Art fairs and peacock feathers

Brad Sondahl

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Jul 16, 2001, 9:55:24 PM7/16/01

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It's my theory (well, Darwin's technically, but he was speaking of
things like beaks of finches) that the potters that thrive at art fairs
do so by using bold eyecatching colors and decorations. I don't know
whether this enhances their success at mating, but it does seem related
to why peacocks have bright plumage (okay, forget the mating. Well, try
to...)
The thing is, these bright bold pots, when purchased and returned to the
home habitat, suddenly look different. Most people don't decorate their
homes in bright bold colors (at least the ones I know. I don't doubt
there are other species.) I suppose the phenomenon is similar to
struggling valiantly to win a 5 foot pink teddy bear at a carnival. At
the time it seemed the right thing to do, but when you get it home...
So the question is, do you think art fairs bias customers towards the
gaudy?

--
For original art, music, pottery, and literature, visit my homepage
http://pages.about.com/bsondahl
Pottery homepage http://sondahl.freeyellow.com

DerekC

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Jul 16, 2001, 10:41:40 PM7/16/01

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"Brad Sondahl" <bson...@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:3B539A98...@earthlink.net...

Hey, anything that helps the mating! When you get to be over 50 you use all
the help you can get. Where d'you say you get those peacock feathers from?

But, no, I don't think bright attracts at art fairs. Most people who browse
these places have some idea of what is and isn't good pottery. Bright can
be, and often is, good pottery - but the more muted colours still attract
visitors. Most people aren't jackdaws.

DerekC, Gippsland, Oz

Christine A. Timchek

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Jul 18, 2001, 8:50:36 PM7/18/01

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If you pot as well as you write...my checkbook is out!

No seriously, you got me thinking how often I feel a bit jealous that my
"subtle" well shaped and nicely proportioned item doesn't get the oohs
and aahs the ugly duckling with the Raku glaze gets...

Using your metaphor: The intelligent girl with the warm heart sits at
home Saturday night, while the cold hearted Hannah with the blonde
tresses is on a date. Moral of the story: Clairol!

It takes another potter to appreciate art...the "peasants" will go for
bright colors!

C

ctimchek.vcf

Brad Sondahl

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Jul 18, 2001, 9:12:01 PM7/18/01

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I like your comment!
Brad

"Christine A. Timchek" wrote:

--

Slgraber

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Jul 18, 2001, 9:11:43 PM7/18/01

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i have found that fairs/shows where they have any number of vendors selling
dried flowers and/or tole painted wood DO NOT attract pottery customers. i
started using this coy question of what the other vendors had as an extremely
good way of sorting out good and bad shows.

also - stay away from shows with cars, chilli, or "cards" - the three C's.
they're not so good either.

>Subject: Re: Art fairs and peacock feathers
>From: "DerekC" ddth...@telstra.easymail.com.au
>Date: 7/16/2001 7:41 PM Pacific Daylight Time
>Message-id: <CjN47.2701$a04....@newsfeeds.bigpond.com>

steve graber

Chris

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Jul 18, 2001, 11:47:46 PM7/18/01

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Gee, I must be a peasant as I just love bright. I have given up stoneware
to concentrate on Med fire so I can get the colours. I still appreciate
the beautiful finish of stoneware but don't want to make it at the moment
(unless doing bonzai or when I need that look!!). At the craft fairs I find
the diversity that pottery offers on display, the public seem to know what
they like and buy accordingly. For me, all pottery if finished well is
beautiful, but I wouldn't necessarily want to buy most of it.
Chris

"Brad Sondahl" <bson...@earthlink.net> wrote in message

news:3B563367...@earthlink.net...

elk river pottery

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Jul 19, 2001, 11:03:23 AM7/19/01

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For a non-juried show, my no-go question is - 'beanie babies??'. A rural
phenomenon that is thankfully fading.
Jay
www.elkriverpottery.com/bird.htm

"Slgraber" <slgr...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20010718211143...@ng-fy1.aol.com...

Annemarie

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Jul 21, 2001, 5:03:56 AM7/21/01

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Ah don't worry Chris we will be peasants together. I do know what people
mean though, there can be some truely horrible stuff around that is just
bright with no other redeeming features, but bright underglazed pottery can
also be good pottery. I think the thing I hate the most is the slip cast
bisque ware that you can buy decorated with underglaze and sold as pottery.
Now that really gets me :o)
Its all in the eye. I have been using porcelain, grogged raku clay for
large pieces, and white clay with underglaze lately, so :o) variety is the
spice of life.
Annemarie

"Chris" <chr...@inspire.net.nz> wrote in message
news:eIs57.3380$pj4.3...@news02.tsnz.net...

Slgraber

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Jul 21, 2001, 10:48:16 AM7/21/01

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are people overseas STILL into those god-awful sunflows decaled pots like here
in the states?

i was at a show once where a women was admiring a bowls and all she could say
was "if only there was a sunflower on it"...

she didn't buy the bowl...

>Subject: Re: Art fairs and peacock feathers

>From: "Annemarie" annemari...@paradise.net.nz
>Date: 7/21/2001 2:03 AM Pacific Daylight Time
>Message-id: <VNb67.3976$pj4.3...@news02.tsnz.net>

steve graber