OBITUARY

Eva Zeisel: November 13, 1906 – December 30, 2011

EVA ZEISEL WAS THE PRE-EMINENT CERAMIC DESIGNER OF THE 20^T CENTURY. HER ELEGANT WORK GRACES HOMES AND TABLES THE WORLD OVER. SHE WAS 105 YEARS YOUNG AT THE TIME OF PASSING.

EDUCATION

IN YESTERDAY’S POST I MENTIONED TWO OF MY BOOKS, “FUNCTIONAL POTTERY” AND “MAKING MARKS”. IN CONJUNCTION WITH “CERAMIC SPECTRUM”, THE CONTENT THESE THREE BOOKS WAS DESIGNED TO GIVE THE READER THE EQUIVALENT OF A FOUR YEAR PLUS COLLEGE DIPLOMA OR BFA DEGREE. TOGETHER, THEY COVER FORM, SURFACE AND CERAMIC TECHNOLOGY. YOU CAN EASILY TEACH YOURSELF FROM THIS TRILOGY. IF YOU CAN GET THE VIDEOS, SO MUCH THE BETTER. BOOK AND VIDEO ARE LIKE A TEAM.

 

                                      RH PERSONALITY TRAITS

I WAS DEFINITELY THE BLACK SHEEP OF THE FAMILY, A DREAMER, REBEL AND RESEARCHER OF THE RARE, UNUSUAL, IMPROBABLE AND IMPOSSIBLE, ONE WHO NEVER TOOK “NO” FOR AN ANSWER AND NEVER FINISHES SEARCHING.

MY GREATEST MENTORS THROUGHOUT MY LIFE HAVE BEEN MICKEY MOUSE AND PETER PAN. THEY BOTH REPRESENT PLAYFUL BUT SERIOUS AND POSITIVE FORCES AND JOY IN LIFE - THE ETERNAL CHILDREN.

MY BRAIN PROBABLY LOOKS LIKE THE DALE CHIHULY GLASS SCULPTURE, ENDLESSLY MOVING IN MANY DIRECTIONS AT THE SAME TIME AND FOCUS ING DEEPLY TO UNDERSTAND THE VISION, IDEA OR CONCEPT THAT PRESENTS ITSELF, NO MATTER HOW OBSCURE OR TRIVIAL THEY MIGHT SEEM. REMEMBER THE OLD ADAGE: “GREAT OAKS FROM LITTLE ACORNS GROW”

AS ONE’S SKILLS IN MANIPULATING CLAY DEVELOP, ONE USUALLY NEEDS FURTHER STIMULATION TO GROW IN ABILITY.  THIS MIGHT BE IN THE FORM OF ATTENDING WORKSHOPS, CONFERENCES, DEMONSTRATIONS AND EXHIBITIONS. FORMAL SCHOOLS AND  HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS COME INTO THEIR OWN HERE.  DEPENDING WHERE ONE MAY LIVE IN THE WORLD, ART EDUCATION MAY GO FROM KINDERTEN TO GRADE 13. IN THE USA THERE ARE TERRIFIC K-13 ART AND CERAMICS PROGRAMS IN MANY STATES. IN CANADA, THERE IS ALMOST NOTHING. ARTS AND CULTURE FUNDING IN CANADA IS ALMOST THE WORST IN THE WESTERN WORLD. I LIVE ON THE WEST COAST IN A PROVINCE NAMED BRITISH COLUMBIA. IT HAS THE WORST CULTURAL FUNDING RECORD IN THE COUNTRY. DESPITE LACK OF GOVERNMENTAL ARTS SUPPORT, BC HAS THE SECOND LARGEST NUMBER OF CULTURAL WORKERS BEHIND FRENCH-SPEAKING QUEBEC.  QUEBEC, ON THE OTHER HAND, VALUES ITS CULTURE AND PROVIDES THE BEST ENVIRONMENT FOR CREATIVITY ANYWHERE IN MY ADOPTED COUNTRY. I WAS VICE CHAIR OF THE BC ARTS COUNCIL FOR FIVE YEARS, AN EXERCISE IN FRUSTRATION IN NOT BEING ABLE TO PUT ARTS AND CULTURE IN A HIGH PRIORITY POSITION. A STRONG CULTURAL IDENTITY MAKES FOR CREATIVE COMMUNITIES, WHERE SO MANY TEAM SPORTS ACTIVITIES ARE OFTEN BREEDING GROUNDS FOR AGGRESSION. A CULTURE CONSCIOUS COMMUNITY IS A HEALTHY COMMUNITY.

TOMORROW’S POST WILL LOOK AT FORMAL EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES,  FROM KINDER GARTEN TO COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY

                    DEFINITELY AN INDIVIDUAL SHEEP AND CERTAINLY NOT A CLONE!