Monthly Archives: June 2012

How vulnerability saves the world

Posted on June 29, 2012 by Carter Gillies

I just read a wonderful post over at ARTSblog that examined the role of suffering in great art. You know, that myth where it is only through great tragedy and personal misery that exemplary art gets born. The author of … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Arts advocacy, Arts education, Beauty, Ceramics, Clay, Creativity, metacognition, Pottery, Teaching | 8 Comments

On the misuse of talent, the failure of opportunity, and the irrelevance of hard work

Posted on June 28, 2012 by Carter Gillies

So, Scott Cooper and I have launched into this fascinating exploration of the ideas behind Malcolm Gladwell’s book Outliers in a series of private emails. We both hope that at some point we can craft specifically pottery related blog posts … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Arts advocacy, Arts education, Beauty, Ceramics, Clay, Creativity, Pottery, Teaching | 7 Comments

The Darwinian fate of dreams

Posted on June 23, 2012 by Carter Gillies

Scott Cooper responded to my Unbearable lightness of being a potter post by stating “I’m OK, I think, with a Darwinian process in the society that kills off the dreams that are more flaky, dumb or unsuitably naive in favor … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Arts advocacy, Arts education, Beauty, Ceramics, Clay, Creativity, Pottery, Teaching | 4 Comments

The Summer of Golden Opportunity

Posted on June 13, 2012 by Carter Gillies

For whatever reason, in our culture the summer often brings a change of pace, when some of us plan for vacations, and when some of us have a bit of down time from our normal routines. As professional potters this … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Arts education, Beauty, Ceramics, Clay, Creativity, Pottery, Teaching | 2 Comments

This is coffee! (1961)

Posted on June 12, 2012 by Carter Gillies

(Post #100, if you can believe it. I thought I’d celebrate by offering up a bit more reader friendly content than the usual insipid droning on this blog is known for. Hope you enjoy!) If mugs are the backbone of … Continue reading →

Posted in Ceramics, Clay, Pottery | 11 Comments

Once more into the breach!

Posted on June 9, 2012 by Carter Gillies

So last post was a bit melancholy. No hiding it, it was a poor sale…. And maybe I just needed a good moan, and maybe the timing was just right for me to ratchet up my philosophical campaign on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

The Unbearable Lightness of Being a Potter

Posted on June 4, 2012 by Carter Gillies

(Forgive my maudlin poetic sentimentality in what follows. I just had my worst ever studio sale where I shattered all my previous records for mediocrity. And honestly, if I wasn’t already so used to being beaten down I might… I … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Arts advocacy, Arts education, Beauty, Ceramics, Clay, Creativity, Pottery, Teaching | 25 Comments