I killed several birds with one stone on Thursday. What a dreadful expression for getting several errands done in one trip! Two potter friends, Barbara Tipton and Faye Oakes joined me for a chance to see the show ‘Malleable: Changing Notions of Women’ at the Italian Cultural Centre. I missed the opening and now have only just managed to catch the show. But several women potter friends have work included so it was a must.

Barb, Faye and I were impressed with the variety, the size of some and the quality of the entries. Curator Angela Clarke was there and was pleased to give us explanations about the artists’ intentions. There is a useful catalogue for $5 so I shall take some more time to learn about the show. For now I’ll post photos of just three pieces and remind you to get yourself over to the Italian Cultural Centre asap. If I find time I’ll post a more complete album of photos on facebook soon.

https://italianculturalcentre.ca/events/exhibits/malleable-exhibition/

The show ends on December 10th.

We then took ourselves down to Granville Island. I regret not getting there more often these days. The place was bustling as I carried a box of pots in to Circle Craft. The staff were welcoming and tell me that my new pieces will be labelled and on shelves in a day or two.. so by now.

I had a date to meet a salt-loving patron in the market, at the Blue Parrot coffee shop. Now my best salty Rhyton Raptor lives with other fine pots in Vancouver and his name is Homer! Thank you Jackie Frioud for a really fine salt firing.

Next, we three drove on to 1st Avenue’s gallery east of Main street to find Burrard Arts Foundation. Raider and potter Kate Metten is also a fine painter. Her current show ‘The Thinking Eye’ follows her recent residency there. This quote is taken from her good explanatory notes with this work:

‘The Thinking Eye’ borrows its title from an anthology of Paul Klee’s notebooks. The phrase describes the ability of art to control the viewer’s looking, directing movement in the eye to create a sense of pattern and optical space.’

This show of quiet and controlled but carefully considered paintings is up until December 14th.

One of these paintings has gone on to a life as cladding for a skytrain station.

http://burrardarts.org/public_art/highland-rose/

‘This installation covers King Edward Canada Line station in a painting by Kate Metten, which itself interprets the Scottish tartan Highland Rose. As a textile, tartan is associated with domesticity, family, and cultural identity, while Highland Rose’s pink and white tones are traditionally feminine. Tartan is a material that comforts and insulates the body, especially during cold weather. Highland Rose extends that same function to King Edward station, bringing coziness and intimacy to this highly public site of energy and motion.’

We ended our Vancouver Art day with visits to the nearby Elan Gallery and Gallery Jones. Rush hour approached so Equinox Gallery and ECU’s gallery had to wait for another day.