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art or craft

Charlie Knighton

Charlie Knighton

Joined
Jan 20, 2006
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art or craft

it sometimes amazes me, that when you put a name on a turning people read all kinds of things into the piece. the turning will mean one thing to me and for some reason, (an image in the wood, the weather, how i got the wood ) something triggers a name. when i enter these pieces in a mixed show, i have some of the strangest conversations about the piece. most of the pieces in the show are pictures from oils or watercoloring, some photos, weaving, glassware, and pottery, etc. all those entrants have names also and they mean something to the artist and something else to the viewer.. not really sure where i am going here...
 
We view most/all aspects of "reality" through a filter called "perception". Everyone's filter is a little bit different, so different folks perceive different things from their side of their individual filter. The classic example is that multiple witnesses to the same event often tell very different stories of what happened.

Also note that those stories often have considerable emotional content. As do most "about the artist" pieces I have read. Not sure if this is relevant to your post Charlie.
 
Charlie,
I got the impression that some of the comments troubled you. Try to (pretend to?) listen and smile. Everyone sees through their own eyes - hence MY comments.
I had the good fortune to see Malcolm Tibbets do demonstrations a couple of years ago... He names everything.
In one session he mentioned RE-naming a piece so that a customer would be more comfortable with it.

Words have meaning. It's almost like the name is not just an identifier, but like it is art unto itself... To me, that offers an additional dimension and an additional opportunity for comment on the piece itself.
I named one piece "Lumpy," because it got VERY lumpy as it dried (Apple crotch) and it has continued to distort as it has dried. I named a piece of rock maple burl "suspenders," because the figure went up in a "V" over the shoulders of the piece.
There have been a couple of other named pieces, but I generally don't name them unless they tell me they want it.

In the end, I feel like comments from viewers are little more than their attempt to verbalize their connection to/impressions of the piece. What really matters (to me) in that environment is if they take the piece home or not.
 
naming a piece

I have only named one piece called " fear factor"-an oak burl natural edge bowl whose crevice went right down to the middle of the foot. It sold quickly!!!😀 Gretch
 
I can't recall naming any of my bowls, but I did do it all the time when I was a young starving artist!😀

Giving a name is like opening a door for the viewer......it gives his creative mind "traction", and thus "feeling". When that sense is energized within him (her), it excites artistic appreciation......and even passion!

Some of you may think this is just a bunch of hogwash......but, I can relate to it.

ooc
 
Texian - good word perception -- I did a piece titled Inclusion and the show had entrants of different ethic background, the piece had sapwood inclusion that was highlighted with black top and foot -- the piece meant different things to different people

Mark - I agree, “keeping the name simple” is very important

George - “Words have meaning. It's almost like the name is not just an identifier, but like it is art unto itself... To me, that offers an additional dimension”
I believe that would be the 4th dimension.

Gretch - “It sold quickly” I can relate to that name and the piece sounds outstanding.

Joe - they tell me I came from Buffalo, my first perceptions are from here in Virginia

Odie - “Giving a name is like opening a door for the viewer” - true and cool


😀:cool2:
 
Joe, i guess it was more of a statement than a question to start out.
it sometimes amazes me, that when you put a name on a turning people read all kinds of things into the piece
Click to expand...

then you asked
There might be more replies if anyone could be sure where you are coming from.

Joe
Click to expand...

i answered
Joe - they tell me I came from Buffalo, my first perceptions are from here in Virginia
Click to expand...

your Icosahedron Ball with Volcanoes amazes me. i am just starting to move axis around, i look into your gallery and see there is quite a jouney to fargo
 
I almost never name any pieces. One exception was a vase with 3 captive rings; I called it "Oops" because one of the rings escaped (not enough interference at the lip). The Icosahedron Ball is named for just what it is, not anything more. And it amazes me, too; I looked at it a while back, at wondered if I'd actually made it. It's on temporary loan to a gallery near Tallahassee, with some other stuff from our WT club.

Thanks for your assessment. The detailed procedure is in the link, but it requires logged-in membership for viewing images, same as here.

Joe
 
for what's it's worth I 've named a few pieces but just a few. I turned a natural edge piece that had a screw in it, I finished the piece and put the screw back in it "Screw Bowl" sold as sone as it was displayed

"Moose Vase", "Little Pig" and "Marvin" all got a chuckle and were thought to be cool.

And the one my daughter won't let me live down..."Chocolate Mint Storm" had to have a name for a theme specific gallery showing, what can I say.

Frank D
 
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