During conversations with Joan and Reg Beck I asked about their careers and travels. It turns out that long before they became teachers in Williams Lake they had taken a long journey around much of the world. At one point Joan (who had already taken some pottery classes with Vancouver’s Ross Huyghe, no less) and a friend found themselves in Mashiko, Japan and asked where Shoji Hamada lived. Hamada of course is the famous Japanese potter who became a close friend of Bernard Leach. Joan and her friend were warmly welcomed, and were even invited to stay the night. What a magical thing to happen to a potter just at the beginning of her career! Reg gave me this photo of Joan with Shoji Hamada in 1970.
When Joan and Reg finally moved to work in Williams Lake later in the seventies they built this house in the country. Joan’s thrilled with their cheery new red roof!
The Beck’s daughter Sarah is also a potter and is a fiddle-player. Where better to live than on the other side of the country in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia? There she and her musician husband have a house and separate studio right on the Cabot Trail. The day after I left Williams Lake Joan and Reg left to drive to Calgary to see their other daughter Karen. Joan planned to fly on to Nova Scotia after that and spend some time with Sarah in her pottery studio. Sarah also comes back for a Winter time sale with her mom. How come neither of my sons took up pottery? I admired this raku puffin at Joan’s and am told it’s one of Sarah’s, a popular item for Maritime sales.
I was impressed with the number of murals painted on buildings in downtown Williams Lake. They help to remind visitors and locals alike about the history and economy of their city.
Just one last note for the people who took my workshop. If you want a reminder of how those oval plates are made take a look at my little photo essay on the topic. Click on the link below.
https://picasaweb.google.com/112208740085943894765/MakingOvalSlabLunchPlates
and the jugbird-making story can be seen by clicking on this..
https://picasaweb.google.com/112208740085943894765/GillianMakingJugbirds
