#5 and #6 a Eureka

Today when I was putting these dishes together I realized what I didn't like about the previous ones...  The rims.  i don't usually leave my rims that plain, or unfinished, so for #5 and #6 I did a rim like I normally would.

 And I don't love the way they turned out, but it is a step closer.

 They feel so much more finished.  The rim now helps to define the space, by giving it a sort of border.  EUREKA.

 Then I forgot to cover them and they died....DUMB

 I also made another cookie jar form.

 It is a lot smaller, and I don't like the negative space under the rim of the lid.  I either need to angle the lid or flatten the rim on the pot.

 But the decoration is really nice and feels very 3 dimensional.

Hello

If this is your first visit, be sure to start at the beginning!
Here__

Today 1-4

Joe gave me a homework assignment: to make 50, of the little thrown and altered dishes. I don't know how serious he was, but I'm doing it anyway, it can only make me better.

Today I completed 1-4 (they are numbered)

I also made another cookie jar, based on the last one. (Seen here)

I have yet to figure out my balance.  The first day I worked i threw so many pots I had to spend 5 hours finishing them the next day.  I need to exercise some self control and get it down to about 2-3 hours a day.  Trying to get the nerve to jump back in.

Summer Snow Day 5

When you think you can't get any better, its over, and you should stop doing what you're doing and try something new. 

Today my Mom brought my boys in to see me and meet everyone.  They helped me carve on one of my jars.

It's probably my favorite piece ever.

 Today I finished up all the Work I had going.

List of finished work:
3 small lided jars
1 large lidded jar
set of 6 cups
2 pitchers
3 large batter bowls
1 set 3 seated batter bowls
2 large oval bakers
1 large square baker
2 small oval feeted pots
6 assorted cups
6 assorted bowls
2 tumblers
1 large bottle

After lunch of pizza baked in the kiln, we headed out to Spring City to see Joes' Shop.

I bought these pots, they live at my house now!

This is Joes' Salt kiln.  The burner went out on its last fire at cone 7, which is severely under fired so it just sits, full, and waiting.  Kind of like a cool mystery.

 Here is Joe in his Wood-fired kiln, telling us his philosophies of firing ect.

 This was an incredible week, full of incredible experiences and amazing people.

I so appreciate Nick for letting me go, and my parents for watching my kids.

Summer Snow Day 4

Martin Buber "The Way of Man"

"If there had ever been someone like you, there would have been no need for you."

"I Think I shall try to become a little more myself"

"The greatest gift a parent can give a child is an acceptance of who they are" 

Joe Bennion 2013

Oval Dishes, 6/6/13

Summer Snow Day 3

Today Joe talked a lot about looking at the work of others, to make your own art better. So these are the Artists I looked up and what I like about them.

 Paul Soldner

"In the spirit of raku, there is the necessity to embrace the element of surprise. There can be no fear of losing what was once planned and there must be an urge to grow along with the discovery of the unknown. In the spirit of raku: make no demands, expect nothing, follow no absolute plan, be secure in change, learn to accept another solution and, finally, prefer to gamble on your own intuition. Raku offers us deep understanding of those qualities in pottery which are of a more spiritual nature, of pots by men willing to create objects that have meaning as well as function." (Soldner, 1973)

I like the way he talks about the process.  That you have to give up control.  I often struggle with giving up control.  OK I struggle with giving up control ALL THE TIME. But I'm working on it.

Chris Staley

Ok this video is it.  This video is everything I think about, but can't express.

  I love at the end how he says: "You will remember drinking out of this cup"
Love it!

George Ohr

Seriously this guy was a trip.  He was the self proclaimed "Mad potter of Biloxi".  I love looking at his portraits and his work.  He kind of flew in the face of the establishment, but his work is so beautiful, and he did what he wanted.  I like that.

Bernard Leach

This name inspires awe in me. "Every Movement, is frozen music" with an emphasis on simple Utilitarian forms, and a crazy work ethic, also a passion for teaching, he is my Hero. 

 Here is a small bit from video on Leach.

Summer Snow day 2

"Crafts have a beauty born of use, without use there is no beauty in craft." Soetsu Yonagi the unknown craftsman.

 Today we made these brilliant little batter bowls and discussed the logistics of pouring vessels.

(The white one in the center.)

 We also discussed process vs. products. Is the Point of my work just the outcome, or am I taking joy in the journey.

 In the book "The Doing of the Thing: The Brief, Brilliant Whitewater Career of Buzz Holstrom." He Talks about the joy of the journey, and once the journey is over, the end, is the least exciting part.

 Sometimes, I think I am so focused on getting a good result that I rush to the kiln, instead of reveling in the process.

 Leaving evidence of the process, 

referencing the process in everything I do.

 "Points of Grace; The little things left by hand, that cannot be duplicated by machine." Tom Marsh. 

 My homework from today was to watch "The Potters Meal" on youtube. It is a special done on Joe Bennion, back in the 80's. He talks a lot in this movie about his inspiration and process, it was really cool and a really good watch if you've got 25 minutes.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Revisited

Summer Snow day 1

"Art is the expression of human feeling in perceptible form." Suzanne Langor

 Today we talked about small vessels such as bowls and cups.

My favorite was talking about the implied intimacy in a cup. That it will be held in someone's hand and put to their lips. When you think about it there is an inherent intimacy to a cup, or even a bowl. That very personal expectation that this "object" will be put to someone's mouth. Very cool.

 I made a series of 7 of this cup.

 I also made several bowls.

 Joe talked about bowls as colonized space. That because of their shape they occupy more space than they do.

I also made several bowls and got to teach a few others some cool decorating things.
I went back that night and worked, and this is Lee, working across from me.
It was such a treat to work with colleagues, and not be in charge of anyone.

Joe Bennion Summer Snow 2013

This conference was my anniversary present from Nick.

 I really needed it, and it was wonderful.

Joe Bennion lives in Spring City Utah and his website can be found here.

 Each day Joe would tell stories, experiences and share quotes about how he became who he is as a potter.

I made a huge amount of work this week. And I only kept the ones that were "great".  I am quite proud of myself. My work is on the bottom shelf and the second from the top.