawed pieces. When you try to
keep special pieces, a show pops up and you have to let it go so your
best work is in the show.
I try out new forms I make. But using other peoples'
work is like having a conversation. Only talking to yourself will
make you crazy.
Many potters here in Mashiko think it is batty for a
potter to buy other potters work. Jean has been told, "Tell Lee to
make you one. Save your money." But I believe you spend your
money on what you value.
--
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
Dolita Dohrman on fri 1 dec 06
I did not mean to convey that I thought negatively about my own work. I do
not. At least not anymore than the rest of us. One is always looking for
ways to improve but I do get pieces out of the kiln that I really like.
However, it is much more exciting and refreshing for me to go to my cupboard
and pull out the mug made by Connie Christiansen or Mark Issenberg or Sandy
Miller and have coffee with them in the morning. I look around me and all
the pieces I have are made by friends and it makes me feel good. I don't
get attached to my own work, it has to go to another home, the sooner, the
better! The other thing is the constant analysis of my own work. I know
every flaw and by the time it comes out of the kiln, I am thinking, I should
have done this, I should have done that....it never ends!
Funny story about other potters work in my studio. I had this one
particular piece made by a friend on which we did some glaze testing and the
piece happened to come out beautifully. He left it in my studio for quite
some time. Every time someone walked in, they would spot it and say, "Oh,
this is beautiful, did you make this?!" I, of course, got very tired of
saying no. It prompted me to duplicate it (more like a challenge to see if
I could) and my piece also came out quite nice. I have noticed the same
thing happens to a couple of Sandy Miller pieces I have in my studio, mainly
as a glaze reference. People gravitate toward them, "Oh, I love this, did
you make it?" Boy do I hate saying no...and in my heart I know I couldn't,
even if I tried!
Dolita
----- Original Message -----
From:
To: "'Clayart'" ; "'Dolita Dohrman'"
Sent: Friday, December 01, 2006 8:51 AM
Subject: An issue of humility or shame?
> Dolita brings up a very interesting topic for discussion. This would make
> for an interesting topical discussion at NCECA, if anyone cared to run
with
> it.
>
> I now know of at least eleven potters whose homes contain decent
(sometimes
> amazing) collections of pottery. The potters own work, however, is
> relegated to a bathroom, or a basement, or never displayed at all.
>
> Why do you suppose it is that we feel it's ok to sell (or give) our work
and
> have others collect and display US in their homes, but it is not ok to
> display our own work in our own homes? (That was a "royal" "we" by the
> way.) Yeah, I am guilty as charged. Mine is mostly in boxes in the garage.
> The only porcelain in my bathroom belongs there.
>
> Is this an issue of humility, shame, low self-esteem, lack of pride, or
just
> a lack of space?
> Thoughts on this would be appreciated.
> Best Regards,
> Wayne "You wanna put THAT awful thing in the living room?? How about NO!"
> Seidl
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On Behalf Of Dolita
Dohrman
> Sent: Thursday, November 30, 2006 6:28 PM
> To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
> Subject: Re: Is it just me or what?!
>
> It just may be you. I buy pottery all the time and would not mind one bit
> if someone bought it as a gift for me. I do not want to look at my own
pots
> in my house, and I do not want to have other people's pots in my studio.
I
> have pottery all over my house, none of it is mine (one exception..in a
> bathroom). Do you like the pieces that were given to you?
> Dolita
> snip
>
>
> --
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG Free Edition.
> Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.14.19/556 - Release Date: 11/28/06
>
>
--
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.14.19/556 - Release Date: 11/28/06
sacredclay on fri 1 dec 06
I live in a house rental. 1600 sq. footage. No garage, no shed. Two
kids. An anal ultra neat husband that I've known since I was 12. The
dining room has been hijacked by me to be my working art room. It
fights for space with the computer.My mistake pots are on the
fireplace mantels. Too nice to throw away but can't sell because of
the blistering in the clay. Overfired, yes I know. If I'm lucky to
have someone be interested to look into the art room and is keen to
buy something, great! But most time, t's available immediately for me
to grab to bring to someone's house as a nice little present or to
donate to some worthy cause such as empty bowls, etc.Most of the
time, my mom will pick the best ones and take them to her house to
crowd up her place. My dad is trying to get me to take them back. Mom
can have first pick of whatever she wants. She's in her 70's. How
much longer is she going to be on this planet? I'll get them back
when she kicks the bucket, but hopefully not for a long time.By then,
I'll be making even better stuff.Beside, she did pay for my college
education and this is her return investments.But on the whole, it's
not like I can stand my work. It's the lack of space that's the
problem for me. As my husband would say and he makes a perfectly good
point-"why should I clean the house? It's YOUR craps that's all over
the place!" Ah,divine love! Kathryn in NC --- In
clayart@yahoogroups.com, W J Seidl wrote:
>
> Dolita brings up a very interesting topic for discussion. This
would make
> for an interesting topical discussion at NCECA, if anyone cared to
run with
> it.
>
> I now know of at least eleven potters whose homes contain decent
(sometimes
> amazing) collections of pottery. The potters own work, however, is
> relegated to a bathroom, or a basement, or never displayed at all.
>
> Why do you suppose it is that we feel it's ok to sell (or give) our
work and
> have others collect and display US in their homes, but it is not ok
to
> display our own work in our own homes? (That was a "royal" "we" by
the
> way.) Yeah, I am guilty as charged. Mine is mostly in boxes in the
garage.
> The only porcelain in my bathroom belongs there.
>
> Is this an issue of humility, shame, low self-esteem, lack of
pride, or just
> a lack of space?
> Thoughts on this would be appreciated.
> Best Regards,
> Wayne "You wanna put THAT awful thing in the living room?? How
about NO!"
> Seidl
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@...] On Behalf Of Dolita Dohrman
> Sent: Thursday, November 30, 2006 6:28 PM
> To: CLAYART@...
> Subject: Re: Is it just me or what?!
>
> It just may be you. I buy pottery all the time and would not mind
one bit
> if someone bought it as a gift for me. I do not want to look at my
own pots
> in my house, and I do not want to have other people's pots in my
studio. I
> have pottery all over my house, none of it is mine (one
exception..in a
> bathroom). Do you like the pieces that were given to you?
> Dolita
> snip
>
>
______________________________________________________________________
________
> Send postings to clayart@...
>
> 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@...
>
WJ Seidl on fri 1 dec 06
I think we're on the same page here Dolita. I didn't mean to imply that we
think negatively of our own work, only (as you just illustrated so
eloquently) that often we think of others work as being "better" somehow.
Even being "different" can equate to being "better" sometimes.
I'm also plagued with self-doubt at times. Should I belly this out more,
less; should it be taller or shorter, what color/texture/glaze would look
best with this form...(sometimes that leads to...is this clay body going to
accept this or that glaze? Test, test, test, ad infinitum.)
And the ever present "What if I screw it up??!!" I've never minded
saying that a piece was not my own. It's a source of pride if I can say
"No, but I know that potter." Sometimes it's hard to tell if people are just
trying to be nice, or if there is a genuine interest.
I love having good pots around. They challenge me to improve my own work.
I love being able to take Jonathan Kaplan's or your mug (among many others),
or Tony and Sheila Clennell or Mel's or Gail Phillip's bowl, and run my
fingers around inside, trying to get a feel for what was done, seeing if the
pot will yield its secrets, or just keep teasing me with that elusive hint
of greatness. I can stare at a good pot for an hour, and be no closer to
discovering what it is that trips my trigger.
