Thursday, March 24, 2011

How do ya like them apples?

Oriental thinking, and indeed all pre-industrial thinking, knows that nature may seem hard-hearted and her laws inexorable and often cruel, yet she herself is the very raw material you are working with, and of which you yourself are necessarily a part. You therefore always have to treat her as your friend, as someone with whom you must somehow keep on good terms, or else you and your works will be no good. She is after all your mother, not an enemy to be subdued, or a slave to be violated.
-Michael Cardew

Speaking of apples, it makes one want to put down their brush entirely.

Cheers!

7 comments:

Scott K Roberts said...

Great! M.C. is one of my all time favorite potters, and as for as the "apples" go... Thanks

Tracey Broome said...

Love the apples and the quote. I would like to have know Michael Cardew, such an interesting person. I have read a lot about him and his work and have really enjoyed what I have read. This quote is one we should read once a week at least!

klineola said...

Good one Brandon. Is this from Pioneer Pottery?

SR: could be peaches?

brandon phillips said...

it's from his autobiography pionner potter (not to be confused with pioneer pottery.) a good read.

klineola said...

Do you mean the Garth Clark biography?

brandon phillips said...

no, it's hard to find. "a pioneer potter" is the title. I think it was put together by seth cardew.

used copies tend to be expensive...i got one off ebay for like $15. if you're interested in reading it i can send it to you.

it's an autobiography but stops sometime before he went to nigeria. i thought it was a good read.

found some on amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-Potter-Michael-Cardew/dp/0004122887

klineola said...

Fantastic!! Thanks for the tip! Found a copy on abe.com