Richard J Mahaffey on tue 8 jul 03
Hi Cindi,
When I lived in Japan I found that it depended where you were and whom
you were with.
Even in the club that I went to to hear live (Japanese for live music)
the patrons of the Jazz club in the little town I was in were all
interested when I told them that I was a Ceramics teacher and a potter.
I even had one soldier ask me if I had been to his home prefecture
(Yamaguchi ken home of Hagi pottery), when I told him that I had not
been there he left and came back with a tea cup for me made by a Hagi
potter. Now, this was no great cup, (nice but not great) but to me it
means a lot and represents the depth of appreciation of art in general
and ceramics in particular in Japan.
On another occasion I was told by two women visiting my exhibition that
I must raise my prices as I was an artist and that my work was too
good for the prices that I was asking (The prices were about 4 times
what I get at home in the USA). Then they proceeded that ask about my
favorite pieces and they critiqued a couple of pieces while I talked to
them and told me what they found interesting and what they thought
might be stronger. It was very interesting listening to customers
discussing my work in a way that was intelligent and sophisticated.
Something I am not used to at all.
On the other hand, I met several people who could not care less for art
and ceramics. I do think however as I study Japanese and in particular
try to learn to write and read Kanji (A slow SLOW process), I find that
the writing of Kanji has made me more aware of space and proportion and
proper (Beautiful) brush strokes. So I think that it might be that
because Japanese learn to write Kanji that they may have an underlying
exposure that good design and that when they are interested in an art
form they are already at a bit higher level of sophistication.
Well, it's late here and I am rambling and.......Of course your milage
may vary (YMMV)
Rick Mahaffey
Tacoma Community College
claybair on wed 9 jul 03
Rick,
I would abandon my snappy retorts in a Seattle second were I to
have more people like you described visit my booth/exhibitions.
Those people are rare but when I get them I really appreciate it.
Most of them have become very good friends.
I also appreciate the people who instinctively connect
with my work but are unable explain it. Often they give quite
perceptive suggestions.
Gayle Bair
Bainbridge Island, WA
http://claybair.com
Snip>>
On another occasion I was told by two women visiting my exhibition that
I must raise my prices as I was an artist and that my work was too
good for the prices that I was asking (The prices were about 4 times
what I get at home in the USA). Then they proceeded that ask about my
favorite pieces and they critiqued a couple of pieces while I talked to
them and told me what they found interesting and what they thought
might be stronger. It was very interesting listening to customers
discussing my work in a way that was intelligent and sophisticated.
Something I am not used to at all.
<
Rick Mahaffey
Tacoma Community College
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