Really? You're throwing this out there....... My beliefs after 60 years on the planet and spending 4 years working inner city park police for the city of Cleveland and now entering my 30th year of making pots full time. (it was a barium vs. bullets moment) I have arrived at the church of; IJFI It just fuck'n is. I prefer to think of a vibrating golden web circling the earth with threads reaching out to the universe......if you are lucky you glide the web. If not your stuck...... I have walked away from this stuff I do more times than I care to talk about, why? I have to ask; when the world's needs are so great how the hell do I sit here and make more stuff? Dear God...... Does the world need more stuff? Apparently we do because I can't stop and keep coming back. The artist seem to be my tribe and where I fit in this dense form I like to call earth school. When I work in the studio it is quiet, meditative and as close to a sacred place as I am going to get. Some days you touch the web, some days I walk out of the studio and go fishing or work in the garden. I know I feel very privledged to walk this path..... We eat a lot of rice and beans and rock the second hand stores to live easier on the planet but it has been gift and it is reflected in my work...... I love and adore Val and have had a wonderful conversation about just this. I have so appreciated his answer..... "I don't know, we should talk more...." Do wish some of the "ceramic artists" in higher education would get down to walk a hard scrapple life a bit more or head to third world countries.....where they are making incredible pots but struggling with life. IJFI....... Now go to the studio and make more stuff........
Thanks for posting this, I watched it and all his others.
ReplyDeleteThis took me on a trip through some very inspiring talks by Mr Staley.
ReplyDeleteReally? You're throwing this out there....... My beliefs after 60 years on the planet and spending 4 years working inner city park police for the city of Cleveland and now entering my 30th year of making pots full time. (it was a barium vs. bullets moment) I have arrived at the church of; IJFI It just fuck'n is. I prefer to think of a vibrating golden web circling the earth with threads reaching out to the universe......if you are lucky you glide the web. If not your stuck...... I have walked away from this stuff I do more times than I care to talk about, why? I have to ask; when the world's needs are so great how the hell do I sit here and make more stuff? Dear God...... Does the world need more stuff? Apparently we do because I can't stop and keep coming back. The artist seem to be my tribe and where I fit in this dense form I like to call earth school. When I work in the studio it is quiet, meditative and as close to a sacred place as I am going to get. Some days you touch the web, some days I walk out of the studio and go fishing or work in the garden. I know I feel very privledged to walk this path..... We eat a lot of rice and beans and rock the second hand stores to live easier on the planet but it has been gift and it is reflected in my work......
ReplyDeleteI love and adore Val and have had a wonderful conversation about just this. I have so appreciated his answer..... "I don't know, we should talk more...." Do wish some of the "ceramic artists" in higher education would get down to walk a hard scrapple life a bit more or head to third world countries.....where they are making incredible pots but struggling with life. IJFI....... Now go to the studio and make more stuff........