Pottery, Politics and Art Introducing

Pottery, Politics and Art Introducing of the book: Pottery, Politics, Art Pottery is used as a mode of symbolic interaction and communication. The ancient remains are a perfect example of such type of communication. The remains of pottery have led to several different conclusions to their archaeologists. The different figures made out of pottery hold extreme significance.

As a matter of fact, the use of pottery in order to convey a message has been widely adopted by potters, but the foundation of using pottery in order to convey a message has been lid by the Kirkpatrick bothers. This book revolves around America's most acclaimed potters Kirkpatrick and George Ohr. The author analyzes how these potters have used their art as a medium to convey their message. The book discusses about the Kirkpatrick brothers and George Ohr. Kirkpatrick brothers owned a tile factory back in the nineteenth century.

These brothers are honored to have produced some of the best ceramic art during the nineteenth century. The main focus of these brothers was to target the untalented politicians, who had no regard for the art and craft and made lives difficult for the ones who did. These brothers took an active part in the American arts and crafts movement that was made in order to preserve the art at that time. Kirkpatrick bothers succeeded to be quite influential in their work, and as per Dr.

Mohr, they were the ones who influenced the famous potter George Ohr in his pottery. George Ohr, also known as 'The mad potter' was one of the most famous ceramic artists of United States of America. Much of the fame that he gained was due to his innovation and experimentation, which he did with clay. He introduced several unique types of clay designs and is righteously the 'Father of the American Abstract movement'. The first chapter of the book revolves around the political implications of the Kirkpatrick's pottery.

The main feature discussed in the first chapter of the book is the snake jugs. The idea behind the jugs may be two sided. As Kirkpatrick's are concerned, the snakes on the jugs, which are wrapped around the men engraved on the jug may be a metaphor used to discourage drinking. The snakes are somehow depicting the doom that all the men who are fond of drinking may face.

The other side of these snake jugs, as perceived by Mohr is that these jugs may be made to mock the drunk men, who loses their balance while they drink. An accurate idea of what these snake jugs depict is vague. The second chapter of the book discusses the event when the young George was introduced to the Kirkpatrick brothers, which had such a strong impact that influenced George Ohr work throughout his life. One thing that is worth mentioning in this chapter is that Mohr perception of Kirkpatrick brother.

The writer seems to be one sided. He wanted to depict Kirkpatrick brothers as the only ones with creativity. The fact was that during the Arts and crafts movement, there were many other artists whose work was similar to that of Kirkpatrick. Mohr seemed to have ignored this aspect of the era. It seems that Mohr was determined to make Ohr and the Kirkpatrick unique among the artist found in those times.

One other very important creation of the Kirkpatrick brothers as mentioned in the chapter two of the book is the pig flask. This pig flask was a subject of lot of controversies due to many reasons. The first most important aspect that received a lot of critique was the awkward design of the flask. Other than that, the brothers also used this flask in order to mock many known politicians and businessman of that time.

This dark humor that was behind that flask was nothing but embarrassment, particularly for the rich Victorian culture. However, Mohr, once again became defensive and proposed that this flask was a way that brothers help the world to visualize the different occupations found at that time. In short, the pottery by Kirkpatrick brothers conveyed many messages. It held a lot of importance during that time. In fact, the pottery acted as a political messenger and conveyed many messages which would have otherwise would have remained untapped.

For Mohr, if it wasn't for the Kirkpatrick brothers, the ceramic art would have not taken the form that it has now. The second part of the book also stresses on how the brother's pottery influenced Ohr's work. The author held's the ideas that the political element present in Ohr's work is very much linked with the work of Kirkpatrick brothers.

The author explains in this part that other than the Kirkpatrick work, much of Ohr work was somehow influenced by the other places he visited during his visits to different cities. For Mohr, Ohr transition into a modern potter has its roots in Kirkpatrick as well as other sources he came across during his visits. Opting for an opposite course of action is not an easy thing to do.

Just when the pottery of the nineteenth century was inclined towards the feminist side of the art, the bold step of Kirkpatrick brothers helped the world see the other side of the coin. The way they portrayed the social and political evils and pointed them out and expressed them in their pottery is just amazing. Their poetry helped the world see the different phases of American culture, rather than just focusing on architecture and fancy designs.

They not only criticized the evils, but also appreciated the glory and beauty that was found in the culture at that them. This book is written in order to praise the work of these great artists. According to the writer, much of Kirkpatrick and Ohr great work needs to be explored and put into limelight. The book emphasis on the creativity and confusion that were used by combined together by potters George Ohr and Kirkpatrick brothers, which resulted in something new and transformed into an exquisite piece.