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tastes and perspectives and the 1 thing i love about cassons work

updated fri 3 oct 03

 

Cat Jarosz on thu 2 oct 03


The one thing ( not only thing ) I LOVE about Mick Cassons work is the
separation both physically and visually of all add ons. For instance take a look
at his handles and you will see he carves around the handle so it stands out
on its own physically at both points of contact. PS he even stated that he
loves to show where he adds things .. this has stuck with me since 86 and I
have found I love it also...

I wouldnt think this would lend itself to being a loose feature that the
majority who write in seem to be so taken with. I dont believe that all tight
and controled work is DEAD... for every rule there will be people that will
break it... There can be passion in control. I think there is a lot more
control going on than most of these emails would have Me believe if I am reading
em right and its far from being CRAP...

Personally I love seeing the workmanship /skill in a piece of clay art. I
love seeing the control /skill of how its made. I can get lost for hrs and
rethrilled continually in some really intricate work . Do I need for
instances? OK My faves are Michael Sherrill's extruded rhododendruns . Jane Piesers
Millefoire colored clay work( all of it) and oh gosh megga brain fart a west
virginia potter lady that is famous and uses her sur form tool to create
angles/sharp angles on lots of her work ( /\10 functional pottery mostly ) and she
uses wood ash glazes ( any help on a name?) ... anyhow the point is I
can see all this craftsmanship /skill and work that goes into the making of
this work and the control/skill it takes to make and glaze it all. I will
never get sick of it and the thrill will never be gone. I think this work could
be concidered tight and controlled in some circles yet it's sooo beautiful
and breaks the rules that were laid down on this forum by some that think
loose and free is the only real art.

That or my translation of tight and controlled is directly opposite of
loose and flowing. my imagination might be loose but my skills are tight.

I think someone mentioned on this list that Malcolm rattled teeth because
he infered that others beliefs were CRAP .... Maybe my buttons were pushed
too and I react to hearing that maybe my work is concidered crap because I
know the control freak that I am and the work/skill that goes into and shows
up on my pots... nahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh actually this whole trip with
clay for me has been a love affair and no one has ever been able to discourage
me into giving it up with thoughtless statements nor could ever bring me down
from the beginning. I am safe here . I love clay I love my work and I
love to work.

I am not sure this is true for everyone so the reason I wrote in was the
hope to uplift folks that are not as strong or resolved in the love affair.

Have belief in yourself and your gut feelings. Evolve but dont swallow
everything you hear from folks that seem outspoken and are leaders . Be yourself
and evolve with your own time frame or dont its all a personal trip anyhow.
Build on your skills and be true to your self . Most important have belief
in yourself. Dont be bullied.

I admire many folks on this list and their beliefs and preferences. But I
do not let them make up my mind for me. Work on your skills and give 100 %
of yourself into the process and your voice will shine thru. To thine own
self be true. Ya gotta be tough as clay will humble you enough that you dont
need folks doing it also...

ps I have sat on this email for 3 days now and still not sure if its worthy
of the list. Does it add anything ? Should I take the chance that this will
help just one person ?
Do not seek perfection in pots or people as your search will go unrewarded
and you will miss knowing many good pots and many good people.

Cat Jarosz with a bad head cold and nose that is a faucet . Its rare
for me to get a cold so I am whiny and a tad cranky with Curly the airedale
from hell pup thats eatting all my tissues !!!!! ps she looks more like Larry
the brillo pad and I feel like MOE....