It was a treat to attend an art opening on Thursday after six months since we’ve had the chance. Tam Irving kindly sent me an invitation to see a small show of his work along with a curated jewellery exhibition on the night it opened. Mostly I think that the ‘Visual Space’ gallery is hoping that people will check the two shows when there aren’t too many others there.
The store-front gallery is on Dunbar street in Western Vancouver, very near to where Jan and Jim Kidnie live so I took the chance, on a rainy day, to have a cup of tea with them and see some of Jan’s collection of Canadiana and one-cup tea-pots. Jan was the editor of the BC Potters’ newsletter for about four years when Tam Irving was the President of the Guild. In the early nineties Rosemary Amon and I, and others, showed up once a month to stuff the newsletter into envelopes for members. It used to be a great chance to gossip about pots and pottery with Jan, check the guild library and see the latest work in the gallery below. So good to see you again in person Jan.
After tea Jan and I drove over, separately, to the gallery and were happy to see that several familiar faces were already there. We wore masks inside and stepped downstairs to see two of Tam’s now familiar ‘still life’ arrangements and some vases and wall pieces. He was pleased to see long-time friends and fans arrive to enjoy past and current work. One of the Arrangements of pots/shapes/vessels was comprised of pieces fired in Wayne Ngan’s salt kiln. We see luscious blue salty surfaces on a white shelf backed with a denim blue.
The other ‘still life’ features Tam’s departure from using locally-sourced clay and glazes for traditional functional ware, to a more recent exploration in mid-century coloured earthenware and hand-built forms. Wonderful! I expect you enjoyed those, Renée.
I believe I have included photos of all the work in the show but did not take the time to find titles. Sorry Tam.
On the main floor I found two wall pieces and a yellow/white platter and more work is on display in the window.
The other show ‘Placement’ features juried non-traditional jewellery from five Canadian artists, curated by Crafts Association artist Barbara Cohen. Some marvellous, interesting pieces make a good complement to Tam’s ceramic work. Click on this image to read about the show.
It was very good to gather outside, under the gallery’s canopy, out of the drizzle, and catch up with friends we haven’t seen in so long. Tam’s wife Rosalind noted that I’m rarely seen in my blog so insisted on taking my photo with my Emily Carr instructor, Tam.
There were copies of Carol Mayer’s publication about Tam and his work from his show at Burnaby Art Gallery available and some free ones from a show that took place in Macau in 2016. We can’t understand the text but the photos are fine. I took a photo of a piece to show you one of his fine Suprematist-influenced wall vases.
Take yourself to the little gallery on Dunbar one quiet afternoon to see work by the versatile Tam Irving. This is a pdf of his biography.
I must buy myself a better-fitting mask that allows me to talk comfortably … adjustable, light weight and with a nose-fitting wire.
Photos of my most recent plates in my next blog.
