I Am Really Proud of the Progress I Have Made Learning How to Throw and Build Teapots

I am really proud of the progress I have made learning how to throw and build teapots. I am using Oregon red clay to build the majority of my tea pots and work this quarter. It feels good to work with clay that is from a region close to me. Before the only clay artists could use would be clay that they harvested from their region. That is why there are areas that are known for their ceramics due to the quality and terrior of the clay that was available to work with. Artists before needed to have a wealth of resources to bring the clay from its raw form to the end product (a mug, jug, tea pot, pourer, tea cup, etc.). They would need to know how to harvest the clay, process it, have the resources to build a kiln, and the resources to keep the kiln fire stoked at high temperatures for a long period of time, as well as, the local knowledge and labor to accomplish all of these tasks.

Like most things the process of working with clay and firing it within a kiln is extremely convenient but also divides artists from the labor of love and connection to the materials that once artists needed to endure. I meditated on the luxury I was experiencing by holding the clay in my hands, molding and working with the clay's alignment and the alignment of my body. When in balance, I can create vessels that will touch intimate places, like my mouth, and house nourishing beverages.

The mass commodification of house hold items through stores and online markets has to some extent devalued, and added value, to handmade one of a kind items. The commodification has devalued hand made items through lowering the price a consumer would expect to pay for a mug or tea pot because it is mass produced through molds, or technology that can reproduce a form (like 3D printing). This Eliminates the amount of time, and cost, it would take for hands to create the form. Commodification has added value through not being able to reproduce what only artists can do, make vessels that have "flaws” that show evidence of human hands.

The balance is being able to have the craft and skill to create these items at a rate where you're still able to be paid at least minimum wage per hour and have your production costs be covered. The price then needs to be low enough that the product will be used and purchased, but also high enough to cover these costs.I have been asking myself, “Where is the line between creating utilitarian items with meaning, and art that is too expensive to want to be used?” As an artist moving forward I want to be able to create items that bring joy to people and also be able to afford to continue to be able to create.