Influences and Other ceramics artists

First of all, there needs to be a one word description for "Ceramics artist".  Many of us use the word "potter" simply because it's easy and "sort of" tells folks what we do.  However, Pottery has generally been utilitarian ceramics kitchen ware and fall short of defining Ceramics Artist.  The word "Artist" is redundant but "Ceramatist" or "Ceramicer" are just not suitable.   Any ideas?

For this post I want to continue on a discussion I had with Rachel about influences.  In reality I know of almost no professional potters or ceramics artists.  I know a few local folks who show in Yakima and all of t hem are interesting, inspiring, and important to my connection to the ceramics field.  I think my greatest influence is beginning ceramics students.  They don't yet know what can't be done, so they are always challenging the field and discovering the constraints of clay.  I try to attend beginning ceramics students critiques just to see what strange approaches they are bringing to their work.  Usually their experiments fail, but their attitude and fearlesness are inspiring.  I find if I watch begnning students, it is as if I am testing my own assumptions about clay and clay construction.

Another interesting thing about the beginning students is that it is very risky giving them an opinion or advice.  I find that because they don't have a cultural background in clay (a knowledge base) if I tell them something they take it to heart and exceed my expectations.  For example if i tell them they need to throw bigger they will throw way bigger, or if I tell them to throw smaller they make minatures.  Also glaze suggestions are similar to speaking a different language.  They see in their minds what they want to hear when I tell them about a glaze out come and then become frustrated when my advise is so painfully lacking.  I've learned how to answer their questions about glazing and clays by rephrasing their questions so they will answer the question.

A final, and not very good reason for being challenged by the beginners is that they play very painfully poor and loud music in the classroom.  This challenges me to be accepting AND to give me practicing at ignoring their choice of music.  I have learned quite a lot about ignoring useless stumuli over the last year, and for that I think them.

Finally I should point out that Clay artistry goes way beyond simple technical knowledge.     Beginners bring their own cultural and ethical outlooks and these behaviors and philosophies are interesting to experience as the students artistic knowledge is developed. Their assumptions and development are inspiring, challenging, and full of information.  What more can I say?