Great Pottery Throw Down

Is anybody else watching this? Same old, same old formula for the programme, annoying judges and the statutory not-very-good contestant that goes out first. Having said that, the one thing that I think makes these programmes worthwhile is that they show quite well what is involved with any particular craft - that it takes practise, and that things don't come out perfectly, even when you are very accomplished. The formula is designed to appeal to mass viewing, but a good way of generating interest in the subject it covers.

Despite the comments I started with, I am enjoying the programme.

I wondered if anyone would be watching this.  It hasn't seemed to produce the popular reaction of bake off, but I guess baking is a much more accessible activity than pottery.  Much easier to find an oven than a kiln !

I haven't been watching it, though I do find pottery appealing.  But I must not collect any more time consuming hobbies ! There were some pottery / firing demos going on when we were at the Sutton Hoo craft fair, and we have been invited back again for the 2016 one*.   I plan to go, because it was great fun gathering together with a whole bunch of crafty people for a weekend of demos, chat and the odd drink by a fire.

As an aside, for those interested in pottery - my old college just (today) sent me this link:

http://www.oxfordanagama.org/

Anagama are traditional Japanese pottery kilns, and for reasons explained on the page (and because it's fun, but you rarely can use that argument for getting funding), the University of Oxford are constructing a couple in the woods out west of Oxford.


* Diary date: Cræftiga: The Sutton Hoo Festival of Craftsmanship, 9-10 April 2016.

I haven't watched it though I have done quite a bit of potting in my time. I suppose I just didn't fancy the same old formula. I watched bake off and the sewing bee from the first series but they have both suffered in later series from increasingly outlandish creations having to be produced in increasingly unrealistic timescales. The pottery one will inevitably go the same way - perhaps now is the time to watch it before it does. Wouldn't it be great to have somewhere to go and use facilities and equipment. When I lived in Kent back in the 70s I did both pottery and silversmithing at a local art college but alas I can't see those sort of opportunities ever happening again.

The teaching of ceramics in schools has been scaled right back over the decades. My other half and I were the first two art teachers in our county to have been trained specifically in ceramics when we started teaching at the beginning of the 80s. There was equipment in a lot of schools, and the opportunities to use it. Health and safety has had a lot to do with it. But I think the bottom fell out of the studio pottery market some years back as well - maybe it has just been less popular in general. Hopefully this series will renew an interest in pottery (but to be honest neither of us could bring ourselves to watch it!!)

Dandelion wrote: (but to be honest neither of us could bring ourselves to watch it!!)

I think I can understand that, Dandelion. I reckon I would feel the same if they are try making The Great Calligraphy Write-Off!

Shhhh Freebird - don't give them ideas!!!

freebird wrote:
I think I can understand that, Dandelion. I reckon I would feel the same if they are try making The Great Calligraphy Write-Off!

Hehe, I think the programme makers would LOVE that title!!

Have enjoyed Sewing Bee and been glad that people with solid technique seem to do pretty well in the long run. Bake Off I dip in and out of.