Musing hopefully before a witty response to Andrew's thread appears.

Amazing how so much else hyped as "art" involves the unconventional, unrecognizable or the downright offensive, sometimes literally showing one's ass to the world. Here, as noted, we must remain conventional with "sanded to 100000, it's .0001 thick, weighs 4 grams and is certifiably useless, as it will scarcely stand on its own." Not to worry, Arch, critiques will take place in members only places, two of which already exist, with the moderators of same maintaining decorum in deforum for 'em.

My morning's between laundry loads bureau dish and salad bowl will never see paper beyond 400, and will never stand inside glass, but the crockpot full of chicken soup fixin's which is tempting my nose as I have lunch is a true work of art ... think I'll tumble some baby ports in for grins.

Actually, this speaks directly to the topic, Arch. A bowl is a bowl is a bowl, yes? It has certain aspects of "BOWL" that defines it's very essence and raison d'etre. There is a function to being a bowl, and the form of "BOWL" thus follows that function- true? This is not to denigrate those of us clunk-makers, for if our clunks fit the essence of "BOWL", then it is certainly no more a cup or platter and no less a bowl.

Your comment, although intended as perhaps slightly flippant and witty, has a kernel of truth and honesty within, and imparts a valuable point there for those who read beyond the written words to the intent... to me, it says "Define the form". Set a definition of "BOWL", when is it a bowl and not a cup, platter, vessel, dish, trencher?

The comment advances the thread in a slightly skewed (ObTurning) direction, albeit unintentionally.

Answers- now those I have aplenty. It's the questions I don't always know. The wit, half or otherwise, is almost always appreciated for those same reasons you spoke of, especially adding to the comaraderie. It lends a personality to a name on a blank screen, gives a fuller image of WHO "Arch" is as a person that mere words or a photo cannot do.

I don't think the interjections need to be critiqued- added on to, ignored, topped, perhaps. These are the seasonings that add flavor to the words on a page. Like properly seasoned foods- there is no need to bring attention to them, but without their presence all would be bland and tasteless.

Of course, I could be wrong. I'm just a curmudgeon-in-training.

Regards, vic

Hi George, Speaking to a part of your comment about art being unconventional/recognizable. I visited Chicago Museum of Art sometime back. In one room there was a small shelf about 3' from the floor, 4' long and about 3" wide. Silly me thought it was for putting a cup of coffee or something on. Well I looked and there was about 60 or cents in quarters, nickles and pennies all lined up in a row. Some person in front of me happened to get too close to the shelf and a buzzer/alarm went off. A guard, rather sheepishly asked the person to move away from the shelf. Apparently the coins laid out as they were, was - Art.

BTW, humor can work in critiques but one must be VERY careful. Too often the humor may not come across as intended. This is even more true IMHO when the humor tends to be relatively dry.

Hey, as I was hanging the laundry I remembered the government-supported "art" of the guy who put up a wall of sheets out in the desert. Anyone remember his name? Mentioned it to SWMBO when she got home, but she said my effort looked just like bedlinens. Liked the third popcorn bowl, though. No higher praise than a spouse who likes what you've done.

Apparently

Thanks for your input. Well you asked for it.... here are two ideas that reduce my critiquing to an absurdity, but could make my fortune: Arch's handy dandy portable three dimensional instant bowl critiquer.

I'm gonna pay as many experts as I can afford to collaborate on designing, turning, embellishing and finishing the perfect bowl. If both can ever agree on that I'll genuflect to several holy men on mountain tops for their philosophy about the bowl's message, meaning for man and wholesale price to Wal-Mart. I'll outsource knock-offs to the Far East so that every turner can afford one to contemplate as they strive for perfection. To be politically correct the instant critique will be assembled in the U.S. or U.K. while factories remain.

For cheapskate know-nothing DIY turners, you know their kind they use carbon steel tools and gloss deft, I will offer inexpensive moulds of my critiqued bowl, with optional exotic food safe plastic timber for making copies. No lathe that impedes their art is necessary.

I hope my good taste hides my greed, and this foolishment helps. 'G' if you need it.

Arch

Fortiter,

I believe it was Christo...an old school wrapper (wrapped bridges and buildings in sheets). He's doing another "covering" in New York's Central Park sometime in the near future.

Peter Teubel Milford, MA

That's the one!

Thought it was something like Christofer/pher, but first or last uncertain.

At sixty bucks a poster, some>

buildings in sheets). He's doing another "covering" in New

For cheapskate know-nothing DIY turners, you know their kind they use carbon steel tools and gloss deft, I will offer inexpensive moulds of my critiqued bowl, with optional exotic food safe plastic timber for making copies. No lathe that impedes their art is necessary.

Ruth

Not at all. If a guy can make millions with pictures of Campbell soup cans more power to him. I do kinda hope that if my turnings ever get to the point where someone actually wants to give me money for them, that someone, I hope, will have more money than common sense. ;)

-kevin

"Arch" wrote: (clip) I'll outsource knock-offs to the Far East so that every turner can afford one (clip) ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Arch, the chances are that the Far Eastern knock-off artists will discover your work and start knocking it off themselves. I suggest another approach: Make a limited number of copies of each of your bowls, number and sign them, and then destroy the mold. This lends "dignity" to the process, while maximizing profit at the same time. What could be better?

One of your best yet Arch! ROFL here!

I can see them now on late night TV infomercials !

Bertie

Arch

I think I have also asked this same question but not as eloquently - my statement was along the lines of - "Lighten up" This is supposed to be fun! Those of us wiht a brain need to be stimulated with ideas and convesation that helps us to gain an understanding based upon more than the written word - we also need attitude, wit and humor - so, please "Lighten Up - You all!"

Ray

===================== Ruth, Where have you been? I was beginning to think you had forsaken this bunch of heathens!

Ken Moon Webberville, TX

"Peter Teubel" wrote: (clip) I believe it was Christo...(clip) ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Yeah, I remember him--Monte Christo.

I saw the nylon fence he erected in Marin County (California)...never understood it, so it must have been "art."