cupshare

south pole

2011-04-19T06:37:00.000-07:00

Cupshare pics attached! One is of the geographic south pole and the other is of the ceremonial south pole. They are about 100 ft apart.The photo's were taken at -30 degree C... so it was a tad bit chilly out. My dad says that each year they design a new marker that goes on top of the pole marker, this year was the Sextant.

2010-11-22T19:37:00.001-08:00

Hi,

I chose my cupshare cup from the wall at the Leepa-Ratner museum in Tarpon Springs during a fund raising event. It traveled with me from Tarpon Springs to Arlington, Virginia. I've had many opportunities to enjoy it. My first beverage was what I call skim juice--half oj and half water. In the following weeks I began drinking my morning cup of decaf coffee from it, and then found it the perfect wine glass in the evening. For wine, it's just the right size plus it doesn't tip over!

Thank you for this experience.

I now will be sending my cupshare cup off to a friend of mine in Idaho who I hope enjoys it as much as I have.

Best,

2010-10-13T04:39:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I began taking a medication that I will most likely have to take for the rest of my life. This medicine is a miracle, but beginning to take it, to know that I have do this one thing every day for the rest of my life, has been like crossing a whole new kind of threshold. There is no special cup for that. I used my cupshare cup.

And now I'll pass along my cup to someone else, so they can learn from this small vessel of clay. Funny: the Bible describes us as vessels, and as being made from clay. We have so much to learn, to teach, to hold.

Thank you and bless you for and in this project.

F

2010-10-13T04:38:00.001-07:00

In the evenings, I might have myself a gin and tonic. Of course, there's a special "cup" for that. It's refined and sparkly like the drink inside,

2010-10-13T04:37:00.001-07:00

This specialized cup is large, designed for easy travel in the car, and has nice big graphics to advertise the place I bought it (or to remind me, in case I forget!) It is an engineering marvel, really, designed to hold the greatest amount of liquid with the smallest amount of material. On the other hand, it is intended to be thrown away after only one use, most likely far away from where it was used, having ridden around uselessly for miles in a car. It represents both the triumph and failure of our "technological age" - remarkable technical achievement and the profligate consumption of resources.

2010-10-13T04:36:00.000-07:00

My Cupshare cup made me think about the different types of cups I use regularly, and how incredibly specialized they are, and what that says about our culture and ourselves. Here are just some examples. (each one will be in a separate email due to file size.)

I start off my day with any of a number of coffee cups, either from my Cabinet, or my favorite coffee shop, Town Ground. I like them large, and usually have a refill or two! This one is from a trip to Africa.

my cup

2010-10-13T04:28:00.001-07:00

Hello, I’m so happy to be sharing my cup experience with you. You see, I have a cup fetish! My friends are continually amazed that I stop and study cups everywhere I go and that I have 2 cabinets full of them. What they don’t understand is that I don’t just hoard cups. A cup must reach out to me before I befriend it. It has to be special in a way that I can’t even describe. I just “know it when I see it.” Every morning I pick just exactly the cup I want that day. Sometimes it takes a minute for me to decide which one will bring me the most pleasure that morning.

So, you can imagine how happy I was to learn about the share a cup project at the Leepa Rattner Museum in Tarpon Springs, Florida. I was so excited to be able to bring it home a cup that attracted me but certainly seemed out of my reach—in a museum. I’ve attached 4 pictures of the cup’s visit at my house.

1. Finding its place among its new friends in one of my cup cupboards.

2. Receiving its first cup of coffee from my “one-cupper.”

3. Sharing the coffee with me and the Sunday paper.

4. Bathing with friends.

This week my cup will travel to North Carolina to visit with my great friend Pauline who had the patience to help me pack my cups for my last move.

Regards,

No more cups!

2010-10-13T04:27:00.001-07:00

No more cups!

