Meet Ehren Tool

 

We were lucky to catch up with Ehren Tool recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Ehren, you’ve got such an interesting story, but before we jump into that, let’s first talk about a topic near and dear to us – generosity. We think success, happiness and wellbeing depends on authentic generosity and empathy and so we’d love to hear about how you become such a generous person – where do you think your generosity comes from?

I just make cups. The cups become something more when they are in the hands of folks how appreciate them. Most of my work has to do with my time in the Marine Corps, the 1991 Gulf War and returning to the civilian world. Most of the folks who respond to my work are folks who have been in the military or who have been affected by war. Those folks have already paid with their service. I don’t feel comfortable accepting money from those folks. The Veterans and their families accept my cups into their families. I have work in museums but that work seems dead to me. The cups in people’s hands are living beverages and stories are shared. I feel like folks who accept them are doing me a favor. As a maker finding homes and hands for the cups is a great joy.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

When I got out of the Marine Corps I wanted to find away to come back into the civilian world. I took the GI Bill and went to college. I took classes that interested me hoping to find useful to do with my life. Ceramics and making the cups has been a good way for me to find community. Community has been what has helped my fight anxiety, depression and drinking. I still wrestle with the drinking. I guess making cups might have encouraged the drinking. Also I am just now realizing at 54 that many of the men I looked up to and tried to be like may have unrecognized trauma. Unrecognized untreated trauma and then when acted out it was celebrated as being masculine. I’m trying to work on this but it is a struggle.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Working hard has been good for me. I have made and given away almost 26.000 cups since 2001. Making and sharing the cups has given me the opportunity to travel and meet may folks. I think the focus and discipline of the craft of ceramics has been very helpful for me. Historically I would have apprenticed for 20 years and now I’d be just starting my own career.

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?

When I get overwhelmed I just go to the studio and throw cups. I think it helps me to deal with the politics, wars and other threats that face the world. Making cups is a small gesture in the face of all of the challenges and threats facing the globe today. The cups again have helped me build a community. Making and sharing the cups has been a great joy, honor and privilege.

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Ehren Tool

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