My exhibit at St Andrew's school in Delaware explores the physical connection and visual links between multiple objects. It is a large beautiful gallery and it is a thrill to spread out and see my landscape plates speaking with vases and large coiled jars.
On Friday I gave a demonstration for the ceramics students and then attended an informal talk with the author Junot Diaz and the senior english students. Diaz was inspiring in his discussions of why he makes art and inspired everyone in the room to read more. I am always struck when I am in the room with an articulate artist that their thoughts make me want to make more art and be more eloquent about the process.
The students asked great questions about permanence, value and use and woodfiring. When I make pots I reach out with a bowl, cup or a plate and I
believe that
through the use of these objects a person can be transformed. some times these objects require attention and creativity in order to be used. A user
will hold a cup
and feel that it was once flexible and holds the impressions of
fingers and now
it is hard like a rock. As I walked around the gallery I took plates
off the racks
on the wall and talked about how I want people to use these plates
and see the
beauty and roughness at the same time. I want my pottery to be several
things at once.
I want it to be useful and I want it to be something to look at
and at times
it will make you reflect on the idea of creation.
Diaz challenged the students to read. He said its not about writing all the time. I would challenge potters in the same way to look at pots and use them in their daily life.
And if you can't write or make pots? Good. Go read and buy pots and find interesting ways to use them.
On Friday I gave a demonstration for the ceramics students and then attended an informal talk with the author Junot Diaz and the senior english students. Diaz was inspiring in his discussions of why he makes art and inspired everyone in the room to read more. I am always struck when I am in the room with an articulate artist that their thoughts make me want to make more art and be more eloquent about the process.
The students asked great questions about permanence, value and use and woodfiring. When I make pots I reach out with a bowl, cup or a plate and I
believe that
through the use of these objects a person can be transformed. some times these objects require attention and creativity in order to be used. A user
will hold a cup
and feel that it was once flexible and holds the impressions of
fingers and now
it is hard like a rock. As I walked around the gallery I took plates
off the racks
on the wall and talked about how I want people to use these plates
and see the
beauty and roughness at the same time. I want my pottery to be several
things at once.
I want it to be useful and I want it to be something to look at
and at times
it will make you reflect on the idea of creation.Diaz challenged the students to read. He said its not about writing all the time. I would challenge potters in the same way to look at pots and use them in their daily life. And if you can't write or make pots? Good. Go read and buy pots and find interesting ways to use them.
My essay is called instructions for failure.