On Saturday March 23rd I accompanied fellow potters Carlene, Kay and Eliza for the 1 1/4 hour drive out to Chilliwack for the opening of Fraser Valley Potters Guild’s annual juried show. I haven’t been attending meetings for many years but as a founding member I am honoured to have lifetime membership. Kay invited me to participate this year and I agreed, seeing I had a couple of pieces from a recent soda firing that I considered exhibition-worthy.
Mainly I felt it was my duty to take photos of everybody’s work, with the intention of putting together a blog. It turns out that there are many excellent entries and documenting all, here, would be too much. So I shall show my photos of work by prize-winners and honourable mentions, and some more, but not all, I’m afraid.
Juror for this year’s show was local Yarrow resident Heather Dahl. She maintains Dahlhouse Studios there and in the Mergatroid Building in Vancouver. That’s a long commute, two or three times a week, I gather.
https://www.heatherdahlstudio.com/about-1
Her selections were somewhat dependant on making a coherent display of each artist’s pieces, and in most cases they are displayed together on the plinths.
She chose Honourable Mentions and Awards of Merit in the Open category (most entrants) and in the small Student category. I’ll post my photos of the winners first.
Honourable Mentions in the Open Category
People’s Choice Award – to be announced April 22.
Everyone to vote on favorite piece by artist & title. Ballots with the box.
Local Chilliwack Art Gallery volunteer Holly McKeen welcomed us all to the show. Then past president of Fraser Valley Potters Guild, Pat Schendel, happily announced the winners. Below she is presenting Ted Driediger with his Award of Merit for his huge bottle. Holly then presented Pat with her award!
I was happy to find Susan Johnston and her work, and I congratulated her on having been selected to join the very capable entrants in the first Great Canadian Pottery Throwdown. What an experience that must have been! We have enjoyed the whole filmed-on-Granville Island series immensely.
Below the photo of Susan I’ll add as many photos of work in the show as I can.
What an incredible variety of techniques are on display. If you drive out to the valley to see the last of the daffodils and the glorious tulips, take a detour into Chilliwack to see all these pots, until Saturday April 20th.
After we’d seen the show we invited ourselves into the marvellous community pottery studio in this, the Chilliwack Cultural Centre. Barbara, the tech, and a building attendant proudly informed us that the facility was all paid for by community fundraising over some five years. I am so impressed!
Take a look, TRI-CITIES!
Gillian, your photos & write-up on the FVPG juried show in Chilliwack are excellent. What a great representation of the different styles & techniques that makes pottery so fascinating & enjoyable.
Many thanks!
Such an interesting variety of work and styles, would that I could see them for real. Thank you for an excellent series of photographs
loved reading this blog; and what exciting pottery; good to hear you are so active with both these guild groups. Keep on inspiring us.
bEAUYTIFUL SHOW.
Beautiful and diverse work. Congratulations to all!
Thanks for this inspiring coverage of the show.
Great to see a photo of you Gill, among all the amazing work in your selection!