Art and the Muse

I think the muse is overrated. She is never there when you need her, god forbid she should show up when you want her! The only thing I have experienced that invites the muse is hours and hours and hours of work. Frustration. Failure. Stubborn pushing through the worst kind of art making that results in - nothing. After years, sometimes, of this irrational behavior, discouraged by all but your most loath opponents, a glimmer of something worthy begins to emerge. In the meantime, what do you have to show for all your effort? Often mounds of trash. Bad art. Fodder for the fire. Occasionally, something good shows up. When that happens, my heart does a little flip. Maybe I am not so crazy to continue to pursue this dream, this obsession, this insanity... Maybe, I will keep going and something else will show up, tomorrow. Meanwhile, another day at the salt mines. Work is work and the muse is really just a fickle thing, inspiration who can't be counted on. My habit of working can be, though. So, today, I will push through the blocks and get to it.

Mad on Vegetarian Times

Thanks to Robin Turk for this brilliant cover pic of a mad bowl.

That was then, this is now

Craft Market at Local Food Coop

This is coming up, too. :) I'll be there...

It's a New Day

update - 11/12/08 -Guess you have to go to the origin instead of YouTube now- check it here
Thanks Queen of Spain

Election Results - in real time

You Know What to Do

photo by Mark McDonald

High Point Profile: Lawrence Berndt

Gibson guitar and various hardwood veneers by Berndt

Fender stratocaster, tiger eye maple neck

Lexus steering wheel, unfinished

I am surrounded by amazing designers, thinkers and artists here at CaBoom in High Point, NC. Lawrence Berndt is one of the visionaries at this exciting show. Lawrence discovered his passion for wood 30+ years ago and never looked back. Today, his company that has made the birdseye maple wood component in the Lexus steering wheel, the body of Gibson guitars, the neck of the Fender Stratocaster among other technically refined projects involving wood. 

His expertise and depth of knowledge is inspiring. Located in Cornish, NH his company is FSC (Forestry Stewardship Council) certified, an early adopter achieveing this sustainability standard. 

High Point Market, Caboom East and Cisco Brothers

I have been here about 5 days now and am very happy. High Point is an old mill town in central North Carolina. Historically, High Point was been the center of furniture manufacture in America since the late 19th century.  Next year marks the 100th anniversary of the High Point Market which brings together furniture manufacturers, designers, retail store buyers, the press and  hunters and purveryors of fabulous things for the home from all over the world. There is a huge variety of mostly furniture, but home accesories and antiques are here too.

I am part of CaBoom - a groovy show which has been going on in Santa Monica, CA for 5 years and is debuting here this market. Partnering with Cisco Bros., a furniture design company and manufacturer based in LA, Charles Trotter and Cisco Pinedo are an awesome duo.

I plan to profile a couple of other designers while I am here this week. Today, a couple of pictures of the building and my booth.

Paul Krugman, Nobel Laureate

Just have to say, hat tip to Paul Krugman, who won the Nobel Prize in economics, announced today. Wow.

I'm going to North Carolina...

Staying Energized Admidst Turmoil

The second debate is over. The Dow continues to tank. Where do we draw inspiration from in seeming dire times? Today's blog post from Seth Godin really struck a chord. He calls it "Is effort a myth?". In my business, I do nothing but work hard it seems. I chose a long time ago not to outsource. So when I make a thing and sell it, it is my effort that is being rewarded. My talent helps, but it is my effort that propels me forward.

I am working hard not to get too downtrodden by the drama queen media - CNN, MSNBC are 2 places that can really put a wet blanket on work. My new favorite commentator is Fareed Zakaria. His international affairs focus keeps the big picture in view. I also like to take the long view because otherwise, again, the darkness is always ready to fall. The long view suggests that alternative fuel is a growth industry. Education is a growth industry. Local economic develoment is a growth industry. Making things and selling them is a growth industry.

