Sharing Ideas | David Clark | Episode 980

David Clark | Episode 980

David Clark is a retired mailman who has been working with clay for over 30 years. Starting as a hobby clay is now as a small business that keeps David active and involved with a community of like minded artist who like to play with clay.

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Is there a threat if we are all sharing that our work is going to look like everyone else’s work?

I don’t believe that. I once went to a show with Mark Hewitt who apprenticed under Michael Cardew and he’s got apprentices under him and I said to him, You are creating your own competition here. Because at the sale there was six of his apprentices there at the sale. And he said, No, I am creating a tradition that carries on and just keeps on going. And if you don’t share that with someone it just dies. So basically the pots just keep living on through the apprentices.

Does it help you clarify your ideas as you are trying to teach it to someone else?

I think sometimes it does. But I think really the motivation is, like I said earlier, I should have asked these questions and so many teachers in pottery classes, it’s like, Okay, here’s how you center, here’s how you pull. And then they go walk off and don’t help the students. They are left to try to figure it out themselves. So if you can just give a little bit of tips on how to center and how to start pulling it can take them so much further. So that’s kind of my motivation. I want to help those people that aren’t asking the questions they should be.

Do you feel that the more people that learn at a higher level does it help, as they say, A rising tide rises all boats. Do you feel that it raises up then overall the community in general?

Absolutely. I started making stiff metal ribs and I sell them through my Etsy shop, I was given one by Mark Hewitt. And I could see the difference in my pottery. So I wanted them for myself but my thought is if other people can use these ribs and start making better pottery like you said, it raises everybody else up. I f everybody is making beautiful pottery yes, there will be more competition but then pottery will be more desirable for everybody.

Do you get the sense that sharing your ideas creates a stronger community?

I think the pottery community is just amazing to begin with. I think sure, it strengthens it but I have never had any issue with asking what glaze they did or how they were doing this or how they made that. I mean sometimes they would say, Hey, come on to the studio and I will show you what I am doing. They don’t care. They will show you how to do it. Part of that is just the community, It’s the pottery community.

In the Matrix there were some scenes where he was being downloaded different skills. What one clay skill would you download?

I didn’t realize you were going to say clay, I was going to say hit a golf ball real well. Clay skill. I guess for me it would be the desire to glaze because I hate glazing. If I had a nicer glaze for decorating because I’m not a decorator. I dunk that stuff and go to the next one. I don’t understand these people who can spend hours and hours on one piece. How do you sell that piece after you have just spent and hour and half carving and painting it? You create a relationship. So I guess more a of a desire to be able to decorate and glaze better.