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Crawdad SlipSid Luck is a fifth generation potter in Seagrove, North Carolina. This forty-five minute documentary explores his life and work, and the family heritage he hopes to pass on to his two sons, Jason and Matthew. Through conversations with Sid over old photographs and video of him practicing his craft we hear about the work of early potters. About how large-scale manufacturing and plastics almost ended the handmade trade, and what potters did to adapt and survive the changes brought on in the first half of this century. Sid's father, Jim, talks about the hard times of the 1930's and 40's when wood-fired kilns would 'bout burn yourself up, and handmade pottery had so little value that Jim finally gave up on it and took to raisin' hogs and chickens. But not before he made Sid a wheel and taught him the fundamentals of pottery. To quit making pottery was the practical thing to do for Jim. Even Sid acknowledged that - he left to join the Marine Corp in 1969, and later took up school teaching, although he continued to turn pottery part-time. However, after twenty-five years a growing interest in pottery allowed him to return to practice his craft full-time. Reviews: Video Librarian, April 2000 - "Slip" is a kind of pottery glaze made from fine clay thinned with water. Sid Luck, a fifth generation potter, calls his favorite kind of slip "crawdad slip," since he discovered the clay at a stream where his boys were looking for crawdads one day. Sid, his father Jim, and his son Jason are interviewed here, each imparting their perspectives on their craft. Jim had to make pottery during the Depression to help bring in money; Sid enjoyed the craft, but until the tourist boom hit Pinehurst, NC, pottery was not a way to support a family; Jason likes fashioning the classic, old-time utility pieces, not boutique items, but he is studying computer engineering and isn't interested in staying in his sleepy North Carolina town. Modern pressures figure large in each man's story, whether it was Jim's handmade crockery competing against factory-produced products, Sid's wanting to use local clay even though purchased clay is much cheaper, or Jason's desire to live somewhere more appealing to a 20-year-old. More than a look at a time-honored craft, this interesting documentary, with its family photos, crockery artifacts, and sweet old-time music, is a pleasure in itself. Recommended, especially for senior centers and public libraries. (R. Reagan) BOOKLIST, October 2000 - Simply but astutely narrated by fifth-generation potter Sid Luck, this program lovingly describes the family's pottery heritage, which dates back to the mid-eighteenth century. Live-action footage of the host creating beautiful pottery in his studio mixes with vintage photographs, newspaper articles, and on-camera commentary from artists, apprentices, and others. The great variety of camera shots and enthusiastic bluegrass background music superbly blend with narration and visuals. Color and sound resolution is bell clear. Viewers not only learn about a family legacy but gain an appreciation for the pottery process while discovering a few simple pottery techniques. (James Scholtz) Title #230471 Format: DVD-R |
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