Hey, we're potters...that's how we are. (Hmmm, should I have said this,
should I have said that, did I misspell anything? )
All the best,
Wayne
Having "coffee with Dolita" as I type this
-----Original Message-----
From: Dolita Dohrman [mailto:dohrman@insightbb.com]
I did not mean to convey that I thought negatively about my own work. I do
not. At least not anymore than the rest of us. One is always looking for
ways to improve but I do get pieces out of the kiln that I really like.
However, it is much more exciting and refreshing for me to go to my cupboard
and pull out the mug made by Connie Christiansen or Mark Issenberg or Sandy
Miller and have coffee with them in the morning. I look around me and all
the pieces I have are made by friends and it makes me feel good. I don't
get attached to my own work, it has to go to another home, the sooner, the
better! The other thing is the constant analysis of my own work. I know
every flaw and by the time it comes out of the kiln, I am thinking, I should
have done this, I should have done that....it never ends!
Funny story about other potters work in my studio. I had this one
particular piece made by a friend on which we did some glaze testing and the
piece happened to come out beautifully. He left it in my studio for quite
some time. Every time someone walked in, they would spot it and say, "Oh,
this is beautiful, did you make this?!" I, of course, got very tired of
saying no. It prompted me to duplicate it (more like a challenge to see if
I could) and my piece also came out quite nice. I have noticed the same
thing happens to a couple of Sandy Miller pieces I have in my studio, mainly
as a glaze reference. People gravitate toward them, "Oh, I love this, did
you make it?" Boy do I hate saying no...and in my heart I know I couldn't,
even if I tried!
Dolita
Peter Cunicelli on fri 1 dec 06
Hi all,
I'd like to chime in here.
I definitely agree with the assessment that it's important to have our own
work around us. I'm constantly looking at my work to analyze it. What
did i do right? What could I improve? What would happen if I altered the
template next time I make that form? I also want my work to be sitting in
someone's living room or kitchen. So, I think it's a good idea to have it
sitting in my own so that I can have a sense of its presence.
As far as other people's work... I'm picky about what I have, but I
really like having that kind of "energy" in my home. One particular piece
by Allison McGowan is one that I'll sit and hold. She was one of my
favorite teachers and I've always LOVED her work. So, when I had a chance
to buy a lidded pot of hers I jumped at it. I like to study it.
Another important piece that I have is a platter by Neil Patterson.
Again, it's a piece that I sometimes study. But, more importantly, I use
it when I serve food to guests. It's drop dead gorgeous and it really
lends a little excitement to the table.
That's my $0.02.
Peter
(www.petercunicelli.com)
Victoria E. Hamilton on fri 1 dec 06
Well, for me it's part humility, part lack of space.
I live in a very small (but perfect for 2 adults & 3 cats) house in The
People's Republic of West Seattle, WA. So, I have sort of a revolving
display of other potters' work (Warren MacKenzie, Mel Jacobsen, Hank Murrow,
Robin Hopper, Barb Campbell, Jeff Tousley, Ken Turner, John Taylor,
Charonjiv Sachar, Esther Robinson, Joan Rainear, Rim Bajoratis, Gina
Kallman, Dana Lasswell, Janet Crawley, Pamela Fredback, Scott Paulding,
Devon Bowes, Scott Minugh, Lalitha Bardolaye, Ruthie Gibbs, Tom Sawyer,
Margaret Babcock, Patsy Lingsheit(sp?), Andrea Shelley, Florence MacMullin &
Karla Beyer. Some of these names will be familiar, others will not.)
My kitchen, however is stuffed with mostly my work. I am much more willing
to break something I've made than a piece of anyone else's. We eat off my
dishes. I am a fabulous cook, and I am the dishwasher. Enough said.
Yes. Interesting subject for discussion I think.
Thanks for listening.
Vicki Hamilton
Millennia Antica Pottery
Seattle, WA - warmer today; snow is gone and my porch garden looks awful -
dead, too. Think I'll dig it all up and plant some cyclamen.
-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On Behalf Of W J Seidl
Sent: Friday, December 01, 2006 05:52
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: [CLAYART] An issue of humility or shame?
