~
POTTERS
an

COLUMBIA
a

High Heels, Continued from Page 8

While advertisers claimed high heels were not only harmless but also
beneficial to the health, critics reported that high heels created a
sexually aggressive gait. They were compared to a “poisoned hook” to
catch unwary males. Indeed, some associated the high heel with the
cloven hoof of a devil or witch. Regardless of the criticism, the first
heel factory opened in 1888 in America.

During the Depression of the 1930s, heels were lowered and
widened. In the 1940 war years, luxury supplies were limited resulting
in a rise of hemlines, with heels high but remaining moderately
thick. In the 1950s technology provided a steel core, which allowed
designers to develop an extremely thin heel that would lift the shoe
to unbelievable heights. Christian Dior and Roger Vivier developed
the Louis shoe with this steel core, a narrow heel called the stiletto
(named after the Italian dagger). Eventually the stiletto was attached
to boots during the miniskirt era of the 1960s. Skirts and heels rose
simultaneously, thus serving to enhance and elongate the look of bare
legs. With the Feminist movement many felt high heels symbolized
subservience and. sexual stereotyping by men (Let’s not forget the
Venetian chopine mentioned earlier). Consequently, heels dropped and
thickened once more. However, during the post modern context of
the 1980s, the Feminist rejection of fashion weakened and Feminists
argued that fashion could be an experiment with appearances, and
they challenged the existing cultural meaning. Internationally, women
continue to claim that by wearing high heels they are giving themselves
power and authority.

We can now chose any type of shoe, from athletic wear to hybrid
shoes such as heeled tennis shoes. On the other end of the scale,
designer shoes often appear as flights of fancy with rhinestones,
feathers, sequins, buttons, bows, beads, grommets, rings, chains,
tibbons, silk brocade, bits of coral, lace, fur, alligator, ostrich and
much more. You can choose from a range of heel types (check out
the names): the kitten, the puppy or the less sexy wedge, spool, and
cone. If you find them too uncomfortable never fear, today plastic
surgeons are routinely shortening toes and injecting padding into the
balls of women’s feet to allow more comfort in a pair of these stilettos.
Should this procedure fail, you can take the advice of June Swann,
shoe historian: “It’s like the circus. You can learn to walk on anything
if you put your mind to it.”

Pretty in Pink, Size 7. Hand Built, porcelain fired to Cone 5.

Choosing Shoes
by Frida Wolfe
New shoes, new shoes,
Red and pink and blue shoes.
Tell me, what would you choose,
If they'd let us buy?
Buckle shoes, bow shoes, Pretty pointy-toe shoes,
Strappy, cappy low shoes; Let's have some to try.
Bright shoes, white shoes, Dandy-dance-by-night shoes...”

Kathryn O’Regan, BFA (Visual) is a graduate of ECUAD and has
studied at Ottawa and Capilano Universities. She is a member of the
Contemporary Art Society of Vancouver and the PGBC. Previous positions
include Vice President of the Craft Council of BC, and Board Member
PGBC. She chaired the “BC in a Box: FingerPlay Exhibition” and the
Craft Council of BC: “Contemporary Craft in BC Exhibition”. The BC
Arts Council awarded her a Project Grant for her Workshop Tour to New
Zealand, and Australia and an Artist in Residency at the University of
Tasmania (2003). She was a recipient of the Maureen Wright Scholarship
(2002). She maintains a studio in the Mergatroid Building, Vancouver.
See more at: www.kathrynartist.com

Spend a Clay Afternoon at the MOA! 8) caroi Maver

You are invited to a talk by Walter Keeler ac the UBC Museum
of Anthropology on Saturday, April 7, at 3 p.m. The talk is free with
museum admission and will be in the Theatre Gallery. Walter is one
of the UK’s leading ceramic artists with an international reputation.
He is particularly well known for his designs that draw on eighteenth
century Staffordshire moulded pottery, the forms of Roman blown
glass and old-fashioned metal milk churns and oil cans. Meticulously
crafted, his work has a characteristic grey colour and orange-peel surface
typical of salt-glaze firing. Since the late 1990s he has produced new
ranges of work based on fluid cream and green decoration reminiscent
of early Staffordshire wares. His work relates to domestic pottery and
is often functional, but always challenges the viewer with its playful
approach to form.

Koerner Gallery of European Ceramics
At 1 p.m., Dr. Angela Clarke, Ceramics Specialist, offers insights
into the treasures to be found in the Koerner European Ceramics

Gallery (55 mins)

The Multiversity Galleries -— anytime!
Between Angela's and Walter's talks you can browse through the
Multiversity Galleries where there you will find examples of the
museum's almost 4,000 world ceramics collection.
What a great way to spend an afternoon!
For more info, please contact Carol Mayer; carol.mayer@ube.ca

Potters Guild of BC Newsletter - April 2012