We weren’t able to go to the opening of this show at Maple Ridge Art Gallery so I’m glad we had the chance to visit it last Friday.

“A Life in the Day” in WildRice Studio features the work of New Westminster clay artists Keith and Celia Rice-Jones. They have filled the large gallery with Keith’s sculptural pieces and Celia’s functional work on the whole. But Keith is showing some large serving dishes and Celia has wall-pieces.

They work alongside each other every day, in the studio and in their garden so it is no surprise that the pieces displayed fit together well in the gallery. But as their invitation states ‘this transformative installation demonstrates the wide divergence in the scale and style of their work, despite their sharing the same clay, kiln and modernist sensibilities.’

Keith has had a Japanese-style garden installed in one area, featuring his tall, bold, dark-stained sculptures, a lantern and a water feature bubbling quietly away. There are wall pieces by both artists and some fine gauze-like banners separate spaces, allowing one to be indoors or in a garden. They use text, on the banners and in a great mural which depicts a place-name poem by Al Purdy.

Celia’s platters, bowls, teapots, mugs and goblets are displayed on plinths. Some are elegant porcelain and some have reduction glazes like temmoku and ash. All are vessels that you’d want to take home to use every day.

There is a video to sit and enjoy when you visit this big show. Keith will be giving a special tour of the exhibition this coming Saturday April 13th at 11am.

You have until June 1st 2013 to see the sculpture and Ceramics from WildRice Studio.

For more information go to    www.theactmapleridge.org