A Circle Craft customer requested a Stellar’s Jay jugbird and a Crow so my version of each were in my recent earthenware firing. There is already lots of my work in the Granville Island Co-op shop but staff said they’d like these two brought in. The sun began to emerge so I opted to drive in to town and give myself a change of scenery. Unbelievably, we hadn’t been in Vancouver since December .. why go when you can’t meet friends or safely visit galleries or eat out?

On the Island I found that there were lots of people, all wearing masks and avoiding each other, but obviously the current free parking is hugely popular. Circle Craft, in the Netloft building, wasn’t crowded and I was delighted that part-time staffer Jackie Read was on duty today. We’ve known each other for quite a while. She pointed out several shelves where my work is displayed and a cupboard where there are more.. so if special plates or jugbirds are in your Easter plans.. there they are.

On a little wander in that building and in the nearby market, I found some fabric printing stamps from Maiwa Supply to squish into clay, a scraper from the kitchen shop for wheel-throwing, a new T-shirt and mask for Alan from the Wickaninnish Gallery, a taco and a latte for my lunch and meat and vegs for supper.

Not wanting to make my expedition into town a one-stop trip I drove home via Hastings street and finally had time to visit Laura Van der Linde in her studio of the past three years. Back in the nineties her studio was in the same building as the one I shared, at 5th & Yukon. Yesterday she showed me (her sole visitor that afternoon, so safe) her perfect space. There are five wheels (only three ‘members’ who come to practice, no students pro tem), a slab roller, a huge table, lots of display shelves, good plumbing and a well-ventilated area for two electric kilns. Her studio mate is painter Jeanne Krabbendam.

I purchased one of the potters’ aprons she has designed and which are made in Alberta. It has a split front so that both knees are covered as you throw.. I should have bought one long ago. $100 incl. shipping. For more details describing these aprons go to ‘shop’ on Laura’s website and click on ‘accessories’.

Laura had also prepared a number of useful items for potters in preparation for the cancelled Clay Symposium. She gave me a little slip decorating bottle with various sized nozzles and showed me jars of ready-made white terra sigillata. Now there’s something that folks would find really useful. She coats the bottoms of her ware and they’re deliciously smooth. Contact Laura for these and other handy tools.

https://www.lauravanderlinde.com/contact

Here are photos of Laura’s ever colourful work. I love her choice of lime green here and there. You can visit her studio with a prior phone call or find lots of her pots in Circle Craft shop and Crafthouse. Instagram name: lauravanderlinde

A day of errands and some conversation was a treat! Thank you Laura. I shall try not to take so long to visit again.

Last Cone Standing is one of many ceramic shows all around the Lower Mainland which have been organized to coincide with the Shadbolt’s R:evolution Canadian Clay Symposium on March 18th.

I was particularly taken with little wood-fired flasks by Shadbolt technician and instructor Jay MacLennan.

In the adjacent window of Circle Craft I was happy to see the jolly colours of Laura van der Linde’s pottery.

The opening of ‘Last Cone Standing’ was last Thursday when TriCity Potters’ Celebration in Clay and fire/water at Amelia Douglas had their show openings too. I attended the Port Moody event and then managed to get to Douglas College on Saturday. I’ll show photos of those two shows in my next blogs.

As I walked the half a dozen blocks down towards the water the heavens opened, thunder cracked, wind howled all around the high-rises, leaves swirled and fellow pedestrians and I laughed at our blown sopping selves!

I was pleased to come across Vancouver Art Gallery ‘Offsite’ on Georgia. Here are two photos of Elspeth Pratt’s vast installation. Beside Coal Harbour I spotted a rainbow over Stanley Park, next to a fun Orca sculpture. The green-roofed Convention Centre features walls of wooden blocks and these egg-shaped forms below the ceiling. Conventioneers have a fantastic view of our city, the ocean and the North Shore mountains.

For about 4 hours I browsed all through the Circle Craft displays, enjoying the very best of Crafts from across Canada and I noticed one artisan from Washington State.

I’ll bore blog readers with my photos of the clay vendors I appreciate. I respect their displays, huge amount of work and the energy to work in their booths for 5 straight days!

My modest purchases did not include any pots – I really have lots! With performances, food and craft demonstrations there was much to entertain visitors and the jolly-vested volunteers were everywhere and most helpful. I have since heard the complaint that there is now too much emphasis on food and food-related products at a craft show but I don’t mind it. A multi-sense shopping experience is more like an old-fashioned outdoor Christmas market with food, music and bright lights. Well done Circle Craft and all the amazing craftspeople.

As I ascended the escalator to go back out to rainy Burrard Street I spotted the world above my head, with the Olympic Cauldron beyond. The bus arrived quickly and in no time I was back at Crackerjack for 7pm.