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a study in recycling

updated wed 16 jun 10

 

James Freeman on sun 13 jun 10


My seconds pile was getting a tad large, so I decided to do a little
creative recycling. I assembled the broken shards from about 30 pots
into a large vase, 22" high by 18" diameter. When I throw vases this
size, they take me a few hours, sell for $200 - $300 depending on
glaze treatment, and turn a decent profit even though each one fills
my entire small kiln for two firings. Even though the ceramic input
for my recycled pot cost nothing, the silly thing consumed over 88
hours of my life and about $80 in metal to assemble it. After gallery
commission, even at Walmart wages I would have to get a good $1800 for
the thing just to break even. Sometimes it's best to just throw trash
in the dump where it belongs!

I posted a picture of the recycled pot to my flickr page,
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamesfreemanstudio, if anyone is curious.
I also posted a couple of other experimental pots from my last
firing.

All the best.

...James

James Freeman

"All I say is by way of discourse, and nothing by way of advice. I
should not speak so boldly if it were my due to be believed."
-Michel de Montaigne

http://www.jamesfreemanstudio.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamesfreemanstudio/
http://www.jamesfreemanstudio.com/resources

Dannon Rhudy on mon 14 jun 10


James said: so I decided to do a little
> creative recycling. I assembled the broken shards from about 30 pots
> into a large vase, 22" high by 18" diameter.
.......... After gallery
> commission, even at Walmart wages I would have to get a good $1800 for
> the thing just to break even. .


Maybe it wasn't worth it, but it was WORTH it!
Think what all you learned, and it really is a great piece.
For some things you shouldn't keep track of the
hours spent. Some things are worth it in themselves,
regardless of what the market will bear in terms of
price.

I do agree that the dumpster can be an excellent
friend, but we need to stretch now and again.
Whether anyone else pays us or not.

regards

Dannon Rhudy