Diving into the clay - Why we make, pt. 1

Diving into the clay

Kelly Kessler A blog of discovering/rediscovering clay. A chance to explore the philosophy and practicalities of twenty-first century pots. A collection of leads for my students and myself.

Nashville AIDS Walk Sept. 26, 2009 - Team Sarratt

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Why we make, pt. 1

There are strong sentiments in popular culture against art. I plan to post from time to time stories from the front of why artists make their work.

First in line is a profile of visionary woodworker Sam Maloof, whose fluid minimal forms inspired a generation of furniture makers and won him a MacArthur genious grant. You can listen to a profile of Maloof on NPR which includes this stunning approach to form:

“When making furniture, start with the legs. They’re like values, principles, beliefs. Choosing the arms is like choosing friends, and the seat steadies a person looking ahead towards goals and the future.” -Sam Maloof

How would you translate this approach to making a pot? What are you drawn to start with?

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