Colored slips on white body. Explosive!
People seem to get stronger or fall apart under pressure … all of the potters I know work right up to the last second (myself included). We create our own pressure. We’re packing up warm pots on the way to a show!
When you’re doing an installation at a gallery though, that is not an option. They need to have time to sort things out, edit and arrange the work. That meant that I had to have the work I’m showing at the Colborne Art Gallery to them yesterday. It was a mad dash for all of us! Brenda dropped hers off before I got there — she’s rehearsing for a show coming up on Friday (she’s singing). Lindsay was up at 6:00 am gluing his raku pieces together. I had packed up on Sunday, but was still trying to figure out how to hang my installation piece (which after all that fuss is not being shown). Pain in the butt for all concerned.
This creative process thing does create a lot of pressure. Pressure to be unique, to produce, to be recognized. It can be a little daunting, and even exhausting. If I didn’t love mucking about in the studio it wouldn’t be possible at all. In my dream creative scenario — I muck about in the studio, throw clay, paint, just make piles of stuff — somebody else drags it around to shows, finds galleries and picks up the cheques. I think it’s the dream of many artists …
Today I am just so darned TIRED! Good thing my class at the VAC was cancelled tonight because of weather! I can’t wait for the show to be up and running so that I can get back into general production. I’m committing to a wood firing in the spring and I have a hankering for some earthy grounded pots. Don’t know whether to get started on that now or wait until after my son’s wedding on Sunday. Maybe I’ll just take a nap and then think about that.
That’s what pressure does for me … sends me for a nap!
Be well,
Susan
Getting closer!
ps. Remember this one?
‘Cause love’s such an old-fashioned word
And love dares you to care for
The people on the edge of the night
And love dares you to change our way of
Caring about ourselves
This is our last dance
This is our last dance
This is ourselves
Under pressure
Under pressure
Pressure’
Queen and David Bowie
