KPU – Gillian McMillan — Rara Avis https://www.gillianmcmillan.com Sun, 19 Apr 2026 00:26:32 +0000 en-US hourly 1 Fired Identity https://www.gillianmcmillan.com/blog/2026/04/01/fired-identity/ https://www.gillianmcmillan.com/blog/2026/04/01/fired-identity/#comments Thu, 02 Apr 2026 03:46:50 +0000 https://www.gillianmcmillan.com/?p=16623

I recently attended the opening of Fired Identity, a show of work by Greater Vancouver Chinese Canadian Artists in Clay. It was co-curated by Kwantlen University instructor Ying Yueh Chuang and Jean Paull. Participating artist and local potter friend Eliza Wang invited me, with the treat of being driven all the way down to Kwantlen  Polytechnic University by her daughter Audrey. 

Eliza was delighted to tell me that the artist in this group who has worked longest with clay, Ping Kwong Wong, was at Art School with her many years ago when they were both students in Hong Kong. He has made pots and taught pottery here in the Lower Mainland for a long time. Below are his elaborate forms. I thoroughtly enjoy the complexity of them, particularly the wiggly surfaces on some.

Ping Kwong Wong & Eliza Wang
PKW
PKW

Sorry my photos are somewhat blurry. It’s hard to take good pics when the work is behind glass.

Below is work by Eliza Wang, and a group of pieces by other artists. I didn’t manage to take photos of everything I saw. Do pop in to see the show in the Spruce Atrium Gallery until June 26th 2026.

PKW
Eliza Wang
Top shelf: Wei Cheng Middle & bottom shelves: Ting Kwok (Evan) Leung

And here are astonishing pieces by Burnaby artist Amy Chang. These are all made of clay!

Amy Chang
Amy Chang

Ying Yueh thanked us all for attending the opening and introduced each of the artists. In this photo you see her with Eliza Wang and Amy Chang. She also invited us to visit the ceramic department’s area nearby where students were anxiously completing their final assignments. Below are some pieces by Ying Yueh.

 

YYC soda-fired, wheel thrown pieces
early YYC pieces
student assignments awaiting their assessment.

Ying-Yueh has sent me photos of the artists. Thank you.

The artists. Wei Cheng and Claudia Zilin Shen and exhibition co-curator Jean Paull were not there.
Ying-Yueh Chuang, Ting Kwok (Evan) Leung & Amy Chang

If I can find time I’d still like to post pics taken at the super Canadian Clay Symposium, and of Fraser Valley Potters show at Deer Lake AG. Then Tricity Potters have a show opening at Place des Arts next Friday. Plus I’m trying out a new white earthenware clay so hope to have a firing for those tests asap. Watch this space!

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