Meira Mathieson – Gillian McMillan — Rara Avis https://www.gillianmcmillan.com Thu, 07 Apr 2011 18:45:48 +0000 en-US hourly 1 Studio time, and FVPG jurying https://www.gillianmcmillan.com/blog/2011/04/06/studio-time-and-fvpg-jurying/ https://www.gillianmcmillan.com/blog/2011/04/06/studio-time-and-fvpg-jurying/#respond Thu, 07 Apr 2011 04:41:38 +0000 http://www.gillianmcmillan.com/blog/?p=779 Finally we had some sunshine today – no warmth! But it is cheering not to be looking at rain or even hail. A full bisque kiln load turned itself off around lunch time so I spent a happy afternoon working in my studio on those things you don’t want to do when pots need work. I mixed up a batch of wadding and ‘Yellow Salt’ glaze, a liner glaze from Medalta. While I had the scales out and my mask on I weighed out top-ups for some of my earthenware slips ready for the next jugbirds and a possible slip-painting workshop in July. Tomorrow morning when the kiln is cool I’ll be waxing and glazing the 20, I think, new jugbirds for the studio tour next week. The stoneware pieces for salt will be dealt with once the cone 04 glaze firing is started. I shall need to liner glaze them and wad them. HAPPY! Vincent Massey plans to fire his salt kiln in early May so I plan to give my contributions to him when he’s at Granville Island next Monday.

Last night’s jury evening at Maple Ridge Art Gallery was most interesting. The members of Fraser Valley Potters Guild have entered a big variety of pots and sculptural work and Meira Mathieson has chosen some excellent pieces for the show. I tried to take photos of the work that appealed to me but I find the flash is awful inside so I rely on whatever light there is. The photos are of course long exposures and blurred. Meira’s energetic talk about the work involved talking with her hands!

We were told the winners and honourable mentions but I think I’ll leave that information until they’re announced at Saturday’s official opening!

I’ll put some of my photos here in spite of their poor quality but I’ll try to get better ones in daylight on Saturday.

 

 

]]> https://www.gillianmcmillan.com/blog/2011/04/06/studio-time-and-fvpg-jurying/feed/ 0 Fraser Valley Potters Guild annual juried show at MRAG https://www.gillianmcmillan.com/blog/2011/04/05/773/ https://www.gillianmcmillan.com/blog/2011/04/05/773/#respond Tue, 05 Apr 2011 19:25:19 +0000 http://www.gillianmcmillan.com/blog/?p=773 Tonight June MacDonald and I plan to drive out to Maple Ridge for this year’s Fraser Valley Potters Guild jurying evening. For many years Fraser Valley PG has been the only local guild to host an annual members’ show for which they bring in an outside juror. It is always an interesting exhibition of the multitude of processes we all use. Galleries around the Fraser Valley region which host the show are always pleased to use it as an opportunity to invite school groups in for clay education. For FVPG members it is a chance to push their work beyond the expected and safe and have feedback from a kind, knowledgeable juror. They are encouraged to submit up to 10 pieces and usually an average of 3 pieces will be included in the show, with the sometimes difficult proviso that at least one piece from each entrant is selected.

The official opening, with awarding of prizes will take place this Saturday. The event this evening is when members can hear remarks by this year’s juror Meira Mathieson. She will discuss her overall vision for the show and explain her selections. Jurors sometimes take the time to offer comments on almost everything submitted, time permitting. It is always a fascinating learning opportunity. I’m sure the Fraser Valley guild won’t mind my saying that any potters are welcome to attend to hear the comments. 7pm at Maple Ridge Art Gallery.

I am a founding member of that guild and am now a life member. President Pat Schendel kindly invited me to show some pieces in the show, unjuried – like some other life members, Judy Burke, Cathi Jefferson, David Lloyd and Connie Glover. But I had to tell her that my most special new work has already been exhibited at Circle Craft last September. Also as I now rarely drive out to Kwantlen College in Surrey for meetings I am more involved with our local TriCity Potters. But I am pleased that we maintain close ties, including several potters who belong to both guilds and we exchange information on a regular basis.

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