In addition to making choices based on personal feelings, we can also make choices based on judgments. The reason or general idea one uses to judge something is called a “criterion” -- or “criteria” when there are more than one. People’s judgments can differ because they don’t always agree about which criterion is most important or about how well something meets a particular criterion. We can use a to stand for judgment.

Below is a list of some of the many different criteria, people sometimes use to judge ceramic artworks. Try to apply each criterion to the ceramic artwork which follows it.

Craftsmanship


Vivka and Otto Heino, American, 1982, rough pot, stoneware, 10 7/8” by 13 3/4”, purchased with funds from the Arizona State University Museum Store, Arizona State University Art Museum

Sculptural Quality


Patricia Sannit, United States, Incised Vessel, 1998, white stoneware, handbuilt, 28.5"

Rich Surface Texture

Don Schaumburg

Technical innovation


Jacquie Stevens, Winnebago, Black Weave Bowl, 1998, pit-fired ceramic, rattan, 17.5”

Originality


Kurt Weiser, United States, Vague Trail, 2001, porcelain, 15.25 x 18 x 7”

Expressiveness


Ken Price, United States, Fats, 1999, ceramic, acrylic paints, 10.5 x 12.5 x 9.5”

Usefulness


Vietnamese Hanoi Region, 14-16th century, deep bowl with petal design, stoneware, 3”, gift of George and Nancy Moorehead, Arizona State University Art Museum

Durability


Anonymous, American, canning jar with lines, stoneware, 8” by 5 1/4”, purchased with funds of the American Art Heritage, Arizona State University Art Museum

Visual Excitement


Andrea Gill, United States, Persian Ornament, 1996, earthenware, 47 x 21.5”

Ceremonial Value

Japanese Tea Bowl

Humor


Randall Schmidt, Contemporary Savage

Decoration


Ralph Bacerra, 1991, portrait vessel, whiteware, 25” by 22”,
gift of Anne and Sam Davis, Arizona State University Art Museum

Delicacy


Hazel Johnston, British, vase, porcelain, 5 7/8” by 4 1/8”, gift of Anne and Sam Davis, Arizona State University Art Museum

Cultural Pride


Anonymous, American, c. 1870, polychrome jar, earthenware, 10 1/4” by 11”, gift of Dr. and Mrs. Jules Heller, Arizona State University Art Museum

Spirituality


Toshiko Takaezu, United States, Untitled (Dark Blue, Brown), 2000, porcelain, 7.5 x 5 x 5”

Elegance


Elsa Rady, American, “Miami”, porcelain, 6 3/4” by 12 1/4”, gift of Anne and Sam Davis, Arizona State University Art Museum

Boldness


Neil Williams, American, 1991, cup and saucer, whiteware, 4 3/4” by 6”, gift of Stéphane Janssen, Arizona State University Art Museum

Intricacy


Geoffrey Swindell, British, Untitled, porcelain, 5” by 2 5/8”, gift of Anne and Sam Davis, Arizona State University Art Museum

Did thinking about different criteria help you see things in the artworks you might have missed otherwise?

Artworks can meet more than one criterion. Go back and look again at these artworks. Look for a piece that you think is good in several ways.
As you learn more about ceramics or work to make your own vessel, you will gain more expertise [eks per TEEZ] in understanding and applying criteria such as craftsmanship, technical innovation, originality, cultural pride, or spirituality.

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