Many years ago I picked up this invitation to a show of carved wooden Bird Sculptures by Guy Taplin from a Salisbury gallery, Courcoux & Courcoux. It has been pinned up in my studio next to where I paint my jugbirds ever since. The simple shape and bold colours have been an inspiration.

I’ve always been impressed by the fact that public and private galleries in England (and in the States, Mexico, New Zealand and Australia, everywhere but here in Vancouver apparently) show Fine Crafts alongside Paintings, Prints and Photographs. The absence of Fine Crafts in BC galleries particularly is an issue which we in the Ceramics community are constantly wondering about. I stress that of course galleries should only sell gallery quality crafts, not manufactured ‘crafts’ or work made from a pattern or kit.

On my recent trip back to England this perception was reinforced. Primavera of course is mainly a Fine Craft gallery, with some 2D work to complement the pottery, sculpture, furniture, weavings and jewellery. I showed photos of the variety available in my blog …      But nearby Cambridge Contemporary Art and Contemporary Crafts both feature ‘artworks which are handmade in the UK, ranging from paintings and limited edition prints to glass, ceramics, textiles, jewellery and metalwork’.

In London I visited the Royal Academy to see the just-opening Anselm Keifer show, and noted that RA proudly displays a Grayson Perry ceramic sculpture in the entrance.

Courcoux & Courcoux long ago closed their little gallery in Salisbury but when my sister Mary took me to nearby Stockbridge I was pleased to find the new, bigger C & C. As I remembered from before, the gallery has changing solo shows featuring wall work and a large number of sculptures and ceramic pieces. As usual I couldn’t help myself and took photos of the pieces that grabbed me. I was delighted to find that there was a good selection of the fine wooden bird carvings by Guy Taplin and even more interesting, these were most likely being resold. I’ve almost never seen a secondary market in Vancouver. There were some fine large ceramic pieces in this gallery also.

Just up the main street of this picturesque market town we checked out Broughton’s Crafts, a gallery featuring an enormous selection of good English-made pottery, and an obviously well-liked collection of art cards, toys and imported gifts. My one photo from the shop shows ‘Bird Pottery’ by Devon potter Penny Simpson.

I hope you enjoy the jaunty Taplin birds and the other pieces shown here.

The larger issue of where ceramic work stands in the Canadian gallery context is a subject I think we’ll hear discussed with passion by Paul Mathieu in his upcoming NorthWest Ceramics Foundation talk. It will be held at ECUAD on Oct 23rd, 7.30pm.