Mick Casson
The exhibition WARE & TEAR featured in the JOHN WOLSELEY education pack was dedicated to MICK CASSON, British potter, author, teacher and television presenter. Here is PETER HYLANDS’ dedication to MICK CASSON
MICK CASSON OBE
Why is MICK here? For two reasons, firstly that MICK died in December 2003, and secondly, if he had been alive today, he would have been a Ware & Tear artist and in the thick of it.
It is time to think about MICK.
Described in various obituaries as one of the most important potters of the twentieth century, MICK did not consider himself important at all (he once said to me, talking of his college days “do you know people often mistake me for the cleaner” and he was very proud of that story).
MICK had many skills, not the least of which was a natural talent to be a great communicator. From his ground breaking television series for the BBC, packed houses to his spellbinding talks on ceramics, his successful authorship and his uncanny knack of getting photos of himself on other peoples’ book covers, and perhaps most of all, his own dedication to his work and the life, family and friends that surrounded him.
MICK was much more than important.
I first met MICK many years ago when it became my job to pick him up from the airport. He was coming to work with ANDREA HYLANDS and to stay with us. It was with some trepidation that Mick peered out at the crowd as he stepped through the door into the arrivals area. I knew what he looked like but he did not have a clue about me. His trepidation was not dispelled by the presence of an enthusiastic crowd dressed in full Arab gear (they were not Arabs, but students, on what looked like the beginnings of a very big night). They must be meeting me, MICK thought!
That night MICK was probably lucky, as soon we were turning out of the airport carpark and heading into the night. It was to be a long stay, about six weeks from memory and we got to know MICK well.
“You will be joining the tennis club?”
I said to MICK, in my best British public school boy accent. MICK had a way of looking at you suspiciously out of the corner of his eye.
“Don’t worry I said, the tennis part of the evening vanished a while ago, mainly due to the club members declining ability to bend, and once down to get up again. The tennis clubs remaining activities mostly related to drinking the best wines and eating the best food that its members could get their hands on.”
MICK decided to join immediately.
MICK’S work was important to me, I collected it
On the trips to Wobage, MICK and SHEILA’S home, the lovely meals, the great and passionate discussions, the acquisition of new work, work which often travelled around the world with me. I became famous among cabin crew because I always seemed to be nursing some huge jug of MICK’S on my lap and of course it was always difficult to explain to Malaysian customs just why I needed to take such a large jug to Penang.
MICK was unusual because you remembered the times spent with him very clearly and those times seemed very precious. This is to thank you MICK, for your wit, your dedication, skill and love, thanks for everything.
