Monthly Archives: April 2014

Studio Jingo

Posted on April 28, 2014 by Carter Gillies

“Painting is not done to decorate apartments. It is an instrument of war.” ― Pablo Picasso “Ten hut!” “Fall in line you namby pamby creative types! You! Wipe that smile from your face! Take your thumb from your mouth, Moonbeam. … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Arts advocacy, Creative industry, Creativity, Imagination, metacognition, Teaching | 6 Comments

After Magritte

Posted on April 24, 2014 by Carter Gillies

Ce n’est pas un plat de beurre (that’s what Google Translate has to say, at least….) “Between 1926 and 1938 René Magritte (Belgian, 1898–1967) developed key strategies and techniques to defamiliarize the familiar—to make, in his words, “everyday objects shriek … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Ceramics, Clay, Creativity, Imagination, metacognition, Pottery | 7 Comments

Symmetry is soooo overrated

Posted on April 22, 2014 by Carter Gillies

Heh, heh….. 🙂 Most potters own a wheel that is round and goes in a circle. No wonder pots keep coming off these wheels round and symmetrical! Thankfully I know someone who knows someone who has a brother that can … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Beauty, Ceramics, Clay, Creativity, Imagination, Pottery | 6 Comments

Plain and Simple

Posted on April 19, 2014 by Carter Gillies

I had a really fascinating discussion with one of my students the other day, and one of the things that eventually came up was how ‘simple’ is not the same thing as ‘plain’. He had been talking to his wife … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Beauty, Ceramics, Creativity, Imagination, metacognition, Pottery, Teaching, Wittgenstein | 2 Comments

Look mom, no hands!

Posted on April 15, 2014 by Carter Gillies

At least, I am hoping that I can still make pots on the wheel without needing my hands too involved….. I’m guessing that it was just a bit of cosmic irony that a bare few minutes earlier last night I … Continue reading →

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Idea, execution, object

Posted on April 12, 2014 by Carter Gillies

What is ‘art’? And who are ‘artists’? We know it when we see them. Sometimes. But how far does that get us? Let’s look! “People get really focused on the noun, like ‘Oh, I’m an artist’ or ‘I’m a writer’ … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Creative industry, Creativity, Imagination, metacognition, Pottery, Wittgenstein | Leave a comment

Critique your failures

Posted on April 4, 2014 by Carter Gillies

“The other night during the juror’s comments at the Biennial Show of the Hamilton Potters Guild juror Angelo Di Petta said there is nothing worse that someone’s indifference to your work. It is better to make work that someone loves … Continue reading →

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