Last Thursday I attended the opening of the latest show at the Gallery of BC Ceramics, ‘Traditions’, featuring the work of two Vancouver artists who share a studio, Ron Vallis and Martin Peters. These artists are traditional studio potters in the Leach tradition, hence the show’s title I’m sure. Together they have assembled a pleasing selection of jugs, plates, teapots, vases and lidded jars, all glazed with comfortable temmoku, celadon and other familiar stoneware glazes and fired in a reduction-fired gas kiln.

The opening was well-attended by many of the Lower Mainland clay community, so it was a happy couple of hours. As usual I took photos of the work in the show and of the people there. You’ll recognize lots but I won’t add names.

I already own two Vallis plates, from Oven and kiln events, so this day I bought a fine little side-handled jug to accompany them. Of course I can’t bring it home until the show ends on November 1st.

Ron explained that his favourite piece in the show is a large platter with several grey and greenish glaze colours across it. He pointed out that it is actually part of a new series in which he has introduced figurative references, and I could see that there’s an elegant curving hip defined by slip and paper resist. That plate and many others already sported a red sticker. The collectors of traditional pottery were out in force for this show.

I didn’t find a chance to talk to Martin Peters but you’ll see him in some photos. Ron held one of his favourite belly vases for his picture.

Friday May 15th 2015. That’s a day this grandmother won’t forget for a long time! Our daughter-in-law Jennifer produced twin boys, Lucas and Bennett, in Maple Ridge Hospital. They’re healthy little fellows and were 7 and 6 lbs respectively. Jen, Steve and older brother Caleb are getting used to a somewhat chaotic life as an expanded family. We were able to visit the newborns in the afternoon of their birthday, before I was scheduled to attend the ‘From Oven and Kiln’ Gala evening in Vancouver. So that’s why I look rather overdressed to meet the babes. That first day I held Lucas but I will be sure to hold each boy lots!

It was a beautiful day to drive in to the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club. What a fine view there is from the dining room! I popped outside to photograph the building and the downtown skyline, and later admired the sun setting over English Bay.

The event was just great. We were assigned seats at tables for ten and I was delighted to find two of my ‘Raiders’  there – Allyson Clay and Greg Bellerby, as well as notable BC Potters Guild members, exp-president Dennise Jeffrey, new president D’Arcy Grenier and board member Andrew Wong.

I enjoyed checking out the silent auction displays on three long tables. Some fine ceramic pieces had been donated. I placed bids on some that I felt we should give a home to but sadly I was outbid on all. Never mind. It turns out that the eventual owners have made serious contributions to the North West Ceramics Foundation fund. I was relieved to see that bids on my salty jug bird were inching close to its suggested retail price and I hope its buyer enjoys giving it a home.

The buffet meal was splendid, with a fine selection of seafood, considering the club’s waterfront location, and delicious desserts of course. As we ate the latter the winner of NWCF’s award, Gailan Ngan, gave a presentation on her work. Nicely done Gailan. It was most interesting to see some of your journey so far. The no-strings-attached award is intended to encourage the juried winner to continue working in ceramics and to have the chance to grow and pursue new ideas.

A pile of ten dessert plates was brought to each table with the idea of giving diners a chance to select which donated plate they’d like. I spotted a distinctive Ron Vallis temmoku-glazed one at the bottom of the pile and happily chose it, to be used with a similar one I already have from a previous Gala. As I walked around the other tables, looking at which plates people had chosen I saw some of mine and learnt from Ron that his wife had chosen one of them to go with some she already owns! I’m happy that they like to use my slab earthenware plates in a house where I’m sure Ron’s stoneware is the main ware in use.

What a wonderful day that was!