This coming Saturday will be the third and final chance to meet Keith Rice-Jones as he works alongside his huge show at Coquitlam’s Evergreen Cultural Centre. The show is of thirty years of Keith’s working in clay so there are new large garden sculptures, wall pieces, his signature urns and various other strong, stained forms. Check this link to the Evergreen’s site to read their description of the show and for hours the show is open. You have until Jan 9th to see it.

http://www.evergreenculturalcentre.ca/art-gallery/upcoming-exhibitions/keith-rice-jones

For many years Keith was the Art Teacher at Port Moody Senior Secondary School so many local students will remember him. He and his wife Celia work and live at  ‘Wildrice Studio’ in New Westminster. Maple Ridge Art Gallery hosted a show of work by both of them earlier this year. We are all wondering how Keith has found the time to organise not only making all these pieces but the well-planned displays in both shows.

The large space in the Evergreen Gallery is pleasantly busy as you negotiate between person-sized sculptures, stop to admire platforms showing groups of vessels, pause before interesting 3D wall pieces and wind up captivated by an excellent 9-minute video. The latter beautifully explains Keith’s working methods and the studio he and Celia share.

http://www.evergreenculturalcentre.ca/art-gallery/upcoming-exhibitions/keith-rice-jones/behind-the-scenes

Alan and I made two trips, once to catch Keith on a Saturday afternoon as he tried to work on a planned large coil-built sculpture while chatting with visitors, and again when the gallery was less busy so that we could take photos. So I took the photo showing Keith. All the rest were taken by Alan. We didn’t capture everything.

You should make a point of visiting this fine show yourself and you’re sure to find pieces that you enjoy. I was particularly impressed that Keith was able to persuade the gallery manager to allow a clay ‘studio’ in the gallery space. It is, I think, part of their commitment to public education. Concurrent with this show, as with the triennial Fraser Valley Potters Guild shows, they are offering clay classes and tours using the show as inspiration.

During this Christmas season the nearby Lafarge Lake has several spectacular light displays so take the short walk around it while you’re there. Evergreen Skytrain construction makes it look as if there’s no way in but just drive north on Pinetree Way and you can get in.

Sorry I haven’t made a note of titles, Keith.

http://www.wildricestudio.com

On Sunday April 28 Medicine Hat potter Jim Etzkorn juried the show. I’m sorry not to have attended his ‘juror’s remarks’ and taken the chance to say hello again but at least I was able to see his selections for Clay 2013.

When Alan and I arrived we found lots of old friends. FVPG president Pat Schendel and member Lucille Webster were on our tour of UK pottery and archaeology eight years ago. Local clay people in the show Gloria Barkley,  Kay Bonathan and Carleen Akester also belong to TriCity Potters.  Gay Mitchell is a member but will also be guiding school groups around the show, with several other employees and volunteers. The show has been very well arranged with informative placards on the walls.

I simply walked around the show, finding and photographing my favourite pieces, the honourable mentions and prize-winners and the work of past-president Cathi Jefferson and a huge pod-form by Connie Glover. Pat Schendel kindly invited me, along with the other lifetime members of FVPG to show a piece or two (I guess I have the honour of being a l-t member because I am a founding member). It is good to be included as a local clay artist in a big show that is in Coquitlam, even though I rarely drive to South Surrey for FVPG meetings. Cathi’s, Connie’s and my work was not juried, just displayed to show our techniques.

I have many photos and they won’t stay next to anything I might write about the work so I have attempted to caption each one with name of artist etc. I hope that those of you who are registered to get this blog in your email will be able to read captions too. If not just go to my website  www.gillianmcmillan.com and click on ‘blog’ to see the photos with the text and with captions (you glide your cursor over the image, don’t click).

Please let me know any details such as who got honourable mention or titles of pieces – for posterity!

May 9. Thank you Eliza for the following details.

Gloria has taken some photos too, including some with people in them so I’ll add those to a separate blog next.

The show will stay up until June 1st. Do try to get over there before then to see an impressive variety of clay work. You might also enjoy the pleasant 10-minute walk around Lafarge Lake right next to the Cultural Centre.

https://picasaweb.google.com/112208740085943894765/VariationsOnSymmetry