Politics and Pots

Politics and Pots
by Thomas G. Turnquist
　
All of life consists of many things including politics. Clay is not void of politics by any
stretch of the wildest imaginations. Each and every potter or clay artist has views or twists
that they cling to with some passion. A high perecntage potters and clay scuptors tend to
lean to the left when it comes to American politics. If you are a conservative in your views
and mention that fact to some clay artists you become a cretin and racist in their
closed minds. I have run into this on several occasions. If you do not march to the
tunes of the left, you become a malaprop. One would think that artists would be or should
be open and eager to discuss all matters in an adult and calm venue. The world of American
clay must be a home for change and growth and not a filter that blocks selected opposing
views.
　
I have been collecting American pottery for thirty years. Not once did I buy an artist's
work based on age, gender, or color. The only thing of importance was quality of
work. It is the work not the politics. It is the creativity. No one needs to be involved
in pettifoggery.