Collected Links (05-30-2022)

• Why much published research is wrong (problems with p-values, etc.)
• Calculating p-values: Wikipedia; Wolfram (discussion); Kahn Academy (slyt)
• Ceramics by Ariana Heinzman (on Colossal) -- hand made vessels, bright abstracted floral motif (mostly) surface decoration
• Wisteria in Japan (on Colossal)
  
• "Japanese Suburbs in Watercolor" (on Nag on the Lake) -- lovely
  
• Flora Yukhonovich -- abstracted Rococo paintings
  
• "Latecomers [Edited] Guide to Crypto" (via Tim) Annotated "grossly irresponsible" NYT tech article -- although some of the annotations are trenchant, a fair number are just sniping. "Crypto," of course, is not tangible property -- its proponents would have us believe it's a currency. It's subject to the same quasi-ponzi scheme and speculation driven concerns as any intangible asset; concerns that currencies are not pegged to any tangible standard, such as gold, have been the source of hand wringing for at least 150 years. That's repeated again in the annotations. Yet except in El Salvador (currently) crypto's not an official currency anywhere, it's not a necessary means of exchange, and it's highly speculative as an investment. It may have benefit for this who want to wash or shelter assets (despite the articles suggestions otherwise). But I'm not an investor. 
  
• Maps for proposed walks around London (on a blog called A Lady in London) (via Nag on the Lake)
  

"Lap Dance"

Via Colossal via the Awesomer.

Sculpting the Aging Process

Today's Crazy Values In Ceramics

As reported at NBC News (via Miss Celania), a bowl purchased at a garage sale for $3 turned out to be a 1000 year old relic from China. Naturally, following a suitable period sitting on the family fireplace mantel followed by a suitable period for verification, it was off to auction and was sold for $2.2 million.

This stuff never happens to me.

Note: this embedded video is from NBC News, whose embedding sucks, and I am too tight on time to fool with it. You'd think a big media company like that would have a clue, but nooooo ...

Mixed Ceramics

I have a large collection of ceramics images I use as reference works, and I thought it might be interesting to share a few of them. This is a small slice; the emphasis here is on thrown (wheel) work, sometimes modified after throwing.

By Dan Isher

Ceramics by Kate MacDowell

Kate MacDowell is a ceramicist who handbuilds in porcelain -- as someone who works in clay (although I primarily throw), I can tell you how hard this is. Her great craft to the side, however, what matters most is her vision, and, for that, the work speaks for itself ... a few images:

The Ceramics of Avital Sheffer

Avital Sheffer is an Israeli born Australian ceramic artist whose work has beautiful Islamic inspired forms and surface decoration (well, she calls it "middle eastern" but it's transparently Islamic). Over time her work has become less figurative than her earlier work (but not necessarily less suggestive, as at right) and more lovely.

Sheffer is apparently a handbuilder, which, of course, is fine as far as it goes, yet has always struck me as a very time intensive way to make a pot. Much of her work looks, to my biased eye, like it could be achieved by starting on the wheel or as slab built. Whatever -- her craftsmanship is still stunning.

Holy Madonna(s)

Via The Daily What (whose composite picture I have shamelessly borrowed, left), plaster madonna statuettes that have been transformed into beautiful works of art and kitsch. Funny, witty, and wonderfully crafted. After the jump, some of my favorites (her site's gallery design makes it a hard to see what you'll be looking at -- the icons are all detail shots).

The Odd Teapot or Two

Ray Bub makes beautiful teapots. There's always something new and exciting out there.