I'm down with O.P.P!
You down with OPP (Yeah you know me) Who's down with OPP (Every last homie) You down with OPP (Yeah you know me) Who's down with OPP (All the homies)
Other Peoples whats?? Other Peoples Pots, baby!!
I am a fan girl. I am a CLAY fan girl. I LOVE OTHER PEOPLES POTS. And I'm here to ask you, please, BUY other peoples pots.
Last July 22nd and 23rd I participated in the Montana Clay Tour. I love this show. My friend Emily has hosted me this year and last year (we just had our 2nd annual show). This year seven artists played hosts to 31 other ceramic artists. See the line-up here.
I really enjoy going around to the other studios and looking at other peoples work. And I cannot help myself, I have to buy pieces as I go along. And I am encouraging you to go out to other people's shows and buy their work.
You should buy other potters/ceramists/artists work because you help your community. You put money in the pockets of people who can then share that money with others in your community. It's great economics. Yeah..... whatever. Look, you should buy other peoples pots because it's good for you! Yes, actually, seriously. There are so many ways to express one's voice in clay, slip, glaze, you name it. Go buy someone elses work to use, live with, ponder, critique and learn from. What works? What is complete crap? How the heck did they make that shape? Why is this handle so successful? Why on earth did the artist choose to put that appendage there? Was it about negative space, design, overall artist aesthetic?
Are you in a creative slump? Buy other people's pots! Can't figure out how to make something work? Buy OPP! Need a bit of inspiration, a new way of thinking, maybe just a really great tumbler to drink your Vodka Soda's from (Thanks Tara!!)? Get down with OPP!
The moral of the story is that I am now mentally ready to tackle the upcoming holiday season because I bought pots from (starting left to right, back row) Tara Wilson, Eric Van Eimren, Eric Botbyl, Ben Jordan, Didem Mert, Jeremy Hatch, Chuck Aydlett, and Carole Epp in the last three months. (Okay, look - you HAVE to google these people, they're amazing.) I've got a renewed sense of curiosity, a fresh take on exploring my work, and a few ideas to get me started. These pots will inform my process and motivate me to improve my practice.
You down with O.P.P?
(Yeah, you know me!!)
