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POTTERS
GUILD
of BRITISH

COLUMBIA
a

President’s Message

It has been so darned wet this month it has been hard to get work
to dry! Despite that hurdle, I do have my bow! for the July exhibit
and I do have a piece for BC in a Box. I hope lots of you have
also submitted to our traveling exhibit, and/or will participate in
Celebrate the Bowl (see article on Page 6). These are the last group
member exhibitions for this year.

In a survey we conducted three years ago, opportunities to exhibit
our work was high on members’ wish lists. While our resources are

small, I am often impressed by how much we can achieve with so
little. We are always on the lookout for new ideas so if you have a
concept that you would like to propose, don’t hesitate to contact me

or any other board member with your thoughts. Ka)

—Jinny Whitehead

Ga | le ry N @wWS By Sharon Cohen

‘There’s always something new and exciting
in the gallery, from large to small. To be quite
literal about it, large would be Connie Glover's
massive smoke-fired urn—sometimes I think
we could fit a staff member inside it if hard
pressed—Carita and Karen are very small!
‘The piece is imposing not only because of its
size; it really is a spectacular work of art, very
impressive. I could see it in the entrance hall
of a large home. It needs to be on its own,
spot lit, making a grand and bold statement.
Spectacular!

At the opposite end of the spectrum (tiny
in stature but not in impact), we have the
brand new, hot-off-the-press espresso mugs
by Kathryn O’Regan. It’s been too long since
we had Kathryn's work in the gallery, and it’s
wonderful to have it back again. The mugs
are gorgeous. Kathryn brought them in while
I was away and apparently brought so many
that not all could be taken. I was told that the
staff decided to take the pink and purple ones,
knowing that I'd be craving them big time on
my return. How well they know me!

We've welcomed several more mug artists
this year. Mary Kim, Bridget Fairbank, Nora
Vaillant and Shannon Merritt are welcome
additions. Mugs are displayed on the mug wall,
and overflow is kept in a somewhat concealed
cupboard in the corner of the gallery. It looks
like a wall rather than a storage area, and we
tempt customers by offering them a peek into
the secret mug cupboard. They love it! It’s
always fun to watch their faces as we open the
secret door to reveal the impressive array—
usually a “Wow!” will be forthcoming!

Apart from the fact that mugs sell well in the
gallery, I like having them as it gives our non-
juried artists an opportunity to participate in
gallery life, and it affords me the opportunity
of meeting more of our members, which is
always a pleasant treat. Group exhibitions
provide that opportunity too, so, if you didn’t

Kathryn O’Regan’s irresistible espresso cups.

get a chance to participate in Spottery (and
even if you did), there’s another group show
coming up soon. Please apply for Celebrate
the Bowl, which we'll proudly be hosting
in July. Application details can be found on
http://www.bcpotters.com/Gallery/forms/

CelebrateTheBowlApplication. pdf
Hopefully by then the weather will be dry

and warm, and we can celebrate Canada Day,

Project Empty Bowl and the arrival of summer

under sunny skies!

Reminder: June 13 Gallery Jury

As part of the new mandate for the Gallery of BC Ceramics, jury sessions will now be

increased from one to three per year. Our last jury on April 11 was very successful, and

we look forward to more submissions for the next jury scheduled June 13. The final jury

for this year will be on Sept. 12. Juries in 2012 are set tentatively for March 5, June 4 and

Sept. 10. These dates will be confirmed in January of next year. We hope this will increase

flexibility and opportunities for guild members to participate in and jury their work into

the gallery.

Remember, the next jury is June 13, 2011. We look forward to seeing new work!

Potters Guild of BC Newsletter - June / July 2011

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