As an artist, I am often alone making work, not sure if it will be appreciated. The longer I do it, though, the more I realize that in the long run, it will be appreciated. What I do IS kind of heroic because I am doing what few dare to do. Making art for a lifetime. I have been lucky in many ways. But, Seth's post today reminds me that luck is only part of the equation. Hard work and continued focus is what will win in the end. Anybody anywhere doing anything with care, focus and quality in the effort is heroic, in my book.

technorati tags: sethgodin, fareedzakaria

Mad goes to Pittsburgh

I am heading out to conquer the midwest this weekend, or at least sell a few sets of dishes. This lovely store, Tournesol, is operated by Barbara Reilly who has become a good friend for a number of reasons. She appreciates the hand made. She is in love with the table, with sustainability, fresh local food and entertaining with spirit, soul and meaning. All told, I am looking forward to a lovely time and meeting new friends in Pittsburgh!

technorati tags: tournesol, barbarareilly, sustainability, handmade

Slow is the New Good

Resurgence Magazine is hosting "slow Sunday", encouraging participants to bake bread as an act of defiance. Sounds good to me...

technorati tags: resurgence, bread

Dots with in Dots

The world may be falling apart, but I occasionally open the kiln to find something like this which changes everything. Even if I do say so myself. ;)

technorati tags: davistudio, handmade, fineporcelain

Art and Money

Sotheby’s

“Ascended,” a Damien Hirst canvas filled with colorful butterflies, sold for $4 million.

This has been an interesting week, to say the least. The bankrupting of Lehman Brothers shocked a lot of people who expected a sale or bale out. Merill Lynch, sold. AIG insurance Co. gets an $85B US(?) bale out. So much for free market economics. Thank you Mr. Friedman (Milton, that is).

At the same moment in history, artist Damien Hirst has the cahonees to sell 2 year's enterprise (work) at auction, circumventing his dealers. The take : +$200,000,000. No, that is not a mistake and the number is in today's New York Times. What I find particularly remarkable about this event is its significance as art. The auction itself is an elaborate art work which profits so many peope and can, if we choose to pay attention this way, show that all things are elusive and serve that which we chose to collectiviely grant significance. Hirst has never been my favorite artist- I found his work sensational (hah!) at best. But this feat he has pulled off is nothing short of genius and my hat is off to him this morning. Say what you will, he really did a number and the timing!

So, art doesn't imitate life. Art redefines and reorganizes how we view life. It create a whole realm for thinking to shift. Art create context which allows for all things to come from. We can know that or not. It doesn't matter because art is. And we come from that. Together. Society is a Sculpture.

technorati tags: damienhirst, josephbeuys, art, money

2 Announcements

Margaret Roach is hosting a WordPress fest in NYC Oct 5th, Wordcamp. Geez, if there is any way I can get there, I will. On another front, Chris McCormick has posted a groovy interview with yours truly on his SoCal potters blog. Check it out. A lot of good stuff in there (besides me).

chris mccormick

technorati tags: awaytogarden, socalpotters, chrismccormick, margaretroach

chris mccormick

oh yes, this is true

Robert Anton Wilson

bespoke manufacturing is the holy grail

I have been reading this blog post on and off for the past couple of weeks. Zeroinfluencer aka David Bousola is an interesting thinker working in branding world, writing some very good stuff on his blog.

The plate above is the product of a bit of light play - Amrita at Tinku Gallery in Toronto sent me a picture of her very cool spotted walls and I made a plate sample, pink dots on taupe. I like it. It is a combo I might not of thought of but now I think I will make a big one. What I see is thought flow. Her bathroom, sparks my thought, I can make a quick sample, like it, make again, bigger. Bespoken manufacturing. I posted here earlier about bespoken dinnerware, and the phrase is coming up again, a new meme? Hope so. I think custom lends itself to smaller, cleaner, friendlier more wanted, more necessary, more love...