Dolita brings up a very interesting topic for discussion. This would make
for an interesting topical discussion at NCECA, if anyone cared to run with
it.
I now know of at least eleven potters whose homes contain decent (sometimes
amazing) collections of pottery. The potters own work, however, is
relegated to a bathroom, or a basement, or never displayed at all.
Why do you suppose it is that we feel it's ok to sell (or give) our work and
have others collect and display US in their homes, but it is not ok to
display our own work in our own homes? (That was a "royal" "we" by the
way.) Yeah, I am guilty as charged. Mine is mostly in boxes in the garage.
The only porcelain in my bathroom belongs there.
Is this an issue of humility, shame, low self-esteem, lack of pride, or just
a lack of space?
Thoughts on this would be appreciated.
Best Regards,
Wayne "You wanna put THAT awful thing in the living room?? How about NO!"
Seidl
-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On Behalf Of Dolita Dohrman
Sent: Thursday, November 30, 2006 6:28 PM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Re: Is it just me or what?!
It just may be you. I buy pottery all the time and would not mind one bit
if someone bought it as a gift for me. I do not want to look at my own pots
in my house, and I do not want to have other people's pots in my studio. I
have pottery all over my house, none of it is mine (one exception..in a
bathroom). Do you like the pieces that were given to you?
Dolita
snip
____________________________________________________________________________
__
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 fri 1 dec 06
Wayne Seidl wrote:
"> Is this an issue of humility, shame, low self-esteem, lack of pride, or
just
> a lack of space?"
Wayne -
Lack of space might enter into it, but I don't see the low self-esteem or
lack of pride. I think it is just a healthy sign of confidence to decorate
the home with other people's work, and certainly provides more inspiration
than looking at one's own work.
I guess that a measure of humility enters into it, because it does seem very
self-absorbed for a potter to have a lot of their own work displayed in
their home. I must admit that a few of the pieces I did in graduate school
are displayed in my home, because to me they signify a critical point in my
own growth as a craftsperson, and they serve as an important reminder of
what can happen when you take a big leap. But those are a half dozen of the
hundreds of ceramic pieces I have in my home. All the rest are from other
artists.
For an emerging potter, it is simply a matter of economic practicality to
use her/his own work in the kitchen and at the table, but decorating the
home? Once any artist/artisan attains a level of skill and confidence,
there is no reason to surround themselves with their own work in the home,
and in fact, it seems pretty neurotic.
- 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/
Bonnie Staffel on sat 2 dec 06
You might count me as using my own work. But I also use the work of =
friends
and other potters that I have collected. When I had my shop open, =
sometimes
a customer would come in and ask for a certain type of work. I might =
say
that I have one in the house that I use. Well, they want to see it, so =
in
we tromp and look in the dishwasher or cupboard for the desired work. =
It
usually sells right away because a story came with it. "Why, she took =
me
right into her kitchen and sold me this special pot!" =20
I also have a nice collection of pots that I bought or traded for in the
early days. Some of the potters have gone on to be famous, like Paul
Soldner, whose raku bowl is a very classic form made of a very rough =
clay,
thrown, and decorated with blue and white glazes. I have several Toshiko
pots that I display in my meager cabinet reserved for some of my =
collection.
I also have others which I have had to pack away, not because of my =
wish,
but because I now live in a reduced space and had to keep some in =
storage.
I miss my collection as with most, there is a memory that went with the
trade or purchase or it was from a special potter friend. =20
I might add that in the recent ebay sale of some of my books, the =
Bernard
Leach autograph now lives in England, properly framed and on the wall =
next
to some other important English emblem, forgot what that was. A few =
other
books were purchased by an English potter or collector. =20
I have also kept some of my own work which represents my growth as a =
potter.
