a potter's courage

Art takes courage.  Art, in the form of putting brush to canvas or pen to paper- puts the artist's thoughts, feelings and, in a way their soul, in a visual format for all to see- exposing oneself to the world.  I think the same thing is true with putting hands to clay.  With painting, drawing, and even writing there is an intermediary between the artist and the artwork.  There is a brush between hand and canvas; there is a pen (or keyboard) between the mind, fingers, and the page....but with clay, with tactile clay, it is a direct interaction.  Our hands are in direct contact with our medium.  Our mind, body and spirit come forth through our fingertips into the clay itself.  When we are happy, sad, depressed, frustrated…our pots are imbibed with our emotions.  It may not be as apparent as with a painting on the wall but…it is there.  Our emotions, as potters, get wrapped up in our work, just as the painter, the writer, and the musician.  It may not be on the surface in some cases, but it is throughout the entire pot.  Is there less emotion in a plain and simple functional pot than the well-adorned decorative piece?  I think not.  It takes just as much courage to sit down at the wheel with hand and water to form both pieces.  

Courage comes in many forms.  We don't all have to run into a burning building to have courage.  We all struggle each day with our own demons- work, relationships, motivation, creativity...I could go on.  And it takes courage to get up each morning and face the trials and tribulations of the day.  It takes courage move beyond our struggles in relationships- to forgive, to embrace, to start a new one, or to simply walk away.  It takes courage to find the motivation to push us toward the wheel, the page, or the piano.  It takes courage to learn new things. It takes courage to throw bigger, taller, thinner.  It takes courage to decorate and embellish.  It takes courage to put creative spirit in art. It takes courage to pull emotion out of the soul and into the clay. 

Whether you are an artist or you simply enjoy art, remember what it took for the maker to produce what you love.  Remember, that each mug you hold has a piece of us in it.  There is a connection between you and the maker- and that is why, I think, potters love to make pots.  To forge new connections not only between the clay but also between the people who use the clay.  And that is not an easy thing to do.  It takes courage to put oneself out there for all to see.  Art and life takes courage.