Isn't that what we are all wanting a bit more of in the world??

technorati tags: tinkugallery, zeroinfluencer, bespokemanufacture

Mad in Real Simple

I always like to post these here. Puts it somewhere I can keep track of it and brag to you. ;-)

technorati tags: davistudio, handmade, realsimple

Sol Lewitt to Eva Hesse

Just stop thinking, worrying, looking over your shoulder, wondering, doubting, fearing, hurting, hoping for some easy way out, struggling, gasping, confusing, itching, scratching, mumbling, bumbling, grumbling, humbling, stumbling, rumbling, rambling, gambling, tumbling, scumbling, scrambling, hitching, hatchiiing, bitching, moaning, groaning, honing, boning...searching, perching, besmirching, grinding grinding grinding away at yourself. stop it and just DO...trust and tickle something inside you, your "weird humor." you belong in the most secret part of you. don't worry about cool, make your own uncool...if you fear, make it work for you -- draw and paint your fear and anxiety. and stop worrying about big, deep things such as "to decide on a purpose and way of life..." you must practice being stupid, dumb, unthinking, empty. then you will be able to DO! i have much confidence in you and even though you are tormenting yourself, the work you do is very good. try and do some BAD work. the worst you can think of and see what happens but mainly relax and let everything go to hell.

Lovin' Summer

plates in the grass

Been talking to Gregory Lent about likening art making to farming. Fallow times, busy times. Summer is a time for a lot of growth- a lot of activity here at the studio. A lot of color, a lot of possibility, a lot of visitors, a lot of new friends and a lot of old friends. It is a good life. I am grateful.

Studio Summer Hours

New wall idea. 1st draft. This is what will greet you when you walk in.

It is officially summer in Columbia County. I'll bet you thought that was June 21st. Hah! No, it is the weekend after the 4th of July. Why is that you say? Because that is the first weekend of my open studio hours! I will be receiving visitors from 2-4PM on Saturdays from now until Labor Day. Come and see where I make the dinnerware. Handmade fine porcelain dinnerware, custom, on site by the potter (me:-) like the good old days... I keep waiting for the gnomes to show up and make plates as night while I sleep, but alas, they have yet to appear. Oh well!

technorati tags: davistudio, madras, handmade

Grasshopper510

New eco-boutique Grasshopper510 ordered a few things from the madpotter (me;) which I shipped this week. See above. If you are in Chicago, stop by and say hi to Jean. She has the start of what looks like a rockin' shop... No guilt shopping! :-)

technorati tags: ecoboutique, grasshopper510, chicago

Pride

A set of 8 saucers for Avventura, NYC, unloaded out of today's kiln...

technorati tags: davistudio, handmade, plates, pride

Greenfluencers

We have a name. We're "Greenfluencers," according to the new Porter Novelli report. We may represent just a sliver of your market, the report says, but we guide the green conscience of your entire market.

from No Impact Man, Collin Beavan.

technorati tags: porternovelli, noimpactman, greenfluencer

Seed vases and summer flowers

I picked this bunch of flowers just circling my studio. Mostly wild flowers or WEEDS in some people's books... Beautiful. I am married to a guy who is a fanatic when it comes to weeds. He just loves to figure out what they are... Oh, that little vase is part of my seed vase project. Just started new blog here for it. Interactive. :-)

Micro-Production: Part of the Solution

Umair Haque posted a Manifesto for the Next Indutrial Revolution and people are talking about a lot this morning and over the weekend. I am delighted to see this esteemed academic write such a thoughtful and to the point article about the worlds problems and even more excited that it is gaining so much traction around the web. Alexander Elsas wrote about it here in response to Fred Wilson writing about it here.

Umair's list -

Organize the world's hunger.
Organize the world’s energy.
Organize the world’s thirst.
Organize the world's health.
Organize the world's freedom.
Organize the world's finance.
Organize the world's education.

I add : Organize the world's Production

While Fred Wilson expresses the potential for boredom in Web 2.0, Umair's post seems to come just in the nick of time. His words and ideas may spark that which he has called for; a revolution. Local economies are the backbone of any region. Give away your ability to make and do for yourself and you give away your ability to sustain life. Sustainability has to include strong local economies, perhaps local currencies but most important, the ability to produce the basic needs of a population with in a specific region. The people who will get on the ground and make that happen are the young people working with mentors, locally and experts, perhaps from abroad. But, listening is essential in the process.

