Monthly Archives: February 2013

Why everyone who disagrees with you is right

Posted on February 28, 2013 by Carter Gillies

We often say that its a mistake to discuss politics and religion, but why? Aren’t these the things that are often most obvious to us, where our convictions run deepest? Isn’t the difference between right and wrong most apparent in … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Arts advocacy, Arts education, Beauty, Creativity, metacognition | 8 Comments

The illusion of control

Posted on February 25, 2013 by Carter Gillies

“Every once in a while, you’ll succeed. Most of the time you’ll fail, and most of the time the circumstances will be well beyond your control.” – Aaron Sorkin It makes sense that we aim for the important things, things … Continue reading →

Posted in Creativity, metacognition | 7 Comments

Curious Gravity: The Astrophysics of Expertise

Posted on February 22, 2013 by Carter Gillies

A while back Sam McNerney posted an essay asking the question of whether expertise in an art field is grounds for the existence of objective standards in aesthetics. He phrases it thusly: “Do objective standards in art exist? Are experts … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Beauty, Creativity, Imagination, metacognition | 3 Comments

A belated Valentine’s Day post and story of True Love

Posted on February 20, 2013 by Carter Gillies

“Often, stepping into another artists’ home is like a reassuring brush with the truth that we’re not the crazy ones; that it’s the rest of the aesthetically bankrupt world that’s got it wrong. I love that.”  – Scott Cooper reflecting … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Arts advocacy, Beauty, Ephemera, Imagination, metacognition | 5 Comments

“Get it? Got it. Good!” – Adventures through the Looking Glass….

Posted on February 17, 2013 by Carter Gillies

You know the old Reese’s commercial where the guy stumbles with a bar of chocolate and plunges it into some dude’s bowl of peanut butter? Outraged, he declares “You’ve got peanut butter on my chocolate!”, while his nemesis cries out … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Arts advocacy, Arts education, Beauty, Imagination, metacognition | 5 Comments

Your pot is an uncooked noodle

Posted on February 15, 2013 by Carter Gillies

Art is experienced very differently depending on what side of the production one stands. An audience gets to see the finished product. What it doesn’t see is all the hard work and decision making that went into it. What it … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Arts education, Ceramics, Creativity, Imagination, metacognition, Pottery, Teaching | 1 Comment

The creative art of forgetting and other irrationality

Posted on February 13, 2013 by Carter Gillies

“An artist is someone who can hold two opposing viewpoints and still remain fully functional” – F. Scott Fitzgerald So last post was an attempt at using rational arguments to debunk the idea that rationality is always the best way … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Creativity, Imagination, metacognition | 4 Comments

Are you in the mood for art?

Posted on February 7, 2013 by Carter Gillies

Ian David Moss had a great post late last year that caught my attention. He starts out with a quote describing a recent study by Dan M. Kahan at the Yale Law School on “Ideology, motivated reasoning, and cognitive reflection”: … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Arts advocacy, Arts education | 11 Comments

Does crazing drive you crazy?

Posted on February 3, 2013 by Carter Gillies

I received an inquiry on etsy that demanded a full explanation. Perhaps its one you’ve had as well…. “Listing: http://www.etsy.com/listing/111390630/gold-and-custard-mug-iv5 Hello, Great looking mug. I have a few questions. Will it be done if different colors? Can it be made … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Arts advocacy, Arts education, Beauty, Ceramics, Creativity, Ephemera, Imagination, metacognition, Pottery | Tagged | 3 Comments