search  current discussion  categories  techniques - centering 

what to do when you are uncentered?

updated mon 13 aug 07

 

Deborah Thuman on sat 11 aug 07


Art has always been a therapeutic outlet for me. That's why the current
internal mess has me so off center. Briefly, this has been the year
from hell at work. Either I solved a huge part of the problem on Friday
or I stepped on a land mine. Haven't quite figured out which yet. If I
stepped on a land mine, I hope I did it with my left foot because I
kick with my right foot.

Inside, I feel this energy - and it doesn't feel positive. I don't feel
violent. I just feel there's this huge ball of energy trying to come
out. It's not the kind of energy that can be appeased by cleaning the
bathroom or organizing a room.

I can't manage to sit down and make art - fiber or ceramic. I've tried
using the kick wheel - but as off center as I am, everything that
doesn't fly off the wheel is really, really bad. I bought some
wonderful art supplies in San Francisco - and I'm afraid to use them.

If anyone else has been in this off center place, what did you do to
get centered again? Thanks.

Deb
http://debthumansblog.blogspot.com/

Victoria E. Hamilton on sat 11 aug 07


Hi Deb -

I have experienced a couple of different sorts of being uncentered.

One is internal: I find I cannot do something I've done a million times -
all of a sudden! When this happens, I start pinching pots and reading M.C.
Richards and/or Paulus Behrenson. Taking myself completely away from clay
does not work.

One is external - an upset that seems external anyway, caused by someone or
something outside myself. What I do then is attempt to dismantle the upset
- distinguish between what happened, and what I made it mean. This takes a
lot of practice - having someone to coach you through it is extremely
useful, bordering on necessary.

I know what you are experiencing, I think. In my case, fear (of failure, of
ruining something, of hurting myself, etc.) usually comes into play.

Don't know if this is any help. Write to me offline if you like.

Take care.

Vicki Hamilton
Millennia Antica Pottery
Seattle, WA

-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On Behalf Of Deborah Thuman
Sent: Saturday, August 11, 2007 3:04 PM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: [CLAYART] What to do when YOU are uncentered?

Art has always been a therapeutic outlet for me. That's why the current
internal mess has me so off center. Briefly, this has been the year from
hell at work. Either I solved a huge part of the problem on Friday or I
stepped on a land mine. Haven't quite figured out which yet. If I stepped on
a land mine, I hope I did it with my left foot because I kick with my right
foot.

Inside, I feel this energy - and it doesn't feel positive. I don't feel
violent. I just feel there's this huge ball of energy trying to come out.
It's not the kind of energy that can be appeased by cleaning the bathroom or
organizing a room.

I can't manage to sit down and make art - fiber or ceramic. I've tried using
the kick wheel - but as off center as I am, everything that doesn't fly off
the wheel is really, really bad. I bought some wonderful art supplies in San
Francisco - and I'm afraid to use them.

If anyone else has been in this off center place, what did you do to get
centered again? Thanks.

Deb
http://debthumansblog.blogspot.com/

____________________________________________________________________________
__
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.

Eleanor on sun 12 aug 07


Work............force yourself to work.

If one form is no good, try another.

If a small pot doesn't work, try a big pot.

Use your new tools. Or don't......... sometimes fewer tools are better.

As you center the clay, the clay will center you.

All this has worked for me.

Eleanor Kohler
Centerport, NY