Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Throwing my 2 cents on the pile



I’ve been packing up works to send out to the Clay and Blogs exhibition at the Campbell House in Southern Pines, North Carolina in October. Generally speaking, packing for a show is usually a detached activity, but this time it feels different for me…. It’s much more personal and introspective. The Clay and Blogs show has a particular relevance to me, the crust of the show is not necessarily about the work that we make… The show is more about how and why we blog. 

This is a big thing…

We are so quickly changing the way we reach out and communicate. The internet has provided us with an incredibly large classroom for hundreds of practicing and professional artists, a golden source for information, discussion, and networking.

It’s a huge pond to wade into and it’s getting bigger very quickly.

When I started posting just 2 years ago, these “Blog things” were generally photo diaries. I know now that there were a few other clay bloggers out there, but at the time, I couldn’t find a single one. I just started posting what I felt was fun… a visual diary of day to day studio life… studio notes… a few lessons for my kids… links (lots of links) and correspondence to and from other far away landlocked islands.
It was a convenient and fun to interact with… and I knew that generally nobody was watching for the most part, so it was for the pure fun of it.

It all changed the day I met Jim Gottuso online… all of a sudden there was someone else wasting time doing this blogging thing… and he was evidently enjoying himself as much as I was. Cool!
Honestly it’s snowballed since then… now there are hundreds of clay bloggers with more on the way. I feel like I know dozens and dozens of individuals of this community pretty well and I know that for better or worse a whole lot of people know me darn well now.
I enjoy sharing the ups and downs of studio life. Even more important, I enjoy following the day to day personal insights of a nearly a hundred other ceramic artists. The interaction feeds my enthusiasm to continually keep diving into the breach over and over despite the odds.

For these reasons, and oh so many more, I have to shout out…
Thanks everyone! It’s been a fun 2 years…

Time to get work… stay tuned!

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey, not all of us are potters or mud people who enjoy reading your blog. First, I enjoy the writing. Fresh and unaffected. It is often humorous as well as insightful. Plus I like to know what your are up to. Keep it up, JoJo

Monique said...

While you were/are having fun with blogging I was/am having fun reading your posts!
When i found your blog, I read everything, al the way to the fist post, hehe.
I think that because you have fun writing, it is also fun to read everything you write about.
not to mention the helpful video's and your beautiful work!
wish i could be there at the show... sigh...

Linda Fahey said...

Well put FG! I can relate because much of what you said resonates with why I started my blog thingy too! It started (and remains) mostly a way for me to catalog for myself what the heck I was doing with all my "free" time. It looked like the perfect venue to explore the way I process inspiration/information as well as a way to note my patterns of visual thinking and offer up my often clunky thoughts. Beyond my studio mates - I wasn't sure anyone would notice me. I find it fun and inspiring and feel very lucky to have discovered so many people out 'here' doing exactly the same thing...your blog is a fav of mine btw. Nice post, thank you!

Tracey Broome said...

the photos of you in your studio are really nice! I'm being a bit picky about the pieces for the C & B show too. Can't wait to see everyone's work in person!

Kari Weaver said...

You echo my own thoughts about this eclectic and entertaining group I seem to have been taken in by. I am honored and humbled to be in such company, as I am enlightened and educated by each and every one of you every day. I am liking my alliterations today.

Keep writing!

jim said...

hey joel, thanks for the compliment. i, too, remember when i stumbled upon your blog and quickly realized that you were one of those rare potters who are always riding the razors edge between risk and reward and trying everything to get great new work... and you do get great new work all the time. i also felt a connection because you have the metalsmithing skills also and i have a sculpture background and i think that makes one come at problems from a slightly different hangle. anyway, right on... i think the show will be great and let the blogging continue.

ang design said...

noice one zyg...and gorgeous shots of the sanctum...

cookingwithgas said...

It has been and will continue to be a nice ride into a world we could have missed!
I think about all the new folks and new work I have been introduced to since I took this plunge.
I would love to figure out how to hit the road and show up in all your studios in person- but instead I will just have to continue the journey from here and it promises to be a great ride!
Thanks!
M

Acácia Azevedo Studio Pottery said...

Some day, last year, I found your blog and it was a great inspiration to me. Definitely I returned, returned and returned...If I can say something useful, is that I am learning how to make a good blog with your blog. Maybe, your biggest lesson is to share experiences and knowledge. Sorry for my bad english, probably this is the reason that I am a good reader and an awful writer. But I´m always here, reading, learning, observing... Your blog is my favority blog! Not just because of your beautiful pottery, but specially because you have a great style.

Armelle said...

You are so generous !!! Reading your blog always gives me up when I am down, I am such a beginer, always asking myself many questions. Of course I read many others, anyway your posts are specially invigorating, Great post ;-) and sorry for my bad english !!!

Rob Addonizio from Taiko-Earth said...

Go FG!
I must say, that I am always entertained by your posts! Your blog is an inspiration.

Although I do different non-functional work, your style, grace, and expertise as a fellow potter leaves me quite humbled, and yet I find that it pushes me to keep working toward a goal.

Your blog rocks!

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