The first day of June and of the Residency (and my umpteenth birthday) was far too busy and exhausting for me to write a blog.

Aaron Nelson hosted the 9.30am Orientation and introduced the Medalta International Artists in Residence (MAIR) staff and we introduced ourselves to each other. We were taken around the marvellous Historic Site with all its kilns, displays of manufacturing and of all phases of pottery production there over the years. Our studio spaces were sorted quite amicably and we ordered our locally produced Plainsman Clay – it’s everywhere!

In the evening the Medicine Hat Potters’ Club hosted us to a potluck supper in the nearby Community Building. We met the saints who’ve shepherded the Residency Programme into existence and the local potters who so happily cooperate with Medalta on anything clay related. Some of us enjoyed a walk around a little lake back to our student residence. We spotted a muskrat and the ever-present Canada Geese and goslings.