Function and Form
Part I - 2/6/2022
Pottery is an intriguing artform. Where other artists produce pieces largely intended to appeal to visual aesthetics alone, the potter gets to consider how the weight, texture, form, and function of their pieces will interact with the owner in practice. This is an aspect of functional wares that might largely escape the notice of those who buy them but, nonetheless, is likely something the creator gave considerable thought. How easy is this form to reproduce? How does it feel when it is held? How much food or drink can it hold? Is it fragile or sturdy? How do I feel when I look at it or use it? How well does it fulfill its purpose? These are all questions we should be asking as both creators and consumers.
The Mug
I have to confess; this isn't a purely random thought. Lately, I have been transfixed by the idea of a mug. Once this mug was completed, I felt that there was something different about it. It isn't pretty, technically complex, or visually striking. It's almost mundane to be honest. But, nonetheless, when I pick it up I don't want to put it back down. I took this mug to work with me and found myself holding on to it long after my coffee reserves had been depleted. It was a pleasure to hold. It has a tactile magnetism that compels you to interact with it. Some might say that this sentiment is obsessive, but I believe there's a part of everyone that years for functional objects to fit *just right*. It's like the recliner your dad sleeps in or that old tee-shirt you wear to bed every night. Why should pottery be any different?
“Make pots that entrance, enchant, and beguile the holder.”
A mug is much more than an object, it is an idea. The mug itself is held and set down, its contents consumed, and purpose fulfilled, but the idea lives on in the subconscious. Most ideas are picked up and set down as easily as the objects that embody them, but some stay with you. They echo through the chambers of our minds. They call to us. Your mugs should embody an idea that the holder doesn’t want to put down. That’s what keeps us coming back. Make pots that entrance, enchant, and beguile the holder. I don't think that there's a one size fits all mug or bowl that's right for every person out there, but I do think that there are qualities we can imbue our works with that appeal to this part of people.
Whatever we produce, we ought to ask ourselves "how does this make me feel?" "If I took this bowl home, would I share it with my family?" I want to make dishes people claim as their own. This certainly runs contrary to the idea of selling as many pots as possible, but I would much rather pass on the experience. Everyone ought to have a favorite mug.
With that said, this will mark the beginning of a series of posts focusing on the physical and aesthetic qualities that are crucial to the function and form of functional wares. I hope that this collection will provide you with a bit of food for thought and fresh ideas in your own journey toward making the perfect pot.