Robin Sadek Ascher
7 Oakstwain Road
Scarsdale, NY 10583
(914) 725-4036
roba24@aol.com
"Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows
up."
~ Pablo Picasso
I have been trained and trained and trained to throw the perfect pot, in Japan
and California and New York. I grew up and still live surrounded by things of
great beauty and perfection. Yet the ceramic pieces that call to me are the
ones made by children. I like the finger marks, the precarious balance, the
innocent swirling of colors. I like to remember the pride on their faces when I
opened the package and first wondered at the object found. The other pieces
of art I love are the ones with a story attached, a handed down story from a
friend or relative, or something made by someone I know. Preferably, someone
I love. Isn’t that what we are all looking for when we read the information on the
museum wall, check the title, read books and watch films about artists’ lives?
We are looking for something personal.
These very personal one-of-a-kind pieces are me in 2006, still discovering the
wonder of the ceramic medium thirty-four years after going to Japan. I have
finally let go of trying to make something that could have been made better in a
factory. That doesn’t impress anyone in my family, who are all ceramic
designers and importers. What sends them is that it comes from me and it is full
of the joy of my creative process.
I am a fabric designer and sometimes it shows in the patterns and textures of
my artwork. A lot of the time however, my artwork is a reaction to all the years
of cleaning up designs and putting them in perfect repeat. The only time I ever
walked out on a garment manufacturer client was when he wanted me to
change a design in our fabric library by Henry Moore. I said, “You can’t change
that. It’s the way Moore drew it.” The customer said, “I don’t care. I am a better
designer than Henry Moore.” I said, “Good for you. Draw your own design.” I
packed up my bag and left. I could have explained the legalities of the situation,
and made him or found him another design that was similar, but I just couldn’t
let him get away with disrespecting Moore’s creation. Somehow it was personal.
I am the woman who was accepted to Stamford and went to Santa Cruz; who
was accepted to medical school and decided to study sculpture instead; who
could be making lots of money in the garment center, but instead is teaching
teenagers and making art. I hope that when you live with these pieces, you will
look at them and remember to take the road less traveled and be yourself.
7 Oakstwain Road
Scarsdale, NY 10583
(914) 725-4036
roba24@aol.com
"Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows
up."
~ Pablo Picasso
I have been trained and trained and trained to throw the perfect pot, in Japan
and California and New York. I grew up and still live surrounded by things of
great beauty and perfection. Yet the ceramic pieces that call to me are the
ones made by children. I like the finger marks, the precarious balance, the
innocent swirling of colors. I like to remember the pride on their faces when I
opened the package and first wondered at the object found. The other pieces
of art I love are the ones with a story attached, a handed down story from a
friend or relative, or something made by someone I know. Preferably, someone
I love. Isn’t that what we are all looking for when we read the information on the
museum wall, check the title, read books and watch films about artists’ lives?
We are looking for something personal.
These very personal one-of-a-kind pieces are me in 2006, still discovering the
wonder of the ceramic medium thirty-four years after going to Japan. I have
finally let go of trying to make something that could have been made better in a
factory. That doesn’t impress anyone in my family, who are all ceramic
designers and importers. What sends them is that it comes from me and it is full
of the joy of my creative process.
I am a fabric designer and sometimes it shows in the patterns and textures of
my artwork. A lot of the time however, my artwork is a reaction to all the years
of cleaning up designs and putting them in perfect repeat. The only time I ever
walked out on a garment manufacturer client was when he wanted me to
change a design in our fabric library by Henry Moore. I said, “You can’t change
that. It’s the way Moore drew it.” The customer said, “I don’t care. I am a better
designer than Henry Moore.” I said, “Good for you. Draw your own design.” I
packed up my bag and left. I could have explained the legalities of the situation,
and made him or found him another design that was similar, but I just couldn’t
let him get away with disrespecting Moore’s creation. Somehow it was personal.
I am the woman who was accepted to Stamford and went to Santa Cruz; who
was accepted to medical school and decided to study sculpture instead; who
could be making lots of money in the garment center, but instead is teaching
teenagers and making art. I hope that when you live with these pieces, you will
look at them and remember to take the road less traveled and be yourself.