I have one of my first wheel thrown bottles, glazed with a commercial =
glaze
which I made in my second year of potting. Others on my shelves are =
pots
that I made in Denmark, in Cranbrook, received awards for, etc. The I =
use
my own plates and bowls. Working on a diet, I made some small bowls =
that
will hold the suggested small portion of food to get me through a trying
time. Doesn't always work though . =20
Regards, Bonnie Staffel
http://webpages.charter.net/bstaffel/
http://vasefinder.com/bstaffelgallery1.html
DVD Throwing with Coils and Slabs
DVD Beginning Processes
Charter Member Potters Council
Chris Campbell on sat 2 dec 06
I do use my pottery all the time ... also have it
decorating my house ... on walls and tables
and shelves as well as in a glass fronted
cupboard.
Sometimes they don't get displayed until
they have grown on me and sometimes
they get showcased right away.
I think it was a residual effect of my annual
home show ... I was too lazy to put everything
away and soon got to love seeing it around
and using it.
It took a while for me to learn this lesson:
smash the ugly stuff and throw it away ..
no one needs to see how bad their work
can be!
Keep your racers front and center ...
to remind yourself how good your
work can be!
Sell the average to buy more clay and
supplies.
Chris Campbell - in North Carolina
Chris Campbell Pottery LLC
9417 Koupela Drive
Raleigh NC 27615-2233
Fine Colored Porcelain since 1989
1-800-652-1008
Fax : 919-676-2062
website: www.ccpottery.com
wholesale : www.wholesalecrafts.com
Russel Fouts on sun 3 dec 06
>> Why do you suppose it is that we feel it's ok to sell (or give) our
work and have others collect and display US in their homes, but it is
not ok to display our own work in our own homes? <<
I have quite a large collection of other peoples pots, too much to
display at my place so 1/2 is at home and 1/2 is at enzo's.
I also have a decent collection of my own stuff, both at Enzo's and at
my place. I make a point of keeping back the best stuff, my treasures,
the real "racers". Most of them are at my place but some are at Enzo's.
Also any pieces I want to test for use are at Enzo's because that's
where we entertain friends. Right now we're testing some "Maiolica Nera"
plates with resist trailing. (a tiny bit too small for dinner plates but
very nice when the gravy flows down into the trailed lines).
There are pieces I've let go, sold or given as gifts or traded that I
now wish I'd kept (hence the decision in paragraph 1)
There are also some pieces at Enzo's place that I wish would disappear.
The deal is I have to replace them with new stuff. So, slowly, slowly,
they are going south.
But Wayne is right. It's something I've noticed in almost every potter's
house. "Great collection, but were is the stuff you make?" and then they
start draging out seconds that they couldn't sell. Unless they happen to
have a gallery attached to the shop or have just unloaded a kiln and not
shipped it off yet, it's hard to see a person's work at their studio/home.
Russel
Ed Bull on fri 8 dec 06
Gail and I have a nice mix of our work and others' we've collected.
We also do a home show and try to keep some of our best work on display.
Sometimes it reminds us of paths we intended to pursue.
And it makes up for the boxes of not-quite-up-to-snuff work in the
basement and garage. The garage also holds reminders of what NOT to do!
Be proud of what you make and keep it in sight.
Work by other potters is displayed prominently, but gets put away
when we have our shows, we fill up all available space with work for sale.
Love to hold the work we've collected, and use a favorite mug.
Learn a lot from other potters work, the curve, the weight, the surface.
We use our own functional work also.
Always learning about it while it's in use.
What makes a nice bowl and why.
Why does this one work and the other not quite.
The differences between what the bowl may contain (hot, cold, liquid,
solid), and whether it is used on a tabletop or held in the hand
while sitting in the den.
We're still learning, probably always will be. Nuances.
As Lee Love wrote on another topic:
When I asked my buddhist robes sewing teacher (my zen
teacher's wife), "What makes a good tea bowl?" She told me, "Make
tea in the teabowl and you will learn what makes a good tea bowl."
Cheers,
Ed Bull
www.creativeclaypottery.com
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