By: Earnest G. Surfingway • Ceramics by: Gill I. Kaufman
Lets say we have a good idea and we want to express it. How do we manifest the idea into reality? Let’s break it down into three steps. Think of it as a slide projector. The good idea is like a slide in the projector. In order to bring the idea into focus on the screen, we need a lens. The lens is analogous to our means of expression—our thoughts, emotions, speech and ability to act. Finally, in order to project the slide onto the screen, or the idea into the world, there must be a source of light. Passion is the light that projects the image of a good idea into the world, where it becomes real.
The ancient Hawaiians and indigenous Polynesian native cultures originally revealed the idea of surfing. They saw the breaking waves and the dolphins dancing, and envisioned themselves sliding along the surface. The expression was pure; the joy that was felt was divine and eventually spread outward when Duke Kahanamoku shared the sport of Kings with the rest of the world. In doing so spread joy and happiness or “stoke” into the hearts of countless souls yearning for the love breath that a child inherently shares with others.
The Hawaiians and Native cultures Understood “Aloha,” that giving is receiving and visa versa. They had no concept of ownership; therefore, the essence of surfing at its root was “egoless” and unselfish. When we harmonize this happiness, surfers can transform the world, nullifying negativity and emanating joy thru inspirationally uplifting people’s spirits creatively with enthusiasm.
If you take the word “Earth” and drop the first and last letter’s you have three letters remaining that spell the word “ART.” Ceramics and Pottery was the very first functional art form known to man. The earliest known ceramic objects are Gravettian figurines such as those discovered at Dolni Vestonice in the modern-day Czech Republic. The Venus of Dolni Vestonice (Vestonika’ Venuse in Czech) is a Venus figurine, a statuette of a nude female figure dated to 29,000-25,000 BCE. The earliest known pottery vessels may be those made by the Incipient Jo-mon people of Japan around 10,500 BCE. The term “Jo-mon” means “cord-marked” in Japanese. This refers to the markings made on clay vessels and figures using sticks with cords wrapped around them. Pottery, which dated back to 10, 000 BCE has also been excavated in China. It was independently developed in North Africa during the tenth millennium and in South America during the seventh millennium. It is believed that the earliest pottery wares were hand –built from clay tempered with sand, grit and crushed shells.
The correlations we can draw between surfing, ceramics or art in general are as numerous as the stars in the sky. When a surfer is out in the waves or an artist is in their medium, they are in a co-creative state with nature. When we feel this joy, it gives us a sense of well-being. In requires formidable stability and courage for a person to face the unknown without worry. To let things unfold naturally as the universe illuminates an optimistic approach to transforming our vision into reality or visa versa. So just as in the analogy of the projector, when we direct our passion—-our light—toward our good ideas— the slide—these idea’s manifest themselves in the world through our minds and bodies—the lens. With that, here is a quote from one of the greatest American Presidents in history Abraham Lincoln.
“ I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true. I am not bound to succeed, but I am bound to live up to the light I have”.
Bottom ceramic middle-eastern dumbek drum made by Gill Isaac Kaufman. Middle vase by Chris Brock. Top bowls by Wyn Matthews.
A Santa Barbara News Press feature story on Gill Isaac Kaufman.
A HGM mug featured in Bungalow by FiG in Ojai, CA.
Gill Isaac Kaufman, catching a wave in S. Barbara Ca.
