I decided to watch some of the other courses I have through the ceramic school and OMG! I forgot how good the Ceramic Conferences are! Especially the Canadian content one. Of course, I am biased and proud of my country, but the information, artists, and work to look at are wonderful!

Watching this gave me so many things to think about regarding what I want to say with my art. Do I have anything in particular to say, or can I just make because I love it? How much more do I need to practice to be as good as some of these artists?

Do I need to make sculptural work, or will my work as a functional artist be “enough”? Does functional work matter, or only sculptural work or more artistic work?

Can ceramic work be beautiful and worth being awed at, honoured, if it is simply used for everyday, common purpose or does it have to be for display and special honour? Sort of like the idea of class systems within our human work, when people work white collar jobs vs blue collar jobs and the disdain that some people feel toward one kind of work vs the other. How do our biases influence what we think about various types of art or functional pots as well? Does that influence us in what we make or how we make it?

Thanks to Joshua and Carole Epp and the rest who worked on that.

I strongly suggest that those in the CRMX course go and watch some of the clay congress workshops and get some inspiration, especially if you are stuck. It may give too much inspiration and questions, but it may be exactly what you need. So good!

Please add to the discussion in regards to my questions above. I would love to hear your thoughts and input!

@caroleepp

@joshuacollinson

#claycamp

#ceramiccongress2021

#canadianceramics

#inspiration