2 Ceramics Monthly William C. Hunt....................................... Editor Barbara Tipton ...................... Associate Editor Robert L. Creager ........................ Art Director Ruth C. Butler............................. Copy Editor Valentina Rojo ................. Editorial Assistant Mary Rushley.............. Circulation Manager Mary E. Beaver....Circulation Assistant Jayne Lohr ................... Circulation Assistant Connie Belcher .... Advertising Manager Spencer L. Davis.............................. Publisher Editorial, Advertising and Circulation Offices 1609 Northwest Boulevard Box 12448, Columbus, Ohio 43212 (614) 488-8236 Ceramics Monthly (ISSN 0009-0329) is published monthly except July and August by Professional Publications, Inc.—S. L. Davis, Pres.; P. S. Emery, Sec.: 1609 North­ west Blvd., Columbus, Ohio 43212. Second Class postage paid at Columbus, Ohio. Subscription Rates:One year SI 8, two years $34, three years $45. 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Copyright © 1986 Professional Publications, Inc. All rights reserved April 1986 3 4 C eramics Monthly Ceramics Monthly Volume 34, Number 4 April 1986 Feature Articles Run of the Mill by Charles Lakofsky................................................. 29 Missouri Roots by Jim Estes............................................................... 31 National Design Competition....................................... 35 Expressive Realism by Beverly Mayeri.................................................... 36 Cane Handles by Ray Bub................................................................ 39 Summer Workshops 1986........................................... 43 Useful Pottery................................................................ 51 Saint Louis Clay............................................................ 57 Opposites from Denmark by Heidi Guthmann Birck....................................... 58 Leslie Wood by Nancy Margulies.................................................. 62 Cone 04-7 Wood Ash Engobes by Gerald Rowan...................................................... 92 Departments Letters to the Editor.......................................................... 7 Questions 9 Where to Show 11 Suggestions..................................................................... 15 Itinerary.......................................................................... 19 Comment: Museums, Profits and Reproductions by William Hunt........................................................ 25 News & Retrospect........................................................ 65 Classified Advertising................................................... 94 Index to Advertisers...................................................... 96 The Cover “Green Umbra,” approximately 4 feet in height, handbuilt low-fire buff clay, fired and painted with acrylics, by Beverly Mayeri. For an insight into this Mill Valley, California, artist’s work, see the article beginning on page 36.Photo: M. Lee Fatherree. April 1986 5 Letters More on Shutoff Failure ratio between market forces and personal some don’t seem to realize that without the In response to the letter from Mary Nich­ choice, not least is financial independence from craftsperson—hey—no store. Some are rude olson, Suffern, N.Y. (January), I would like the market. The greater this independence, and uncooperative. Some pay late, and of to offer the following “awareness”: never trust the greater the scope for personal choice. Profit course some don’t pay at all and close the mechanical shutoff devices; there are just too is still a lovely word. doors. You’re in California, they’re in Illi­ many things that can go wrong. It is imper­ E.M. Pugh nois: What to do? After several years of this ative that all kilns be monitored closely from Pottery Officer we have come up with many suggestions but the start of the firing until unloading time Council for Small Industries in Rural Areas need more. has approached. Northampton, England Kathy Wolff As a working clay artist and college ce­ Stirling City, Calif. ramic arts instructor, I speak from experi­ I don’t understand the criticism of the CM ence (some from learning the hard way). I Letters section. I find it the only interesting An Award to Ersatz fire approximately 125 kiln loads per year— part of the magazine lately. This being short­ In response to the January Comment by electric, gas and wood. If the kiln is not off er than ten lines, it should at least make Ed Ersatz Soubriquet: I send you, forthwith, after a specified time (granted that there are Higgins (February Letters) happy. Murray’s One Hand Clapping Award variances in firing times, etc.), shut it off. Claude Conover (MOHCA). In the box, you will find only You can always refire the work if it was un­ Cleveland Dumbfounded Silence. derfired, but you cannot correct an overfired After the CM staff has admired the award, mess. Taking Care of Reality I suggest taping up the box and mailing it An automatic shutoff device is only as good I was happy to see the November Com­ off to Comment contributor Ersatz. He has as the human overseeing it. ment about how a potter might make a living. already actualized the first part of the con­ Jack Mettier Pottery economics has been ignored for too tent. Perhaps he can find the silence part. Taft College long. Donald D. Murray-san Taft, Calif. But instead of taking other jobs, why not Atascadero, Calif. figure out a way to make pottery a viable “Eliminate Letters” Response Openness Enables Learning Marion Padgett, (December Letters) hang occupation? In England, apprenticeships train For ten years I’ve had clay underneath my your head in shame. Read, “Remembering people to make a living as well as beautiful worn fingernails. I love clay, glazes and the the Glory Days,” by author and sometimepots. They also have a national organization continuous challenge. Ceramics Monthly has salesman, sometime potter Ross Murphy with an outlet and catalog that give potters helped me despite the art/craft/funk contro­ (same Letters column) and if it doesn’t make access to a wide public. In Ireland, the gov­ versy that has been ongoing for at least a you laugh out loud (even in the middle of a ernment supports the crafts and provides a decade. I maintain a barn studio through my craft show—“Poor potter, gone dotty”—they directory to the public. intermittent clay cycles of planning, experi­ think) then you have lost your sense of hu­ I’m not necessarily suggesting we follow mentation, work, glazing, then firing (gas or mor. their example, but some kind of organization electric). I invest in books and workshops for Ross should write a potter’s manual: “How could be beneficial in providing education, my education, as well as visit out-of-state to Cheer Yourself Up on a Rainy Day.” efficient distribution and publicity. potters and shows to enlighten and educate If you think clay nuggets are big in Kan­ Sarah Center me. Being open to the ventures of others can sas, wait till you see the ones in Canada. Fort Collins, Colo. be a learning process and I thank CM for Mary Haggis accommodating all of us. Choosing to be a London, Ont. Business for Potters small, part-time potter, I thrive on struggling The article on how to sell pottery (“How with my own challenges of mixing new glaz­ CM’s Letters column provides an insight to Sell Your Pots Profitably,” June/July/ es, trying new clays and anxiously waiting into the minds of American potters which we August 1984) was excellent and now we need for a week’s vacation from a full-time (not British would find hard to find anywhere to expand this on how to market products. art) job to indulge