Watkins, James C. 2009-11-20
James Watkins talks about his art work in ceramics, and how he came to be an artist. The interview is about his career leading up to and at Texas Tech University, as well as his career as an artist. He also discusses finding inspiration in his dreams, Eastern travels, martial arts and the land.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: James C. Watkins
Additional Parties Recorded:
Date: November 20, 2009
Location: Lubbock, Texas
Interviewer: Lynn Whitfield
Length: 01:07:13
Abstract
Video Start-up; Background; Born in Louisville, Kentucky, on May 28, 1951; Grew up in Athens, Alabama, in farming family; Family History; Undergraduate - Kansas City Art Institute, Graduate - Indiana University; Used old calendars as drawing pad in grandparents house; Encouragement from grandmother and mother; “Draw Me” magazine correspondence course (1st – 10th grades); College; Drawing and painting at Calhoun Community College in Decatur, Alabama; Discovered working with clay; Paul Moleski(?) – instructor introduced Kansas City Art Institute; Describes working with clay; Graduate school - people of influence; Ken Fergusson(?), Carl Martz, John Goodheart(?), and others; Teaching & TTU Career; Taught at Indiana University and Hampton University; Wife taught at TTU, and moved to Lubbock; Mackenzie Terrace Pottery Center (City of Lubbock); Taught courses in both Art and Architecture Departments; Student Guidance; Growth of the arts in Lubbock; Martial Arts Influence; Travel and its incorporation in art work; Eastern Ceramics; Techniques; Vietnam trips; Vietnam landscape in art work; Texas South Plains Influence; Dust storm firing techniques from local area; Rattlesnake Canyon; Bird forms on pot rims; Scale, Texture, Color & Technique; Scale importance - from childhood experiences (cauldron shapes); Dreams in work; “Serendipity” in certain techniques; Recognition as Horn Professor; White House Craft Collection; Books of work; Production of glazes; Recognition of work; Video Questions; Creative Processes; Use of land as a “theme” of inspiration in works (Cambodia, Vietnam); Creativity thru the use of dreams; Project Inspirations.
Access Information
Original Recording Format:
Recording Format Notes:
Transcript: No transcript available
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