feature artist – Gillian McMillan — Rara Avis https://www.gillianmcmillan.com Thu, 13 Mar 2025 04:49:55 +0000 en-US hourly 1 Firing #555 https://www.gillianmcmillan.com/blog/2025/03/12/firing-555/ https://www.gillianmcmillan.com/blog/2025/03/12/firing-555/#comments Thu, 13 Mar 2025 04:42:28 +0000 https://www.gillianmcmillan.com/?p=16157

#555 was probably the last firing of my electric kiln in its custom-built shed. The kiln and shed were built for me in 1999 when I left my three-year residency at Port Moody Arts Centre (now PoMoArts). I have yet to discover the fate of my good kiln, but I’m sure it will give many more good firings.

It was rather odd not to have a single piece of my work in this load, but I haven’t been able to complete the painting of some jugbirds which currently are nesting in a plaster-lined storage bin. This group of pots is mainly plates painted by an ever-faithful group of Raiders, with a few pieces made by my lovely twin grandsons on their stay here in February.

Monique’s two large round plates turned out beautifully. Transparent circles float in a pitch-black space. I hope you’ll continue to paint on clay, Monique!

Monique
Monique

Karen had a good painting day. I think it’s safe to say that Eric was on her mind when she chose these shapes for her two coupes. I posted two views of the one to consider whether it’s a fish or a woman/vase.

Karen
Karen

Sally has intriguing plans for this platter. Perhaps she’ll leave it exactly as it is.. we’ll find out. The words are a clue.

Sally (Allyson)
Cathy

Of course I photographed both sides of this platter by Cathy. The words show up nicely after her painstaking work with tape resist and underglazes. I think she’ll be pleased. 

Finally, in this series, Renée had a cold on our Raid day but came out here shortly after and spent a morning working on a big leather-hard round platter. She used my coloured slips for a change. The results are intentionally softer than her usual hard-edged shapes.

Now we need to find a day to get these to their artists.

In other news, I’m honoured to be the featured artist at Jonathon’s Gallery in London, Ont. for March. Brian kindly posted several photos of the display in the prestigious gallery on Instagram recently. Here are my screen grabs.

soda-fired pieces in a prairie setting
some egg boxes with a bird vase
earthenware and stoneware pieces

The SECOND HAND pottery sale went very well. Many pots in my collection have gone to new homes. It was such fun to explain where and why I had acquired each piece. My TriCity Potter friends were a great help for a busy morning.

Of course we have retained far too many more special pots to take to our new home. On that front we continue to clear shelves etc ready for the For Sale sign to go up, and we have begun to look at likely townhouses in Port Moody. That will be exciting, and yes, Alan has told our realtor that we shall need a studio for Gillian!

Another piece in the latest firing was a fine plate painted with underglazes and then sgraffitoed, by TriCity potter friend Maria Palotas. In the other photo you can see a two-waffle plate, a dragon, a flying mouse and more by Lucas and Bennett. 

Maria Palotas
Lucas & Bennett
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