Much compost has been laid on these principals over the decades. Yes, the invisible hand may have been an illusion all along. Crafting a life, in community and in a region, these are the issues of our time.

Here is an earlier post of mine, called Techno Swadeshi, that talks about making and connecting.

I am going to start a list of posts around Haques original post, as they are rpoliferating like bunnies! Hooray!! Alan Patrick here and here.

technorati tags: localeconomies, umairhaque, web2.0

Clay Shirky on the TV Bender

OK, so I am having a little too much fun posting short videos. This one is totally awesome. A talk from Web 2.0 conference about how everyone is and will contribute more and more to everything.

Pretty pictures of new, handmade fine porcelain to be posted tomorrow! :)

technorati tags: clayshirky, web2.0

I love this Man

My friend, John Krynick.

technorati tags: johnkrynick, advancedknitting

High Price of Oil

I have to write this post. I had an insight yesterday I felt would be perfectly expressed here and today's paper just inspires me further to state it. Here goes- The high price of oil is more about getting as much profit from the final days (OK, years) of the fossil fuel economy as possible, because, well, alternative energy and conservation are the future. Like a tsunami... Exxon, Getty, BP, their days are numbered, at least as the force they are today. Peak oil, well, maybe. Global warming? I think yes! Our collective wisdom is winning and the oil companies know it. The advent of the post fossil fuel world is here. Toyota has surpassed Ford and GM as the leading auto mobile manufacturer in the world for one reason. The Prius. Can you say 45 miles per gallon?? (well, they run a pretty tight ship too)

There is lots of talk from the CEO of GM about the return of electric car. Energy star is the new standard in all home appliances. Radiant heat, solar panels, better insulation, the rising awareness of local food, for taste, health and inherent goodness, well the list goes on. The environment will win because we DO want to survive. This will preclude the end of the fossil fuel era as we know it. As demand decreases, profits will plummet and the current kings of the economy will experience a dramatic seat shift.

Thanks for reading. :-)

technorati tags: fossilfuels, alternaiveenergy, electriccar

Tournesol

Just sent a bunch of stuff off to Tournesol, a fab store in Pittsburgh, PA. Stop by and say hi to Barb if you are in town.

technorati tags: tournesol,, pittsburgh,, davistudio

Yves Behar on TED

Wonderful designer, worth the 17 minutes to watch... He says "advertising is the price companies pay for being unoriginal " in this talk, which I see is new meme.

Oh, I AM a colorist and glad for that. :-)

Social Sculpture

“Only on condition of a radical widening of definitions will it be possible for art and activities related to art [to] provide evidence that art is now the only evolutionary-revolutionary power. Only art is capable of dismantling the repressive effects of a senile social system that continues to totter along the deathline: to dismantle in order to build ‘A SOCIAL ORGANISM AS A WORK OF ART’… EVERY HUMAN BEING IS AN ARTIST who – from his state of freedom – the position of freedom that he experiences at first-hand – learns to determine the other positions of the TOTAL ART WORK OF THE FUTURE SOCIAL ORDER.”

Beuys statement dated 1973, first published in English in Caroline Tisdall: Art into Society, Society into Art (ICA, London, 1974), p.48. Capitals in original.

Joseph Beuys made famous this notion of social sculpture. I have been interested in this line of thinking for many years, hence my focus on the table and dinnerware and accoutrement's for sharing meals. I am introducing this concept here now because I hope to engage a conversation about art as a social intervention and the future of communication, particularly as the Internet is developing, as a means to produce a less aggressive means of being on the planet together.

The New Web

"Something's happening here....What it is ain't exactly clear..."

I started tuning into FriendFeed a few weeks ago, and I feel like I am being whipped into a whole new world. This blog is 2 1/2 years old, my Facebook account is 1 year old, maybe? Twitter got added to my party, oh late last year. All of these services I have approached from a hmmm, cool but not quite sure how to use them, what is it, what do really want to share with all these people, most of whom I don't even know. Then, here comes FriendFeed and whoosh! I am off and running. Suddenly, I am checking out posts about social networking, conversations I actually feel I understand and can connect too.
This particular post is a response to Colin Walker's recent post which led me to Alexander van Elsas. I suggested my blogging about this is a bad idea and he says, "why?"

