[Clayart] pricing

[sumi]

I don't know, Mel, I think you are being too harsh. Maybe Minnesota is 
different because everybody wants to be a professional studio potter, 
but what I see here is that the transition from student to studio potter 
is really hard. A young college graduate has $500 a month in student 
loans and pays $1000 a month for a tiny apartment - forget buying a farm 
and putting kilns all over the property, they can't even put an electric 
kiln in the apartment. And a student in mid-life who wants to transition 
to pottery as a second career may have a house in the city where they 
can put an electric kiln, but a gas kiln is out of the question. I think 
community art centers have a role to play in helping these folks make 
the transition.

Sumi
> we just had a big minnetonka studio tour and sale.
> but, not a studio in the bunch...they sold from their homes.
> back yards...the pots are made at the art center...every one.
> they sell a ton.  pretend to be serious home studio potters.
> not a home kiln in the bunch.  (maybe one gal is firing at home..
> damn fine potter.  she came of out the melvin school)
>
> that playing field is not level.  it is like people that gather at the
> junior college clay room...fill all the classes...pay a fee, have full
> use of the studio, ready made.  clay, glazes and kilns.  often the 
> teacher
> loves it...becomes a club.  out to lunch with the gang...and the
> classes are always full.  no room for new people however.
> (this is metaphor, there are huge regional differences, but by
> in large, i am dead on.)