Politics of Pottery

Pottery is political. Its something that I’ve heard a lot, especially this past year. When I first heard this I was resistant to the idea. I did not want to be making a political statement in my work. But as I’ve grown I’ve begun to understand and appreciate the fact that pottery is in fact political. 

Everything is political, and pottery is a part of everything. 

In conversations with other potters about the political nature of pottery I’ve heard many things about why. There is the counter culture nature to the lifestyle. The potters life is slow, or maybe not slow, but self directed at least. Being a potter is not a 9-5 job, it’s a lifestyle. The idea of the rugged individual against the world is rejected for a more community focused vision. 

That decision started with the hard choice to quit my job at Deneen Pottery. I had a good job, where I was respected, had health care, had a stable income. I also had/have a sizable amount of student debt. But I realized I would never be able to be my own potter if I was giving my labor to someone else 40 plus hours a week. It was a very hard decision to make. I was giving up a stable life for one that was going to be more precarious. I also acknowledge that my decision was made easier because of my friends and family who can and would support me.  

The fact of the matter is that I could have pursued this as a career full-time earlier if things like healthcare and student debt didn’t keep me at a 9-5.  And this is from me who has the privilege of a middle class white man. I believe that people should be able to make a career of what they are passionate about without the fear of defaulting on student loans or breaking an arm and losing their house because of lack of healthcare.