All in the Mark

I was standing just a minute and waiting with my daughter to get an autograph after seeing Broadway's Jekyll and Hyde, when it hit me just how much there is in "The Signature".  More than identity, who we call ourselves, it is our mark.  The imprint we leave most on this world.  Usually the first thing we learn to write as youngsters it is ours to share for a lifetime.  I know my mark has undergone many transformations.  Born a Regina, I was quickly given the nickname Reggie.  I grew up knowing that was who I was.  In and around my high school years I wanted to make it more my own and I dropped the final e.  Proudly signing all my art projects as Reggi.  When again in college as I continued to study art and work within my own creativity it changed again.  I began signing as Regina but usually you could only make out the  first four letters as the remainder faded out, which is now my signature; Regi.  As a potter, your mark is everywhere.  I have been asked over the years numerous times about my signature or mark.  Some pieces have slipped through without my mark but from hours of thought (probably too much) and lots of practice I have worked hard on the signature as well as trying to figure out where to leave it.  Painters usually sign their work in the bottom corner or underneath depending on the type of framing that will be happening.  Ceramists (Clay People) have a number of ways to mark their work.  Their name on the bottom of the work, lower side of the work,  some incorporate it and make it part of the work.  Some don't use a name at all but a "Mark"  be it a stamp, or set of symbols that are used to identify the work to it's individual.  I have tried most of these options over the years. Depending on the mood at completion of the project or simply experimenting in different looks.  Not to long ago I was prompted again to "sign your work and be proud of it" when a friend was looking at a piece where my signature had been covered by the glazing process.  At that time I did not think to much of the reminder, but when I was standing in that moment waiting with my daughter.  waiting just for someone's signature.  It dawned on me that it really might be something I should make more of a priority.  Not that my signature will ever create lines of waiting fans, but it will mean something to someone who has a piece of my work. And it certainly should mean something to me.  signed proudly - Regi