Tuesday was the day I've been waiting for. At 1.30pm sharp the team were all there, waiting to start the unloading of the 107th firing of the Soda kiln at Shadbolt Centre. The kiln is showing its age, with some nasty chunks having fallen into pots which were placed on the bottom ledge of the door. Tony was considering whether repairs are in order or…
Deadlines are good! I booked myself in to join a soda firing at Shadbolt Centre's Vault kiln on May 22nd. So, at the beginning of May, I cleaned the red earthenware out of my wheel and started work with Plainsman H555 and Georgie's Umpqua cone 10 stoneware clay. I made my two cubic feet quota of ware, including carved bowls, jugbirds and more, and bisque-fired…
Fourteen years ago, in October of 2010, five members of TriCity Potters spent an amazing two weeks in JingdeZhen, the famous porcelain-production city in China. Last Wednesday these intrepid potters, Grace Siu, Carlene Akester, Kay Bonathan, Hannah Chan and Eliza Wang, presented their experience there to us and then spoke a little about how the residency has influenced their own work. Kay introduced the five,…
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…
The coastal shoreline is a unique place where land and ocean overlap. When the conditions are right, the persistent and unyielding tidal forces can carve hollows and divots into the bedrock itself. Groupings of these sculptural rock formations are called Tafoni. from Brent Comber. While holidaying together on a Gulf Island five artist friends realized that they needed to put their work together in a…