Herman Venema studio closing.

Gillian McMillan — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 18:20:39 +0000

We were all sad to learn that the Herman Venema studio would be closing after operating in the Fraser Valley for 50 years. Herman has been an inspirational teacher to area potters, offering classes in a large well-equipped studio, with the use of cone 10R glazes and firings in a huge gas kiln.

He built an elegant retail gallery on the upper floor of the converted barn, and, of particular interest to me, a fine, beautifully-maintained salt kiln.

Herman and Joyce’s skilfully restored heritage house, barn, orchard and garden are set on farm land near Sumas mountain (where Sumas clay and brick works are now closed) on Matsqui Prairie.

Members of Fraser Valley Potters Guild who lived further east in the Valley talked about the Venema Pottery, Herman’s classes and his gallery. I first met him when he hosted a pit firing workshop on his property. We brought along our coiled and burnished pots and buried them in a brick-rimmed circle and he fired them. His subsequent critique was a great learning experience.

On Friday Carlene and Eliza joined me for the one-hour drive from Port Moody, along the north side of the Fraser River to Mission, and over the bridge to the Abbotsford area. We were anxious to arrive at the studio by 3pm as we’d been warned that the final sale would be well-attended and pots purchased quickly. So many of Herman’s students, admirers and collectors would want to come and say thankyou and farewell.

Since my last visit to the studio agri-buildings have appeared right up to the property line so there is no longer a view of farm fields. I am told that the farmers hope to purchase the Venema property.

It was an afternoon of mixed feelings. Herman was cheerfully greeting old students and friends, discussing glazes and memories. But there were some very sad faces as the closing of a much-loved work space appears inevitable.

Eliza had a happy moment with Herman as she thanked him for selecting her work for an award when he was the juror for a Fraser Valley Potters Guild show one year.

Personally, I shall always be grateful that Nora Vaillant invited me to join other salt keeners in firings of the excellent salt kiln some years ago. The kiln was maintained in amazing condition with Dave Dobie mainly in charge of loading and firing. We simply joined Dave and Herman for the exciting inserting of salt burritos. Thank you to the team who shared in the building of that kiln. I have some of my best salty pots from it. Marilyn showed us that the kiln has been carefully taken apart and the bricks await their transportation to Cathi Jefferson’s studio on Vancouver Island.

I heard Cathi being interviewed on CBC Radio this morning, along with Herman, sounding very sad. There is a website set up to fundraise for a possible rescue of the property, with hopes to establish an artist residency and workshop, but time is running out. Click here to see the website: https://www.hermanvenemaartssociety.ca

We stopped to admire the always carefully maintained garden as we left with our new Venema pots.

As I chatted with Herman and Ted Driediger, another local potter I met while firing the salt kiln, Herman said that turning 80 felt like a joke, but that being 82 isn’t. This is a very hard time for him and his family. We are so grateful for what he has given to the clay community in the Abbotsford area.

CBC published an article on this subject and I was invited to send them my photos. Here is the link, plus some photos that aren’t in the blog.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/herman-venema-pottery-studio-closing-abbotsford-1.6788927

pottery workshop – Gillian McMillan — Rara Avis

Herman Venema studio closing.