OK, for anybody who has been reading this news outlet for my studio knows it is mostly pictures of my work, occasional sharing of what I deem interesting news on politics and economics. I struggle to stay focused on my work, an old idea. Focus. Getting things done... Creating goals, seeing through an idea, a thesis, developing my skill as a craftswoman, etc. etc. The Internet is inherently disruptive. It interrupts the flow of work in numerous ways. Today I read email is the new snail mail. (can't remember where or I would post a link). Access to this conversation is limited to; 1) one's ability to own or access a computer and an online service, 2) one's facility in learning how to use the tools currently available- Adaptivity. When Gutenberg invented the printing press, the first book published was a 1000 year old tome, the Bible. Most agree a seminal work. I argue the current communication revolution is still in its very formative period, but moving along very quickly. As such, it is almost impossible for non-professionals to stay abreast and current - a multiple problem.

I am interested in the conversation and even more interested in where this is all going. I look forward to expanding how I communicate, how I engage and if Doug Englebart is correct, in the evolution of my own intelligence and consciousness. The games, they have begun...

350 Make a Choice

What do I do, what can I do, each day, to reverse the impact of global warming?

Madras

I am exploring madras, in my plates, layering glazes, crossing stripes, like that. In the process, I am finding out more about Madras, India and the textile itself. I have just started the anthropological exploration but my aesthetic journey is well under way.

MAD in Manhattan

My work is being featured in the window of Avventura, a fabulous glass and ceramic store on New York City's upper west side, 81st and Amsterdam. Thank you Scott for a beautiful display and thanks, George, for the wonderful photos!

My Two Best Friends...

photo courtesy of George Gruel

Handmade Pottery to Grace Your Table

Gourmet.com has some beautiful images of ways to use handmade pottery for food and serving- Here is a lovely shot featuring yours truly.... Thank you Corky Pollan!

Albany Saratoga Pottery Trail

Going up to Troy this weekend for my 2nd visiting potter gig at the beautiful home and studio of Victoria Crowell, potter extraordinaire. 12 potters in 7 studios around the capitol district of New York. Looking forward to it.


cake plates by Vikki Crowell

More info here.

Being Creative

gapingvoid lands a book deal...

"Work Hard. Keep at it. Live simply and quietly. Remain humble. Stay positive. Be nice. Be polite."
Hugh MacLeod.
I am printing this out in some pretty script and putting it on my wall. Thank you Hugh, and congrats. Hugh's manifesto.

Owning the Means of Production

There is a lot of talk around the web about NOT owning the means of production - in fact, it is a veritable tabu to own the place where things are made. I find this a perplexing idea. I own my studio. As an artist, owning my studio became more and more important as neighborhoods I contributed to the gentrification of became financially unavailable for the creatives who established them in the first (well, maybe 2nd or 3rd) place. Artists tend to live and work in edgy neighborhoods mostly because they are affordable. Then, well, those neighborhoods improve and the artists are forced out. Anyway, I bought my studio 8 years ago. Let's not even talk about real estate values in an insane economy.

Anyway, conceptual art, mid-60/70's made making; painting, actually sculpting etc. unnecessary. Thank you Sol Lewitt! But, life goes on and economics affects us all whether we follow the muse or the crowd. SO, making art is experiencing a resurgence; note the booming DIY movement and craft/art/design are all starting to bump elbows in the dark room of pre-new world discovery. High/low, democratic connectivity, the onslaught of being in touch- Takes my breath away.

I am a potter. I make things. I sell them (hopefully). I use the web to help show pictures of new work, to talk about new campaigns, be it here, or on my website, via email, etc. Not to mention Facebook, Twitter and now FriendFeed. I am trying to keep it simple. There are piles of other options for the tech obsessed.

