Some months ago retired Langara College ceramics instructor Don Hutchinson phoned to invite me to give a workshop to Semiahmoo Potters in South Surrey. Since retirement Don has been active with this group of potters and he explained to me that he thought I could talk to them about earthenware, the making of silly birds and the use of colourful slips. These are all things he excels at but he insisted that I should prepare a one-day workshop.
During the last week I threw several jugbird bodies, extruded some spouts, cut out some tiles and topped up some of my favourite slips. Yesterday I left here on a bright but foggy morning to drive over the Fraser River and south to White Rock, about a 3/4 hour trip. I had never been to South Surrey Recreation and Arts complex. What a marvellous facility it is, with gyms, exercise rooms and a non-profit-run café. Outside there are playing fields and tennis courts and on this day a mountain bike trials event happening. Plus you can see Mount Baker! There was a local Art Show in one room and then I found the huge pottery space. I gather the art rooms were added to the Recreation Centre about five years ago. The pottery room is used for City-run pottery classes, drop-in opportunities and also is an area which registered Semiahmoo potters can use four days a week. There are kilns, damp cupboards, 13? wheels, a temperamental slab roller, an extruder, many shelves and a paid technician. I’m describing this as it’s an example of what an imaginative City can provide for its residents.
https://www.surrey.ca/culture-recreation/1918.aspx
When I arrived several workshop participants were already arranging the room for my workshop and I was greeted by one of the organizers, Kathy Kristensen. They helped me to carry in my supplies and at 10am our busy day started. For the morning I showed them how I throw my jugbird bodies, a thrown spout and yunomis. Then I demonstrated how I insert a spout/bill, darting a form and pulling a handle from said pot. It was handy to have leather-hard samples to show each step.
After a typical potters’ potlunch lunch of abundance I showed the members how I make a plate mould and how it is used as the basis for a slab plate. I demonstrated the use of my tile-cutter and then showed them how my coloured slips can be applied. They are so deliciously goopy! Once I had shown painting, paper stencil, latex resist, spongeing, slip-trailing and sgraffito techniques I then settled down to paint a jugbird while some of the group chose to try out the ideas on some extra tiles I’d brought.
The group seemed enthusiastic to have learnt about D’Arcy’s red earthenware clay and the possibility of using slips and clear glaze as an alternative to coloured glazes. The slips can be used on their medium stoneware clay so they will need to test them with a cone six clear glaze. It’ll be interesting to see if my invitation from Don will result in new ideas for clay decoration, and perhaps some more altering of thrown forms.
Member Etsuko Fujita has very kindly sent me some photographs of the day’s activities. Thank you Etsuko. I was too busy to take any myself! And thank you, Semiahmoo Potters for making me welcome, and for your enthusiasm. I had a great day and I look forward to seeing how your tiles turn out. I’ll post photos of them and my pieces once they’re fired.
Here is the link to Semiahmoo Potters’ website. I see that they’ve already mentioned that I was there!
https://www.semiahmoopotters.com
