Life as an Art Project

I've been called a project or a work in progress before. I love that as long as it's an Art Project and not a Science Project. I read this today written by Rob Bresney. He comes up with some good shit. YOUR LIFE IS AN ART PROJECT Time magazine asked Pulitzer Prize-winning historian David McCullough why he started writing a biography of Pablo Picasso but never finished it. McCullough said it was because the famous artist turned out to be boring. He attracted a steady flow of new lovers, and he made hundreds of aesthetically pleasing paintings, but he didn’t actually live an interesting life. I invite you to be the anti-Picasso. Put the emphasis on the quality of your adventures as much as on what you produce. Regard your life as a noble and inspiring work of art. I must confess I might have been boring up until 15 years ago when I embarked on my Mfa at Utah State. I was consumed by my work. No steady flow of new lovers. You're not going to believe this but it never crossed my mind. I was consumed by work. All work and no play makes Jack/Tony a dull boy. In the past 15 years I have been in Japan, China, Korea, Wales, Italy, Portugal, all over the US and Canada and have had a great time. When you know that your job is to make Art and get other people excited about their Art it makes for a wonderful life. For the longest time I blamed my town for being boring. My town didn't embrace clay like me. What's wrong with this picture? The answer "me!" Be more than a potter. I now take time in my pottery travels to do other things and because I have more depth in what I do I meet more interesting people. Books, cycling, cooking, gardening, philosphy and even lifes maintenance are topics I understand. I got invited to the dinner of one of the tellers at the Credit Union I deal with. I was the only customer invited for beer, wings and pizza. Why? Because I engage with them and make them smile everytime I enter the bank. It's my job! Beginners pottery classes could be considered beneath my skill level- 40+ years of making, an MFA, an RCA. Leave your ego at the door. Your job is to show them a good time, have them be successful and make conneirsurs of them.

So a week in the life of Tony Clennell involved a couple of beginning pottery classes, a ride with my buddy Dr. John followed by breakfast, a retirement party, a ride with the Railway City Cycling Club, some pot making, some great meals and I bought a new car. Moss doesn't grow on a rolling stone. Make Art! Make your life a piece of Art. Don't be boring like Picasso. Be more than that!

One of my 13 beginner classes in the past month.

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