Owning the means of production involves being on site of the place where stuff is produced. Not outsourcing. This thought may piss off the remote and inexpensive labor in our planet's fast growing economies, but there is a reverse kind of colonialism at hand. If I have my stuff produced cheaply in a developing country and I focus on designing new and novel products, well, I will end up with Phillipe Stark's karma. Ouch! Making stuff and selling it, this works for me. Simple, clean, efficient. Hard. Lots of work. But, I sleep well at night and I try my best.

Contemporary Persian Rug Designer

Ferdod and Karli are 2 rug designers and merchants I met last year at Dwell on Design. They were here in LA at CABoomV and we reconnected. Lovely people, beautiful rugs. Ferdod is of Persian descent with deep ties into that rug making tradition.

David Albert Design

Kirby and David Albert team up to run this very beautiful, handcrafted, soulful furniture studio. Exquisite.

Gimme Art

Lars and Victoria debuted gimmeart here at CABoomV this past weekend. Smart couple, great website with beautiful photography...

I am in Santa Monica, California!

CABoom is this show I have been blogging about and putting on my Facebook and well just highly focused on for the past 5 weeks. I have made 100 sets of dishes which I packed and shipped out here last week and now the show is all set up and open to the public. Feels really good. Am here with Janet McKean and having a ball. Not to mention staying in a way cool hotel one block from the ocean.

I'll be blogging about more stuff at the show in the next few days. Totally psyched to be here-

New dinnerware and linens

Am working on some new color combos this spring, which will debut next week at CaBoom in Santa Monica, CA. Also, introducing some new cool linens. I have been dreaming of linens for years, finally have found a source.

technorati tags: davistudio, caboom, tablelinens

CaBoom

Crazy busy making lots of plates. Finishing packing tonight and will be going to west coast next week for CaBoom. Will blog more in coming days. Phew!!

technorati tags: handmade, fineporcelain, designshow, caboom

Spring Blossoms

It is still winter here in upstate New York, but in Queesland, Australia, the weather must be warming and beautiful. Potter Shannon Garson took up a wonderful project documenting an old magnolia tree and immortalized it in porcelain.

technorati tags: strangefragments, porcelain, australia

Valentine's Day

I love the prospect of a day dedicated to love. I am thinking after New Year's, the continuance of holiday feeling, red, pink and hearts are in order, culminating on Feb 14 - I made these cupcakes with recipe in the Magnolia Bakery cookbook- The red blotchy things on the cupcakes are candied rose petals....

technorati tags: magnoliabakery, cupcakes, valentinesday

HueChoose

Do you want to pick the color of the plates you eat dinner off of? Here's your chance. Give me a call or send me an email and let's make some pottery. Go here for more info- davistudio

technorati tags: handmade, fineporcelain, dinnerware

Blogging 2008

OK, it is now January and I am studying, thinking, meditating, contemplating and a whole lot of reading; Twitter, Facebook, blogs etc. in re. to what or how I will continue to blog here. I am writing this post as a way to open (hopefully) some sort of conversation with readers here regarding where an artist should focus her attention in relation to online communication. I have written about a variety of subjects in the past 2 years of blogging, from peace activities to other potters to my own work. I have been admittedly undisciplined but keep coming back because there is something about this form of communication, a bit more than a message in a bottle, which is very appealing. My favorite thing is to post a photo and write something brief.

Seth said recently, writing about other people is more effective than writing about yourself, but that was in regards to authors. As a visual artist, a blog is a place to publish work that may not be seen in real time, in other words, as it is made. Artists often want an idea fleshed out before it is published. But is blogging really publishing? It depends. It depends on who sees what I have posted and what the response is. If I am avoiding the critique until I have fully formed the idea, then I may want to wait before I post an image. If I am interested in an open source development of a more universal or collective idea, well maybe the online process posting introduces other voices which lend creative influence to an idea's iteration.

Anyway, this is all a way of saying, I'm still here. I hope to post more often in the coming year. And, most of all, I look forward to participating as the blog and the web in general become a greater part of of our lives. I do believe quite profoundly that we find our way together, into this vast and exciting future.

technorati tags: blogging, art, collaboration

E. F. Schumacher

Recieved this from the Schumacher Society and want to share with you. Good reminders for the New Year.

