006 What Makes a Pot Good or Great? – MudTalk Podcast

Resources Contribute to the show! Find more episodes 2013 Michiana Pottery Tour Blog Post Chris Gustin Workshop Blog Post Handle With Care Workshop Blog Post Transcript This is episode 6. We’re going to talk about good pots. We want to know what makes a pot good, or even great? What characteristics do you look for? Are there certain things that a pot HAS to have to be good? What does “good” mean to you? I’m sure you have your own opinions about what makes a pot acceptable, good, or even great. But it’s always a good idea to hear other people’s opinions so we can discover different perspectives, fine tune our own opinions and understand the topic on a deeper level. As I was reading the comments for this topic I tried to organize the responses into a few categories including: Physical Characteristics, Proper Function, the Feelings a Pot Evokes, and at the end I’ll share some of my favorite responses. Let’s start with a response from Facebook which I think lays a foundation for this discussion. In response to the question “what makes a pot good?” Laura S Attractive design, even weight, useful, attention to detail, smooth bottom, evidence of the maker. These answers may all be subjective, though -- isn't beauty in the eye of the beholder? Laura hits a number of things that I think are important and notes the subjectivity of this topic. There isn’t one “correct” answer. So let’s take a look at what other people think goes into a good pot. Physical Characteristics Some comments focused on the physical characteristics of a pot. Nurture_massage07 If it has no cracks in it. Or if it comes out of the kiln the way you wanted or better. Dowidat.ceramics When the foot and lip look cohesive and it makes it through the firing without cracks and come out to the point where I'm ok to make 100 more! Evesib_travel If the pot is as you imagined it to be when you were creating it and of course if it has no major technical issues like cracks Mimiho_cat Well balanced, feel warm in touching, clarity in lines, less is more in decorations???? Michelle C How it feels in my hands when I close my eyes. Proper Function Related to the physical characteristics, some people specifically mentioned proper function. Dmpottery Everything @pettypottery_nc said + structurally sound as required by the pots intended function Cal_pot A good pot is one that does what it was created to do. It if is supposed to hold water, then a good pot is one that holds water. It’s hard to argue with these two responses. A pot, by definition is a functional object. But do pots have to be functional? Can you make a pot strictly as a work of art? Or is an object no longer a pot if it doesn’t function as a pot? What You Feel or Take From the Pot Some comments were about how the pot makes you feel. Jclaypotterystudio When you want to hold it. When you imagine it in your home. When it's function is spot on or even many. Eclectstudio If it's loved!! (By someone other than family ?) Stevepl13 If you like it, it's good Bytheseastudio When you first see a pot and you get this overwhelming feeling of excitement through your body. You are basically moved by its presence. Martha H It calls to you! Favorites These last few responses were my favorite. Pettypottery_nc For me I know a pot is good when things start popping into my head, ideas, phrases, questions, smells, memories, names, people, places, feelings. A pot is good if it sparks something within me. I love this response. I feel that a lot of my favorite pots have stories to go with them. Whenever I use certain pots I remember a special event or getting to know the maker or a certain image or feeling. Hughespottery How about it's got good balance in its form, no unbroken curves, the continuity of line in its visual composition. The parts are all thought out. Foot, body shoulder neck, lip, surface and attachments.The proportions and relationship of all those parts. Its practicality or impracticality of use. Or we can go with "it's now fired