My first day at Lill Street I was asked if I was a functional or nonfunctional potter. It was the first time someone tried to label my art. I realize that for many, the difference between functional and nonfunctional is the difference between crafter and artist. I’m always cognizant of this line. I think perhaps too cognizant.
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| Small bowl. Glazed and soda fired. |
Although I’ve been told many times that I always have something to say, the truth is I don’t, and when I don’t have anything to say with my art, I play with my clay and make functional forms. But lately, I’ve really not had much on my mind, so I’ve been making A LOT of functional pieces, and I’m feeling terrible about it, like somehow I’m not living up to my potential. I realize that it’s because I don’t want to be a crafter. For some reason that label bothers me. Maybe it’s because I’ve heard people use the label with a “less than” air about it, and now I’m feeling “less than” for what I’m doing.