Functional and nonfunctional

My first day at Lill Street I was asked if I was a functional or nonfunctional potter.  It was the first time someone tried to label my art.  I realize that for many, the difference between functional and nonfunctional is the difference between crafter and artist.  I'm always cognizant of this line.  I think perhaps too cognizant. 

Small bowl.  Glazed and soda fired.

Although I've been told many times that I always have something to say,  the truth is I don't, and when I don't have anything to say with my art, I play with my clay and make functional forms.  But lately, I've really not had much on my mind, so I've been making A LOT of functional pieces, and I'm feeling terrible about it, like somehow I'm not living up to my potential.   I realize that it's because I don't want to be a crafter.  For some reason that label bothers me.  Maybe it's because I've heard people use the label with a "less than" air about it, and now I'm feeling "less than" for what I'm doing.

But it's at these times I hear Professor a Jolly telling me, "you're going to meet a lot of snobs in this business,"  and hear her words of encouragement telling me to just create what I want to create.