Tuesday, November 16, 2010

The very, very, very, very,very bad day

Yesterday was a completely mind numbing day. I had a ton of stuff to Raku fire for holiday shows, I like Raku for the holidays, it's so sparkly and different. I should have sat down on the sofa and read a good book when, first thing, I dropped a sculpture and broke it in half, but no, I went on out to the kiln and fired cycle after cycle, work over fired sitting right beside work that under fired, same glaze same shelf, I dropped pieces and broke them, ears broke off of really cute sheep, dependable glazes fired miserably, I lost about 60% of the work I fired. I did get one really great bowl and a few very nice ornaments, but really, the loss is enough to make you want to give up Raku altogether. I'll post pics when I go back out to clean up. It got dark on me and I left the carnage where it lay. Oh and to top off a really bad day, I got the thin "thank you so much for applying, but....." letter from the Durham Arts Council, fourth year in a row I didn't get the emerging artist grant. I give up on that fucking thing, how many years can I be an emrging artist anyway? I haven't a clue what those people want, something I don't have obviously! So, I'll leave you with my very favorite poem, as I start my day with more reliable terra sig work to do!

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even to the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

14 comments:

Sister Creek Potter said...

Look up. Apple says today will be the day you'll remember forever--something great is going to happen today. Watch for it (not Apple's great day but YOURS!) Take a deep breath, smile and march right out there!

Lori Buff said...

Today will be a better day.

Linda Starr said...

owch ! some of these losses are really hard to take aren't they. Boy, oh boy, it's in the air lately, my post is along the same lines, and I noticed several others were too, sometimes I wonder why I work in clay, then I'm back at it again. Here's to better days all around !!!

Anonymous said...

sorry to hear about the losses... sometimes it seems that things start out in a certain direction and for some reason, there's no reversing that direction. hope today's better, i like those red dots next to the houses in the previous post

Hollis Engley said...

Hang in there, Trace. We all know how good you are. Some days, though, we're better off staying in bed.

Laura Farrow said...

hug, smooch! here's to the most amazing wood firing next weekend! xo

Judy Shreve said...

sorry about your day & your losses. I'm afraid to unload my kiln this morning because it seems - your losses are among many other bloggers losses -- are the stars lined up wrong or something! YIKES.

Hope today is better! :))

Anonymous said...

Wahhhhhhhhhh! Things will get better.

Regarding the grant process...you might ask if reviewer comments/assessments are available to applicants. This can be very enlightening. Hard to read sometimes...but useful for the next time 'round.

Tracey Broome said...

Thanks guys! fortunately in the light of day, I have assessed the losses and it was mostly little things that I don't really like making, so I am re thinking why I make them anyway, and maybe this was the pottery God telling me to stop and move on to bigger and better!

eduardo bara egan said...

Trace:
I have been following your blog for a while, don't mind..just sweep all the broken ones ,dig a pit,shovel some earth over,shake out the dust and forget that all happened. Do better and more beautiful works, the broken ones were not ment to be..
Eduardo

cindy shake said...

Sending you a giant Polar Bear Hug...to be followed with a Alaskan Amber chaser!! Just read that Cinderelish had a crap firing too :o( kiln gods conspiring??

ang design said...

yeh walk away...no rhyme no reason for it!! and 5 apparently you can be an emerging artist for 5 years so 1 more to go trace..:)) oh an you'll love this WF for today fluck........

cookingwithgas said...

ang! summed it all up!
Better days ahead- and funny I just came across the last time we applied for a grant.
Of course- we did not get it.
Just buckled down and kept going.
forgetaboutit!

Hannah said...

Pants day. I don't know that poem but it's a cracker, thanks for that, I shall file it for future reference.
Deep breath and best wishes,
H