Last Thursday ‘That Pottery Thing’ celebrated this year’s NorthWest Ceramic Foundation’s Award Winners. A reception was held in the Mayer Studio at 1000 Parker street, Vancouver. Invited guests watched the award presentations, enjoyed elegant appetizers and participated in a Silent Auction of donated ceramics.
The awards were presented by this year’s jury members, after which each winner gave a Power Point presentation. For more detailed news about That Pottery Thing go to Amy Gogarty’s blog here: https://www.nwcf.ca/news/#
I’ll just add some more of my photos.
First up was the new Celia Rice-Jones Legacy Award which has been established in memory of long-time local potter Celia Rice Jones. It is to be awarded to a potter producing a body of sound domestic ware. Her husband Keith Rice Jones presented the award to Lund-resident Alan Burgess.
Next up was the presentation of the new Mayer Wosk Award. ‘The award provides tangible recognition of an individual ceramic artist who has resided and worked in BC for at least 5 years, who has exhibited his or her work publicly, and who has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to the ceramics community’. The jurors decided that two artists should be honoured this year. The winners are Amelia Butcher and Wei Cheng.
The four ‘slide’ presentations gave the audience an interesting and thought-provoking evening’s entertainment. There are so many influences, historical and world-wide, on the paths that our clay artists have taken.
Finally, retired ECU Head of Ceramics Tam Irving presented the Tam Irving Honorary Award of Recognition to D’Arcy Margesson. D’Arcy told of his life in clay and the pursuit of excellence in education, as well as his family and his garden in Gibsons. This is the D’Arcy who formulated the strong earthenware clay that many of us use today.
The North-West Ceramics Foundation Award of Excellence is now known as the Tam Irving Award. It is a non-solicited award given to a BC ceramic artist who has demonstrated excellence in the ceramic arts.
Criteria: Must have worked in BC for five years and be a current resident. Must have a public exhibit record. Must have made a significant contribution to BC Ceramics
After the presentations guests were encouraged to study and bid on the Silent Auction of donated ceramics. Pics of the array below. I need to learn how to crop out red crates.
I was happy to see that my carved soda-fired vase went to a good home!
This will probaboly be the last blog I’ll put together this year as we all take some time to celebrate the Christmas season with family and friends. I hope to get just a few new pots glazed shortly.
Do take one day to visit the splendid BCPG Potters’ show at the Italian Cultural Centre until Jan 15th. It celebrates the guild’s 70 years.
Wonderful photos and comments of this special event Gillian !thank you for sharing it with us!
Love these photos and these presentations.
It’s great to see the variety of pottery being crafted.