How much should we suffer for Art?

 Here is a pic of my buddy Captain Brian Nettles in Mississippi on the move to avoid Hurricane Sally. Brian has suffered for Art more than most of us will ever dream of. He lost his home, studio., marriage and the whole nine yards to Katrina. He lived in his Anagama for 2 years while he rebuilt his home and studio.  Now with Corona 19 and Sally he is packing up and on the move again.  This ain't fair.


I have a couple of friends in Mississippi I'm big time worried about. Brian Nettles and Lisa Watson. God damn it I hope you two people that I love are OK. 

The Orange Stain  on the American Flag denies climate change. Really Donny, WTF why is California on fire and the south being bombarded with hurricanes?

Lisa and Brian be safe and well. Keep the hatches secure. I'd be there if I could. Love ya both! T

Comments

Anonymous said…
The Agony and the Ecstasy

“It explained to me the commitment that you have to have in order to be a craftsman.”
September 14, 2020 at 6:01 PM
Anonymous said…
You use the phrase that you suffer for your art every time you experience a luxury. Take note, these are people really having to deal with issues to make art. How do you get off posting it every time you eat a lobster or have a bourbon? Some people really do have to endure all kinds of awful shit to keep creating. Take note. You are not the center of the universe.
September 14, 2020 at 7:20 PM
Anonymous said…
"Qu'ils mangent de la brioche"
September 14, 2020 at 7:35 PM
Anonymous said…
Seriously dude! You use that phrase suffering for your art all the time. Do you have any idea what it is to actually suffer for it? To go through a hurricane and actually lose it all, everyfuckingthing?? Suffering to make art is not about eating and drinking and traveling to all kinds of spectacular places. It actually is about people who really do go through all kinds of odds to make art. What do you think makes you so special that you are suffering to make art?
September 14, 2020 at 7:36 PM
James said…
Suffering for ART........now you know what that actually means.
September 14, 2020 at 7:40 PM
Anne said…
Prayers that they survive this one. Some have lost so much or everything. You may have met the cople that moved to Star Eddy and Ann who lost their business down in New Orleans. Losing everything, starting again, that would be a horrible thing to go through, talk about suffering. I hope these people will be okay through this one.
September 14, 2020 at 7:54 PM
Anonymous said…
Melania Trump is America's Marie-Antoinette.

Donald Trump is America's Louis XVIII.

Will Trump show up and toss paper towels to the crowd this time, or will it be cake.
September 14, 2020 at 7:58 PM
Anonymous said…
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
September 14, 2020 at 10:22 PM
Anonymous said…
A meeting place for folks who have some affiliation with Canada and Ceramics....

https://www.facebook.com/groups/canadianceramics/

September 14, 2020 at 10:53 PM
Anonymous said…
For the others commenting here, do you really not understand sarcasm? Obviously when Tony gets to do something fun and says he is suffering for his art he is poking fun at himself and pointing out how good he has it. When he talks about suffering for your art by persevering in spite of a hurricane, he is not being sarcastic. Don’t you have someone less wonderful to go harass?
September 15, 2020 at 5:31 AM
Anonymous said…
I do love a good celebrity roast.
September 15, 2020 at 12:33 PM
Tony Clennell said…
Seriously Dude Anonymous. You seem to follow my travels, lobsters et all and it leaves your gotchies in a twist. Go away! I don't know you well enough to miss you although it seems you might miss me. What matters to me is that Brian and Lisa know how sincere I am in my concern for them. We have been in contact. I wrote a post early onset Covid which a friend called a " Tony Pity Party Post". I will never write about the shit in my life again. I have had peaks and valleys as a craftsman for over 40 years. Most that know me beyond my writing know it isn't all lobster.
Good bye Dude Anonymous whoever and wherever you are.
T
PS: I too enjoy a celebrity roast. They are not done anonymously and usually always by friends.
September 15, 2020 at 1:45 PM
DebVZ said…
I am frequently dumbfounded by the weird ass comments made on your blog. They don't even seem related to your content. All that said, I enjoy your blog very much and love seeing your work. I play with clay as a hobby...a rank amateur but I appreciate reading about your process and artist life. Be well.
September 15, 2020 at 4:26 PM
Tony Clennell said…
Dear DebVZ. Firstly thank you for acknowledging who you are. We all started as rank amateurs and then our friends and relatives got so much of our pottery they didn't want anymore and we had to start selling it. All the best on your clay journey. It is long with some paved roads and lots of gravel roads. Best,T
September 15, 2020 at 6:05 PM
Linda Starr said…
Perhaps you didn't hear about all the so called woke antifa blm protester arsonists starting the fires in all those west coast states recently, dozens arrested, many more have eluded detection (yeah I've seen video on twitter of homeowners showing folks with matches, molotov cocktails, and the like on their own property starting the fires). Guess you don't recall when loggers and logging companies wanted to clear cut specific sections of forest who were thwarted in their businesses, efforts, and jobs, because they wanted to thin the forests, this was back in the 80s and 90s and they were prevented from doing so by the greenies, sierra club, etc. due to the spotted owl habitat, etc, etc, etc. reasons that now pale in comparison. Wonder how much habitat is left for those spotted owls now, and yes I actually care about those owls. Yeah I lived there then so I know all too well, the political fights which ensued then. Now I cry for all the humans who couldn't drive fast enough, and all the critters who couldn't run fast enough to elude the flames. Dh worked on fires in CA; you don't want to know the horror or devastation of what happens or is left on the ground in a forest fire. Clear cutting certain locations actually creates fire breaks and prevents huge swaths of forest from being decimated by out of control fires. I myself used to be against clear cutting when I lived in California because I thought it's appearance was a scar on the beauty of the forest, but now I see the absolute need for it for the benefit of saving human life, animal life, and forest preservation. As far as climate change, it always changes, sans humans, just ask the dinosaurs. I weep for all the human life and homes, businesses, animals and forest habitat lost in the west needlessly. Probably my post will be deleted here but I feel compelled to speak out for truth. Posts like mine always seem to be deleted, like the ones on fb, twitter, google and the like cause they don't fit the narrative. How much do we suffer, we suffer till we respect and learn from history and the past. and yes I have friends living in all the western states as we speak.
September 15, 2020 at 8:37 PM
Anonymous said…
Linda: Your post will not be deleted. It is not hurtful or about farting women or how Geezus will save me. I understand what you are saying and it is interesting. I have only lately started deleting comments as they are so off whack I absolutely am flabbergasted that these people pick a pottery blog to unravel on. Also Linda you always sign your name. You wear your scars on your chest not your back.
You and I have agreed and disagreed for a long time but have always been respectful. Be well and safe. T
September 16, 2020 at 5:14 AM
Anonymous said…
Throw truth bombs!

The truth has power!

JB.
September 16, 2020 at 2:43 PM
JLK Jewelry said…
So glad to know that Brian is back in his studio working and that the storm missed him. Hoping it is not devastating for those to the east of him.
September 16, 2020 at 6:26 PM
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