There was this post over at the NY Times, in the dining section no less (which I appreciate). Talking about a show of dinnerware called Eat Drink Art Design at the Museum of Art and Design.So great, recognition in The Times for ceramics. Awesome. I have a NY Times alert for Ceramics and let me tell you that it barely ever presents something new.
So it looks like a nice show, and there appears to be some nice work. My itchy grumpy finger goes off on two points, One, the names used to sell the show?Roy Lichtenstein,Keith Haring, James Rosenquist, and Sol Lewitt. All fine artists, no doubt. And I know that famous names get butts in museums. Still a rub.
What really gets me is that the "traditional" ceramics people, Karen Karnes, Warren Mackenzie, Paul Mathieu, Beatrice Wood or Toshiko Takaezu. The work from those artist are from 1970, 1992, 1988, 1950-60, and 1947. Now, I'm not trying to deny these artist their due; but really, really??? The most current piece of craft is 18 years old. That teapot can vote. For Christ's sake, there is some nice, younger works, that fall more into the design/art realm in the show. So we know that the curators are looking around. So what is the problem? Where is the respect and the representation? There are awesome pots out there that garner that kind of respect. I have to ask. Is it our fault? ______________________________________________________________________
Ok I censored myself because I know that a lot of other blogs carry the headlines from my blog on their pages. But be warned. The rest of this post I'm going to be working blue.
Kenny Scharf, Fuck you. It is dickheads like you that keep ceramics from being taken seriously. When artists from outside the ceramics world step in an make ceramic objects that are A) Stupid, B) Ugly and C) Pointless, you drag us down with you.
You see Mr. Scharf has just released a line of Bongs that he is selling in the Cerealart Gallery in Philadelphia.
Oh, look at me, I'm so clever. I'm so Urban. I'm so fucking Ironic...FUCK YOU!
You are a pompous, condescending and artistically illiterate douchebag, and your work is ugly and outdated. The 80's called and they want the dis-effected irony back.
Now, to the ceramics people that are still reading. This does not mean that you are all off the hook for the lack of respect that ceramics gets in the art world. We dug our own hole and it is our job to get out of it ("Dig Up, Stupid!") And don't give me the "I don't want to be a member of that club" nonsense. This is about respect, and we need to garner respect for and of the art community. End of story.
None the less, this is shit.
I'm not going to post links. If you care, you can find it yourself.
Hi All, I hope everyone had a nice weekend. Mine was thoroughly educational, I learned about fixing cars. Those of you who know me know my car. I drive a 15 year old Volvo with +250,000 miles, and have for a very long time. I love my car, even if it does smell, and has lots of problems, but it just keeps going. And I keep setting retirement dates for the car (...just make it through grad school...just make it past the wedding...) and the beast just keeps on chugging. Part of having an old car means that I neglect it. Much like the Aloe plant I mentioned the other day. The worse I treat my car the longer it lasts. Combined with the fact that I know nothing about cars. So this weekend, my friend Dan and I took it upon ourselves to do some repairs, who are we kidding? Dan did the repairs while I handed him tools and watched. None the less I learned a hell of a lot, and feel pretty confident about working on the car in the future. So onto the ceramics. Today is going to be one of those random days, where all of my posts relate to ceramics with out specifically being about ceramics.
First is a video I found on neatorama.com about chemistry. Many of you know my feelings on Chemistry. So excuse the mini rant. Recently, someone asked me about whether it was important for glaze calc students to know chemistry? /deep breath People, it is important for everyone to know chemistry! It is the foundation of everything we do. I don't care if you are a newbie taking your first pottery class or a pro with 40 years of experience. Every time you place ceramics in a kiln and turn it on, you are committing acts of chemistry. I know Chemistry is hard! I always hate to admit this, because I was a good student, but the first time I took Chemistry I got a "D". A "D" and I loved my teacher. Hell, my Father's Undergrad degree was in Chemistry. And I still had a hell of a time wrapping my head around it. There is no doubt, it is hard. But, I can't tell you how many times I have heard "Well, I should know, but it is hard and I have gone this far without it. And I do just fine..." you know what. Fuck you. That's it. I am so overjoyed, that you are happy with your ignorance. It gives me nothing but pleasure to know that you think that being lazy and not perusing imperative knowledge in your field is alright. Good for you, I hope you are proud of yourself. When you fail, don't come to me. You are equivalent to a doctor who says. "Well I learned Physiology, but I don't think Pharmacology is important. I know that there are drugs out there. I'll just try some and see what works"...It is Dangerous! This might not be life and death of a person. but this is life and death for your work. Take the time, do the work. It is good for you.
This is the trailer from the new movie Objectified by Gary Hustwit. Some of you may have seen his film Helvetica, which if you have Netflix, you can watch on their watch instantly feature. Unfortunately the trailer does not show any ceramics, but that is a minor squabble. If you live in or near a major city I believe this is already playing or may have come and gone. If you get a chance, go see it. Living out here in the hinterlands, I have not seen it yet, but I can't wait to.
Why I bring this up in a ceramics blog, is that I want to start a discussion, about objects. I think that the discourse in ceramics about objects is a little stagnant and honestly behind the times. For a long time notions of potter as crafts person and maker of functional ware has propagated the ceramics world. I say bullshit.
Now, let me premise, that I am not discounting pottery. I love pottery. I love the art of ceramics. I wouldn't be on this blog, or living in the town, if it wasn't for my love of pots. Where my disagreement is, is with the notion of the independent potter as maker of functional products for the user. I say that the potter is a designer, exploring the notions of the object, and how we use it and see it.
What I really care about is the ceramicist as designer. When I say that, what I mean is that modern pottery, is not functional in the way potters intend it to be. I'm sorry that is just the way it is, the bitching line starts in the comments section. We do not make "everyday objects" we make special objects. And we need to accept that fact.
So, by making special objects the onus of the relevancy of the object falls in the hand of the maker. Not the user, as is the case with truly functional objects (ie. plastic dinnerware). Now, I'm sure that some potters reading this have steam coming out of their ears; stay calm. What I am saying is that by accepting the notion of our objects being special is that we now take on the role of designer. It is our responsibility to consider the object in ways that are special. We consider the object, so that we may design something interesting and exciting. Yes, we happen to make said objects with our own hands, but to paraphrase the Communists, that is simply "the means of production."
I know that there are many people, who will say "But I sell my pottery!" "People use my mugs!" and yes, I am sure they do. But that does not make them an inherently functional object. I counter with this.
Consider the Lamborghini. My favorite car in the world.
A few questions. Is it a car? Yes. Can you drive it? Yes. Is it "functional"? Of course. Are you going to take it to do your groceries? No. Would you let your teenage son drive it? I doubt it. Is it accessible to anyone, can anyone buy one? Sure...if you have the money and consider it important to spend it on a car that you love, yet is inherently impractical because of cost and performance.
That is where we are with pottery. Yes we make objects that are inherently for use. That does not make the functional. But, what they are is special, they are kissed by you... the designer. With your eye and your ability.
We also fail to consider the "Functionality" is not just the notion of use, But it is also the notion of cost. We make those decisions every day, when we go to the store and buy the cheaper pens. Do they work as well? No, but are they in my budget right now? Yes. That is the functionality of cost.
You have an audience, which lets be honest. Is either well off, or is the small percentage of people who consider the special object to be important in their own economic perspective.
Making pottery is important, but if the discussion about what the objects are, remains out of touch, then the objects themselves, remain out of touch.
