MEETING REPORT — J tunis Ftvetivn

It 14 @ great opportunity for potters to have our meetings held in the studio
behind our Gallery. An example was our April meeting when Gary Merkel showed

ws examples of his work that were on display and he discussed the waking of the
pieces. For you out-of-towners this has been going on all winter and the artists
have been most informative. Whenever you have the opportunity, please join us,

Gary's work has changed so much since moving to Vancouver island — Super new

shapes for all his platters, wases and jugs. A great switch from naturalistic

to more geometric in form as well as decoration.

He was telling us he is using a mold made from sheet metal for some of Ais pieces.
He first lines the form with toflet paper, hand throws and rolls slabs (he uses
Kenzan clay) before placing them in the form. He starts decorating with slips and
engobes before the clay is at the leather hard stage. Gary uses damp newspaper
Spenged onto the clay as 4 stencil to block owt certain areas, By spraying spatters
of grey, grey blue and pink on the clay, a nice granite rock colour was acheived.
He decorates further with brush, stamps and incising.

Gary's Jugs ranged from strictly scuptural to utilitarian, These fairly thin-
Walled pieces he foras over a milk carton with an elongated spout — the thrust

of the spout nicely balanced by fanciful slab handles or handles made from three
coils, Some round jugs and jug & mug sets were incised and some with free hanging,
three ¢oil handles. Gary's pieces were oxidation fired to cone 10,

WORKSHOPS ~~ J

Debra Sherwood, a Seattle artist, well known for her large scale figurative
sculpture, will te offering an intemive three week ceramic workshop at the
Emily Carr College of Art and Design from July 28th to August 16th.

Participants require a basic working knowledge of both wheel and hand-building
techniques. Complete details of this Ceramic Sculpture studio course are
available from the Ceily Care College of Art and Design, 1399 Johnston Street,
Vancouver, B.C., ¥GH 329, (604) 687-2345

EXHIBITIONS_

“Birds of Praise", an exhibition focussing on car ‘ed birds is bein presented
at the Cartwright Gallery, 1411 Cartwright Street, Vancouver, May | to June 1,
1TR6 .

The subject matter and the interpretation of the living form is varied, ranging
from stylized simplicity to tmcredible realism. Fine carving and detailed brush-

wore.

SALES& FAIRS — a

Fired up: Sat, June 7; Sun, June 6, 10 = 5. Contemporary Works in Clay
Themonstrations, exhibition & sales) Alan & Meg Burgess; Robin Hopper:

Judi Dyelle, Gerdon Hutchens; Susan Le Poidevin; Gary Merkel, Dianne Searle;
Craig Rogers: Louise Card; Robin Aignton; Pat Webber; Sue Hopper; Art Brendon.
Location: 1283 Metchosin Rd, Victoria.