Way back when (there were more cups)

2010-10-13T04:26:00.001-07:00

Way back when (there were more cups)

2010-10-13T04:24:00.002-07:00

I am happy to say that I received one of your cups on Sunday, August 15^th at the Unitarian-Universalist Church in Tarpon Springs. Just as an aside, It happens to be the oldest church in Tarpon Springs. It was given to me by one of the parishoners who wanted to pass the cup on to me. I was happy to accept it because I appreciate hand-made items, particularly, coffee mugs. I have a collection of them from several different potters. I intend to keep the mug until my sister comes for a visit in September. My wife and I live in New Port Richey, and the cup will be going to Canton , Ohio where my sister lives. Selfishly, I would like to keep it myself because I admire the craftsmanship, but I prefer larger capacity mugs for my morning coffee. If I am offending you, I apologize. However, I would like to purchase one of your mugs to keep and use on a regular basis. If this is agreeable to you, I can be reached at... Thank you for the work you do.

2010-10-13T04:24:00.001-07:00

Dear Jonathan,

I have admired your work and feel very fortunate to have been "given" a cup. I think the project is a wonderful idea and am grateful that I got the last cup with a handle. It is not perfect, which is a sample of Wabi-Sabi, the Japanese philosophy of beauty in imperfection. It fits my hand perfectly, however and there is a change in glaze right where my lips drink coffee! The beauty of this project being unconvential and the cup being imperfect fits right into my belief in Wabi-Sabi. Thank you.....I shall enjoy the earthen beauty and think of you and your talent and your humble aesthetic.

Gratefully, S

Clay Connections

2010-10-13T04:19:00.001-07:00

Two friends enjoying an evening of art and music at the Leepa-Rattner Muesum are surprised and delighted by the "take a cup" exhibit. An artist reaches out with his creations ~ art admirers are affected by The Cupshare Project. Clay connections ~ hands to hands. A touching way to bring people together. What I appreciate most is the earthiness of this clay creation which represents a combination of elements earth, water, fire, air and the humanenergy. The cup that selected me is reminiscent of times gone by mixed with modern day. Appearing about the cup are black type letters of cupshare.com sprinkled around the gray speckled exterior with the shade of burgundy wine glaze that drips from the rim. The textures are of smooth glaze, nubby imperfections, diamond-shaped imprints precisely placed for gripping, and the natural roughness of fired clay encircled on the bottom. The cup to touch provides coolness when holding cabernet and warmth when brimming with hot green tea. A clay cup made to be shared will never be empty as it is filled with love passing from one hand to the next. Thank youJonathan Barnes for sharing your gift and your love of handmade creations. I look forward to meeting you and also participating in your engaging project. Here's to you and interactive art! Cheers ~ P

2010-10-13T04:13:00.000-07:00

As a bit of a social network experiment, I posted a picture along with a ambiguous note about the Cupshare project on my Facebook page. The first person to send a message and be a willing participate in the project would receive the cup. Soon after, interest percolated with curiosity from a friend of mine whom I have know for decades yet only recently reconnected via Facebook. And so it would go that this particular cup with a beautiful kaleidoscope of all shades mankind would be given to this vintage friend of mine who lives in Ohio. Hand to hand, friend to friend, heart to heart. Thank you Jon for creating the cups and this incredibly wonderful project. May you receive what you give tenfold. ~ P

2010-10-13T04:03:00.000-07:00

This little cuplet went to a museum

This little cuplet stayed home

This little cuplet had coffee and

This little cuplet had tea

This little cuplet went all the wawawaaaayyyyy to Korea.

The journey of 7,550 miles begins with just one sip. A shiny little coppery toned cuplet ventures across the globe. Traveling from Florida to Republic of Korea. Cheers to the Cupshare Project and to those with hearts for the Arts. ~ P

2010-08-11T10:19:00.001-07:00

Picked up a cup Saturday night at the Leepa Rattner Museum. Not the prettiest cup of the lot, but my requirements were for a strong cup with a wide mouth, as I use it with an Aero Press Coffee Maker. (The rim of the coffee maker must fit onto the cup and then you force a piston by hand against it.) A lot of work for a great cup of coffee and your mug helps me savor it.

Thanks. I’ll pass it on!
-H

2010-08-11T10:16:00.000-07:00

Hi!I recently chose one of your handmade cups from your exhibit at the Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art in Tarpon Springs, FL.Here is a picture of it with a Pineapple/Banana Yogurt Smoothie. The cup felt very comfortable in my hands and made the smoothie taste all the more delicious! I will do what you suggested and pass it on to a friend shortly. Hopefully they will do the same and this little cup will have a wonderful worldwide tour!Thank you for sharing your creative talents!Mary Ann