You know some things stick in our minds and other things just go somewhere else. (That’s a gruesome vision, “stick in the mind”.) The “somewhere else” is very full. The sagacious old Cruster says “Son, I’ve forgotten more than you’ll ever know.” Well, I’ve probably forgotten more than I’ll ever know, too. This is a good thing since I am the “forever” student. There’s only so much room up there that something has to go. For the perpetual student there is never a shortage of lessons to be learned. Discounting all that excess information is sort of like cleaning out the closet, if you haven’t used it for two years, let it go. Yes, it will come back around in about 20 years and be in fashion again but carrying all that excess baggage will flat wear you out.
“Wear you out” was a very serious statement my mama would use but never did it. Just the saying of it would clear your mind of anything except what might be coming up next. “You do that and I will wear you
out.” Threats to live by…sounds like life to me.
Mama didn’t get to whack clay around. She didn’t whack anything.
I, on the other hand, well... passion flows.
It also whacks.
It’s It's downright inspiring to pound on some clay.
There’s an art to traveling light. One to which we can all aspire. So why is it I did not take up some civilized medium like painting? One can carry everything in two hands, easel, paint box, brushes and canvas; maybe a stool. Done just like that.
Good luck getting it into two rooms, very big rooms. Two standard bags of clay weigh fifty pounds. One in each hand and who needs to lift weights? The ceramist does not travel light. Ours is a weighty world and grounded in the oldest of materials, clay. I mean the stuff was once rock. Heck it’s older than dirt, really. "Older than them hills."
I need tools, too, lots of tools, space, lots of space and more space, kilns, and more space. I consume energy and make things really really hot. I transform through fire. I have a penchant for fire and space and earthly things. Yeah, something has to go eventually.Cleaning out a studio, even if it’s just to make more space, is dang near impossible. Then I fill that space up and get more space. We ceramists and sculptors see things as shapes and designs and if it’s out of sight, it’s out of mind. Where did the inspiration go? I needed that to remind me of some form or shape I want to pursue. Ooops, I think I threw out that inspiration last time I cleaned-up the studio. Kept it for like 15 years decided to get rid of it just the other day and now I need it. Sounds like life to me.
Reminder: If you are waiting for inspiration, you are wasting time.
If you are waiting for inspiration, you might as well clean up the studio. You will need the space. Put trash bags on the shopping list.
Sounds like life to me.
