Gillian McMillan — Rara Avis
29Aug/110

“THROWN”: Panel Discussion

From the BC Potters Guild newsletter, for FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 9th.

PANEL DISCUSSION: "THROWN", Vancouver

MARK YOUR CALENDARS! The North-West Ceramics Society is pleased to be sponsoring a special panel discussion on the exhibition and subsequent catalogue "Thrown: British Columbia's Apprentices of Bernard Leach and their Contemporaries" published by the Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery of the University of British Columbia. "Thrown" was recently reviewed by long-time PGBC member Keith Rice-Jones in the August newsletter, and it is available for $60 in the Gallery of BC Ceramics. The panel will feature a slide presentation and discussion with Director/Curator of the Belkin and co-curator of Thrown, Scott Watson; Emily Carr University instructor and well-known ceramist Paul Mathieu and Tam Irving, one of the artists featured in the exhibition and the book. This is an excellent opportunity to learn more about the talented artists who contributed so significantly to the history of ceramics in our province. The panel will take place on Friday, September 9 at 7:30 p.m . in Room 245, North Building of Emily Carr University of Art + Design (1399 Johnston Street, Granville Island, Vancouver). All are welcome and encouraged to attend.
For more information, please see the website of the North-West Ceramics Foundation, www.nwcf.ca

This is a link to an interesting article on the subject by Adele Weder in 'The Tyee' entitled '"Thrown": Respect For The Ordinary Pot.' Who could resist an article with that title?

http://thetyee.ca/Books/2011/08/11/BCPottery/

16Feb/110

TriCity Potters meeting tonight

To continue the tale of pots made when there's a deadline! The pots were all dry by Sunday so I started the bisque. Monday saw the kiln cooling and my poor cousin braved pouring rain to visit in Port Moody. She lives in Ontario - I'd really like to get there again - and also reconnect with my good buddy from Medalta, Brenda Sullivan. Anybody there need a workshop or slide talk?

On Tuesday I was able to empty the kiln, wax and glaze all the pots, reload and leave the kiln warming very slowly to dry them all out - while I drove in to Vancouver in the late afternoon. Pouring rain again. Cousin Dennise is staying at Granville Island Hotel so the plan was to take her to Gallery of BC Ceramics and Circle Craft.

First I stopped in at the Ceramics Dept of Emily Carr to donate two non-bird jugs for the students Ceramics Auction soon. Had a nice chat with Paul Mathieu in his office. I distracted him from preparing his next power point presentation. I must try to get to that auction - as usual he is donating a couple of vases and they go quickly!

With chatting and supper with several relatives who'd congregated we didn't get to the galleries but Dennise knows where to go when she has a break from meetings over the next couple of days. Turned the kiln to 100 degrees per hr at 10pm.

Wednesday morning: The kiln had a 20-minute soak at 1922 F, cone 04 and turned itself off at 2pm. Meanwhile the washing-machine in my studio died the other day so while it is pulled out from its home I decided to paint the floor. You know how that goes. I used up the remainder of the acrylic latex floor paint on a large part of the studio area. Feels great but I didn't take the stoneware out of its bag.

And now, this evening, the TriCity Potters meet at 7pm at Port Moody Senior Secondary School. 5 of our members who attended a Residency at Zhing de Zhen last October will be showing us images of their adventure. Do join us!

1Sep/100

Eric Metcalfe likes to paint on clay

On Monday I used the lovely Canada Line skytrain to take some more pots to YVR airport Crafthouse. So convenient. Then I rode it all the way downtown to go to the passport office in Sinclair Centre. Off to UK and Turkey later this month..

I popped into the Western Front in Mount Pleasant to drop off two plates for artist Eric Metcalfe. I'd made them for him to paint for friends. While there I noticed some splendid porcelain vases on his shelf. Produced by/for Paul Mathieu in China they had been painted by Paul and Eric. Splendid!