Grad School: Week 4

"The real message of "Friday Night Lights" is a message about the joy of little things: the awkward thrills of a first kiss; the strange blessings of an unexpected rainstorm on a lonely walk home from a rough football practice; the startling surge of nostalgia incited by the illumination of football stadium lights just as the autumn sun is settling; the rush of gratitude in an otherwise mundane moment, that comes from realizing that this (admittedly flawed) human being that you are squabbling with intends to have your back for the rest of your life..."Friday Night Lights" is about breathing in and appreciating the small, somewhat imperfect moments that make up an average life..."Friday Night Lights" embraces the rough edges, the fumbling, the understated beauty and uncertainty of the everyday."

-Heather Haurilesky

Making pots is a lot like "Friday Night Lights." Functional pots are objects that quietly bear witness to the ups and downs of regular life. They are small parts of the series of events that mark the everyday; the coffee break during an otherwise endless day at work; a cup of tea offered when nothing else can be done; the raising of a cup to mark an anniversary, etc. Above all else, making pots is about integrity. Integrity is craftsmanship. Someone said that the difference between a laborer and a craftsman is pride in work completed correctly. Any fan of Friday Night Lights knows that Coach Taylor is all about integrity. In his marriage or on the field, Coach always acts with sincerity and a resolute commitment to doing the right thing. Like in football, there are no shortcuts to success while in the studio. Good craftsmanship cannot be faked or hurried. One question i find myself asking while in the studio is: What would Coach Taylor do? (WWCTD)

Week 4 at grad school was a busy one and flew by. I have enough pots for a kiln load but have moved on to working with low-fire clay on some slab built wall pieces. Like a lot of potters i know who salt-fire, i am always dreaming about developing a body of work that is low-fire. Firing in an electric kiln would just make life simpler. So, i am dipping one toe into the low-fire world with some wall pieces and trying to get a sense for the materials. Other than this, i am busy with an art history course and teaching.

Ron Meyers arrives tomorrow to be a visiting artist and the festivities start with a critique in the evening. I took a workshop from Ron Meyers and Chuck Hindes while at Penland and he is a great person to watch work. There is no fussing at the wheel, only action.

Until next week...