YAMMERINGS
Today is February 23, 2024. I thought I would dust off the blog feature of my website and start typing and seeing were things go. I really trying to push away the doubts and fears of starting something new that comes with this sort of thing, so here goes.
INSTAGRAM SADNESS
I’ve recently been mourning the loss of a curious, wholesome and explorative instagram. I feel that the app has turned into a slog of content, and has lost the grounding, communicative side. Too often are interactions quick and unintentional. I am saddened by the app constantly pushing as much content as possible. There is a lack of pondering and contemplation about a single post. Now, I’m not sure if this type of pondering content ever existed on Instagram, but I am thirsting for spaces where sharing of art and ideas can be a two way conversation.
WHAT TO DO?
I’ve realized that the quantity over quality model of Instagram does not work for me. My first reaction is to push away technology and the like and turn to the ways of a hermit, living off of fish and grits. But I often do this, fighting one extreme with another. This idea lends itself to all-or-nothing thinking, which is something I’ve been trying to avoid. Instead of a hermitage rejection of tech, I want to engage in a measured and intentional forms of communication. Things that take time for me to make and take time to people to engage with. I find that when I put meaningful time into a project, I am much more pleased with the result than if I half-@$$ed something. Heck, pottery is a trade full of steps, investment and intentionality. So shouldn’t I treat my publication of my craft the same way?
NEXT STEPS FOR ME
Planning out small, medium, and large sized media projects about my and other’s journeys in pottery. Small: making semi-weekly blog posts. This would be a great, low pressure way to keep writing about my craft, and have the writings available to the public. Medium: quarterly publication. I’ve already pushed out one hardcopy newsletter, The Potter Pauls Post. This takes some more investment in my part and pushes me to diversify different ways I can publish about my craft. I also want to have guest writers to help keep connections with other potters and craft-persons. Large: Video or Audio documentary. I would love to create a 30-min to an hour feature on either wood-firing or the Michiana Pottery Region. It might be helpful for me to start small, creating short 5 min segments about individual potters or pottery processes, and then compile them all into a longer feature. I look at the below video by Welsh potter Elin Hughes as inspiration.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Thank you for reading and I hope to continue these type of introspective writings in order to give you all a look behind the scenes and to sharpen my writing and communication skills.
potterpauls 