Village Squire, 1981-04, Page 6Thumbs that
customers can
visit and chat
with whichever
artist happens to
be minding the shop
at the time. That's one
way for the public to
learn. Another is by members
of the co-operative taking their
work to the public.
"I go into the schools a lot on a
volunteer basis." explained Batten.
"because clay is a medium children like
to work with." In addition. both Batten
and de Haan teach night school.
Since it is co-operative An Thumbs
utilizes democratic principles in every-
thing from manning the store to selecting
new members.
"We're trying not to be too organized,
but it's important not to be underorgan-
ized as well," said de Haan.
The group operates on a committee
basis with a president, vice-president,
treasurer and secretary. Currently there
are two two-man committees, one for
publicity and one for the store's displays
and window designs. A third committee
is in the works to plan special events for
All Thumbs. and guest shows like Mike
Scott's will fall under its jurisdiction.
The importance of the display commit-
tee is outlined by do Haan. "In the
beginning the excitement was there but
after the initial excitement subsided.
That's m by it's important to keep
changing, not to become stagnant."
Kestle schedules in-store time for the
members. "You might have onemonth
when Ena works three days and Kaaren
works two. but the next month everything
works out." All Thumbs is open six days
a week.
Other members of the All Thumbs
PG. 4 VILLAGE SQUIRE/APRIL 1981
co-operative are photographer Jeff
Carroll of Exeter, potter Addy McPhee
from Seaforth, Phyllis Woods. a toy
craftsperson from Ailsa Craig. wood
turner Robert Woods. also of Ailsa Craig.
Jane Vogan, a print maker from London
and Dan Jones, a wooden toy craftsman
from London.
Each member of the co-operative
contributes an equal share every month
to cover standard costs- rent and general
operating expenses. Then 10 per cent of
each individual's sales are directed into
minor expenses such as business cards
and stamps.
It's been a smooth. steady path
towar(fs the April first birthday for All
Thumbs. De Haan said members haven't
really thought about long range plans t r
the store, but it mightn't hurt.
Birthdays have a habit of piling up
quickly. ❑
by Herb Shoveller
Jeff Carroll's flaming red hair belies
his subdued nature.
He shouldn't have red hair. It's
inconsistent with his tranquil. deliberate.
relaxed nature. It's also inconsistent with
his form of expression. his photography.
More often than not his work. almost
exclusively of outdoor and landscape
scenes. captures a certain calmness.
Even one of his potentially violent
photographs. an impending storm pow-
ered by ominous thunderclouds in a rural
setting. somehow manages to elicit a
peaceful sentiment.
To a very great extent, it may be an
unavoidable feature of the craft; when a
photograph is taken its object is at once
frozen in time. Detachment, security,
peacefulness and no fear of the storm.
Anyone can perform the minimal photo -
taking craft: not everyone can make it art.
"1 wouldn't suggest every photo taken
can be defined as art." agrees the
29 -year-old Exeter native. "Everybody
can take a photo. Everybody can be a
technician. Anybody can get an image on
film. but to make it memorable. to leave
an impression, is an art."
Although Carroll, understandably. is
convinced of photography's potential as
an art form, there are still circles where
the claim is hotly disputed. Aesthetic
philosophers. grappling with that' cloudy
notion of creativity, wonder whether that
impulse is alive in photography or
whether it really just consists of crafty
replication.
At its basis. the argument might say
the painter creates his content while the
photographer's content is already there
for him. so where is the creativity. where
is the art? In the case of Carroll. it lies in
his vision and the ability to steal a unique
moment from time.
Carroll on the 'photography as art'
dilemma: "There is no doubt in my mind
that photography is art. But art is so vast.
There are many things that are creative
that aren't considered creative. and there
are a lot of people who are creative who
don't consider themselves so. If it is
aesthetically pleasing, then I guess that
can make it art."
There is another irony. like that of the
even-tempered redhead, in the way he
approaches his shooting. In a discussion.
his replies are thoughtful and calculated.
His photography. though. is the reverse,
the product of spontaneity. "Some people
have a great mind for getting an idea and
putting it together. I prefer not to do it
that way. Quite often I take the camera
out to take some photographs but I don't
necessarily know what I am going to be
shooting."