It has been fifty years since Fritz Schumacher first published his now
classic essay "Buddhist Economics," calling for an economic system informed
by simplicity and non-violence.

". . . the Buddhist economist would insist that a population basing its
economic life on non-renewable fuels is living parasitically, on capital
instead of income. Such a way of life could have no permanence and could
therefore be justified only as a purely temporary expedient. As the world's
resource of non-renewable fuels--coal, oil, and natural gas--are exceedingly
unevenly distributed over the globe and undoubtedly limited in quantity, it
is clear that their exploitation at an ever-increasing rate is an act of
violence against nature which must almost inevitably lead to violence
between men."

Schumacher was thus persuaded that the most rational form of production is
from local resources for local needs. Work is not something to avoid but
"blesses those who do it" when conducted in conditions of human dignity and
freedom, so favoring a system of full employment.

"Buddhist Economics" is a simple reminder that our economic systems should
reflect our highest aspirations as a culture--whether we find the source of
those aspirations in religion, philosophy, our communion with nature, or our
sympathy with others.

In the midst of the crushing effects of the global economy on local
communities and the people and ecology of those communities, Schumacher's
essay challenges us to imagine another kind of economic future--an economics
of peace. That imagining is the first step to implementation.

Gathered at the E. F. Schumacher Society's website are 16 different
translations of "Buddhist Economics" in pdf and word format as appropriate
to the language--Danish, Dutch, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian,
Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Russian, Serbian, Spanish, and
Swedish.

http://www.smallisbeautiful.org/buddhist_economics.html

At this time of new beginnings we encourage you to share these translations
with friends around the world as a greeting of peace and possibility.

Quotes from "Buddhist Economics" by Ernest Friedrich Schumacher

"It is clear, therefore, that Buddhist economics must be very different from
the economics of modern materialism, since the Buddhist sees the essence of
civilisation not in a multiplication of wants but in the purification of
human character."

"While the materialist is mainly interested in goods, the Buddhist is mainly
interested in liberation. But Buddhism is "The Middle Way" and therefore in
no way antagonistic to physical well-being. It is not wealth that stands in
the way of liberation but the attachment to wealth; not the enjoyment of
pleasurable things but the craving for them. The keynote of Buddhist
economics, therefore, is simplicity and non-violence. From an economist's
point of view, the marvel of the Buddhist way of life is the utter
rationality of its pattern--amazingly small means leading to extraordinarily
satisfactory results."

"The ownership and the consumption of goods is a means to an end, and
Buddhist economics is the systematic study of how to attain given ends with
the minimum means."

"As physical resources are everywhere limited, people satisfying their needs
by means of a modest use of resources are obviously less likely to be at
each other's throats than people depending upon a high rate of use. Equally,
people who live in highly self-sufficient local communities are less likely
to get involved in large-scale violence than people whose existence depends
on world-wide systems of trade."

"From the point of view of Buddhist economics, therefore, production from
local resources for local needs is the most rational way of economic life,
while dependence on imports from afar and the consequent need to produce for
export to unknown and distant peoples is highly uneconomic and justifiable
only in exceptional cases and on a small scale."

"From a Buddhist point of view . . . non-renewable goods must be used only
if they are indispensable, and then only with the greatest care and the most
meticulous concern for conservation. To use them heedlessly or extravagantly
is an act of violence, and while complete non-violence may not be attainable
on this earth, there is nonetheless an ineluctable duty on man to aim at the
ideal of non-violence in all he does."

". . . the Buddhist economist would insist that a population basing its
economic life on non-renewable fuels is living parasitically, on capital
instead of income. Such a way of life could have no permanence and could
therefore be justified only as a purely temporary expedient. As the world's
resource of non-renewable fuels--coal, oil, and natural gas--are exceedingly
unevenly distributed over the globe and undoubtedly limited in quantity, it
is clear that their exploitation at an ever-increasing rate is an act of
violence against nature which must almost inevitably lead to violence
between men."