Bunnies &P -A Revi

Adrer Karen's gentle prodding (honest, it
was pentle) | am writing a book review, the
first one since grade four, | think thar back
then it was a Bewtrix Potter book and [
think chat [ gave it rave reviews (] wasn't as
cynical then as] am now). Se if 1 just
imagine Phil Rogers, author of “Throwing
Pots" as a talking rabbit with clay splatrered
on his fur, cavorting in the forest with all
his calking animal chums, | should be able
te gee through this.

Rogers starts off with the acknowledgment
that “trying to learn co throw pots from a
book is a litle like reading the ABC of
Brain Surgery or Build Your Own Space
Shuttle in Ten Weekly Parts. [t's not easy!"
He goes on to stress thar there is no
substitute for good tutelage and dogged
practice. Having said this, Rogers lays our
the beck in a clear and logical fashion.
Thankfully the conrent of the book stays
true to the title and doesn't seek to engulf
other areas of ceramics such as glazing and

fining.

Through successive chapters Rogers covers
equipment, clay, centering, cylinders, bowls,
jugs & handles, places, botrles, tea pots,
turning, design and a final chapter with
some suggestions on what to do with this
new found skill called throwing. For those
who require more of a right brain approach
the book has 136 (yes, | counted)
photographs demonstrating various
techniques, These photos are amazingly
consistent and well placed.

In addition to the ‘demo’ photos, there are
many colour photos showing finished work
by various artists, two pou by Jeff Oestreich
being my favourite {1 guess I like picture
books, that's one problem with Beatrix
Potter -not enough pictures!). Each
chapter ends with a summary of technical
and philosophical poines that communicate
the repecition necessary in learning how to
throw, Rogers common-sense approach
carries on to the end of the book where he
lists specific weights for common wheel
thrown pots. No more learning to throw
coffee mugs with 5 lhs of clay.

This book és firmly grounded in the

Leach/Hamada tradition. In fact the

book begins with an austere epigraph by
Leach® A good portion of che finished
pou decumenced in the book come from
the high-fire reduction aesthetic -sorry, no
Peter Rabbit cereal bowls wich talking
creatures decaled inte the bottom here. Ir
would be nice to be exposed to pots where
throwing is as important, but comes from
a different perspective,

Overall, [ find chis co be a well written
and practical book very useful for those
wanting to lear how to throw. Phil
Rogers has distilled his experience as a
studic potter and edwearor into essential
elements which translate well co the book
format.

Se here 1 am giving another positive book
review. I guess | am still noc very cynical.
Come to think of it, T recommend that
you read some Beatrix Potter alongside
“Throwing Pots"; thinking about talking
animals while throwing must surely make
one a better porter.

Aaron Nelson

“Throwing Poets" fy Phil Rogers is part of the
Ceramics Handbook series published by A &
Black. It is soft cower, 128 pages with 136 8
& W photos, 18 colour photos. Price és
$22.95 and, of course, it és available at the

2

* A pot isa living ching, It’s association so
markedly human. We talk of the foot, the
belly, che shoulder, the neck and the lip
and intuitively feel a good port's honesty,
strength, nobility and charm as much as we
do with people...Sometimes one can speak
of a wet, newly thrown pot in which every
movement is like frozen music. Life flowing
for a few momencs chrough the hands of a
potter.” Bemard Leach

Linda Christianson All Women's
Anagama Firing: This Anagama kiln was
build by Yukio Yamamoco and dedicated
to the memory of his grandaughter, killed
in the 1995 earthquake in Kobe, Japan,

August 16-26, [997 ar che Tozan kiln
site at Malaspina University College in
Nanaimo. The cost is $250 and is
limited to 20 women. There will be a
drop-off with che regular $20 per cubic
foot space used for all Toran Society
members from noon August Lith cll noon
August both,

Schedule of Events:

- Saturday Auguste 16; meet at Tozan site
ac LOam, glaze bisqued poss, discuss
process and start loading che Anagama
kiln. That night there will be an open
slide show, 7pm at Malaspina College
with a $5 fee for non-participants.

- Sunday, Auguse 17: finish loading kiln
and start firing

- Monday to Wednesday / Thursday,
August 18 - 20 (21): fire che Anagama
kiln

- Tuesday, August 26: unload kiln, clean
up (lunch provided)

Accommodation; student resident rooms
are available right next to the kiln site for
$19.99 per night. To resereve call Sandy
at (250) 754-6338. Primitive tenting,
trailer space available om site.

Bring as many clay pieces of any shape
and size that you desire. We will try our
very best to fit everything. The clay body
must be able to go to cone 10 and be
bisque fired prior to your arrival. All the
washes / glazes will be provided at the
kiln site. Linda plans to fully discuss
glazes, glazing and loading strategies as we
progress through the lst day. Flexibilicy
in shifts will be accomodated as much as
is possible. Everyone will be pucting
wood into the kiln and “in-charge” time
each shift as well, in a truly Canadian ‘all
is fair and equal” system.

To register contact Cathi Jefferson at
(604) 929.9175. Or send cheque,
payable to “Tozan Society” to 4477
Serathcona Rd., North Vancouver, BC,
VIG 1G7.