The Michigan Daily-Wednesday, July 22, 1981-Page 9
Art prevails over '9 to '5 life
Self-taught potter
expresses initiative
By PAM FICKINGER
Daily staff writer
One of the main goals of Georgi Tud-
zarov is "to bring something to the
public that they've never seen." He ac-
complishes this goal through his work
as a potter.
Tudzarov, who came to Ann Arbor
from Bulgaria 12 years ago, worked for
General Motors and as a gardener for
University President Robben Fleming.
But for the past ten years he has
devoted his life to making pottery.
TUDZAROV IS a self-taught potter,
and said he has no artistic background.
Everything he knows about pottery, he
said he learned in Ann Arbor. But when
asked about his talent, he said, "it just
happened."
"I'm always acting," he said and his
studio is "where I perform." He added
that making pottery is like doing a dan-
ce and it's important to do it "real fast
so you don't miss the momentum."
Tudzarov has been selling his work at
Art Fairs since 1973. He said he travels
in Michigan, Ohio, New York, Indiana
and Kentucky.
HE SAID he likes the Ann Arbor Art
Fair because it is popular and because
the patrons of the fair understand and
sponsor the artists.
As an artist, he said he has to know
how to deal with people. He tries to do
this by bringing "something new and
different that's exciting" to his pottery.
When he doesn't sell his work in art
fairs, he sells in an Ann Arbor pottery
shop called 16 Hands, a store he helped
found. He said he sells everything he
makes. He remarked that in America
"time is money" and in order to go with
the flow, he sometimes gets so busy "I
don't know what I'm doing." This type
of atmosphere leads to "lots of
pressures," he added.
TUDZAROV IS very interested in
what potters have done before. He said
that he is "fascinated by different
people and their way of creating pot-
tery." He added that there is "a little
bit of me and others" in his pottery.
The designs of his native country
have always intrigued Tudzarov and he
said he has tried to incorpofate those
designs into his own work. He has done
research on the Bulgarian designs, and
found that they are very simple to
assimilate.
He noted, however, that he has his
own "secrets" for making his patterns
in a similar style. His designs are very
attractive, he added, and "people just
love" them.
GEORGI TUDZAROV works amidst the managerie of pottery he makes in
his studio. Through his work as a potter, Tudzarov tries to bring something
to the public that they've never seen before, without going too far from the
traditional.
MBA sheds business
for an artist's life
By PAM FICKINGER the winter months, when he buys his
Meet John Berry, Ford Motor Com- supplies and builds up his stock.
pany marketing analyst turned Those months can be "tenuous"
. "somewhat Bohemian" jewelry maker. sometimes, he said, because, though he
Barry, a 1968 University graduate spends a lot of money, he is not always
with a masters degree in business ad- sure of his income. Even so, Berry said,
ministration, said he "never felt com- "I really like it."
fortable" in the high-paying, big Berry said he feels that in the jewelry
business position he held for five years. business there's room for growth,
SO HE LEFT, went back to school, providing him with a "continual
later traveled "foot-loose and fancy- challenge". He noted that with so many
free" through Mexico, and finally lear- new techniques and designs, there is
ned the craft of jewelry making from an aways something different to be done,
"exotic fellow" he met when back in or a new way to do things.
Michigan. "I'M PROUD BEING a craftsman,"
Now, Berry makes his living by Berry said, adding that he is also "an
"doing the art fair circuit," selling his artist" who is "striving to become a
jewelry at fairs around the country, better one."
getting "a hell of a thrill." Being a jeweler can be lonely work,
"It really doesn't matter what you Berry said. He said he feels, however,
do," Berry said, "as long as you enjoy that if you're not alone, you're not
it." He added that he feels "extremely working. "You have to enjoy your own
lucky" to be doing what he likes. company," he added.
HE ESPECIALLY likes working at Berry admitted that solitude can be
the Ann Arbor Art Fair, he said, calling kind of hard at times, which is another
it "the granddaddy ... the special reason why he likes doing the fairs. He
one." One reason for this, is the good said he enjoys being "out and about,
reputation that the fair has gained and among people."
the large crowds it draws. BERRY ADDED that his two
Berry said he has developed a children also enjoy the interaction with
reputation of sorts because of the num- others, helping him out when he is busy
ber of people who come to the Fair year in the booth by talking to other
after year. He said it was "really customers.
gratifying" to have people ask for him Explaining his work, Berry said there
by name and request his work. are two methods of making jewelry,
A main reason he likes Ann Arbor constructing, which his work mostly
Art Fair is because it's his best fair consists of, and casting, a technique
financially. "I am my business," which is centuries old and similar to
remarked Berry, and it's a "feast or sculpting.
famine" situation. Silver and precious stones are the
BARRY MUST NIAKt his money at materials that Berry works with most
these a f1irs to support his travel in of the time.
DOily Photo by PAUL NGI SUM
JOHN BERRY WORKS at the buffing wheel as he makes final preparations
for the upcoming Summer Art Fair. Berry's jewelry will be exhibited in one
of thebooths on State Street.