Fraser Valley Potters’ Guild’s Annual Juried Show is being held at the New Westminster Art Council Gallery in Queen’s Park, New Westminster this year. The Opening Reception and Awards Presentation took place last Sunday June 8th. http://www.fraservalleypottersguild.ca/index.php

The Guild has been operating since 1975 when a number of us students who were taking classes at then Douglas College (now Kwantlen College) founded the club. I no longer attend the monthly meetings which are still held in the Ceramics Department of Kwantlen but I try to attend the annual show. Members are invited to submit a maximum of ten pieces for the show and the invited juror selects the work that will be accepted. At least one piece is chosen from each entrant. The ‘juror’s remarks’ evening after he or she has spent a day choosing the show is always an interesting event. This year the juror was Herman Venema and I regret being unable to go that evening to listen to his comments.

The show is displayed on two floors of the Queen’s Park Gallery and there is a wide variety of work to admire. For anybody who is taking pottery lessons this would be a great opportunity to see a large variety of techniques, from wheel thrown stoneware to hand-built earthenware, raku, sculptural and wall pieces and crystalline ware. Guild president Pat Schendel invited juror Herman to display a large piece of his as well. His finely-made water feature gave a charming garden feeling to the show.

I took photos of the pieces that grabbed my attention and I will try to add the correct names to each image. Please contact me if you see mistakes. And I apologize for not being able to publish photos of everything! There were ‘Awards of Merit’ and ‘Honourable Mentions’ and these can be seen on the useful handout list available at the show.

When the rain stops take an afternoon to stroll in Queen’s Park and spend an hour or so in the somewhat hidden-away New Westminster Arts Council Gallery. Gallery hours are 1-5pm daily, except Monday. The show will only be on until June 28th.