continued from page 6... and fail, getting into a competition is recognition in itself. It is a learning process and you can judge yourself how your work compares. All of these competitions have very good exposure for the beginning and mature ceramic artists. It actually becomes the standard of how successful you might be. There are no similar competitions in Canada; maybe one in Quebec, but that is all. We should have similar competitions, in B.C. first then nationally. L: Is ct difficult to promote yourself in Canada? K: In Japan, you have an agent who sells the artists’ work. ‘To get mto the New York market, you need an agent—in Canada you don’t need an agent, but it is very different and more difficult. When I go to a craft market and sell directly to customers, it is difficult for me to promote myself. L: What glazes do you use and how do you produce or refine your glazes? K: [use clear glazes with my work and I am refining them all the time. I am always working to make the glaze whiter/clearer to give me a brighter cobalt, I really want bright colors. Clear glazes tend to be yellow, buff white or mat. I learned glaze calculation in Japan, but when I came to Canada, I couldn’t translate my training in materials and temperatures to what I found here. The cones were different, the temperatures were different. I had to go nght back to the basics and build from there, just make it work. Lalso like to test natural materials; lam always on the look out fornatural sources and I am very curious about using natural matenals, I am currently expermenting with some matenals that I brought back from Whistler and Kamloops. L: When you have a problem where do you go to find solutions? K: I just work it out myself. Basically, I find out how to solve the problem by working harder and longer until the issue is resolved. Work seven days a week, as long as it takes just working through the process. L: Who are some of the potters you admire and whose work you follow? K: There were several Japanese potters that I admired, but they have all passed away. L: What work are you challenging yourself ntth now? K: There are several pieces that I am working on (we went into his display area and he showed me examples of his new work.) This sculpted hand and shoe piece is something I am working on right now. I sculpted the hand using my own and my daughter's hands and arms as examples, and then I cast them in plaster. The clay in the finished form is translucent and I have cut small holes that are filled with clear glaze which enhances the appearance of translucency. I like to work with modeling the form first and then casting the original in plaster then slip casting the finished pieces. This is what I did in Japan and I find it quite exciting. Kinicht Shigeno’s website http://members. haw.ca/kshi todex.h Lents Kennett POTTERY & ARCHAEOLOGY TOUR OF SOUTHWEST ENGLAND Greenbarn’s catalogue i Ss now available online. HF In an effort to be move enwiconmentally i pear healed ida ave out our Se Oo ee available on our website. (oa) Now you can check prices and, item core jut ee www.greenbarn.com 9548 192 Street, Surrey, B.C. VAN 3R9 Phone: 604.888.3411 Fax: 604.888.4247 8 Tuesday-Friday 9-5 Saturday 9-1 Closed Long Weekends greenbam@telus.net Ween barn POTTERS SUPPLY LTD. Alan and Gillian McMillan have once again organized a holiday in England, primarily for potters. The tour is planned for next Spring, May 25 - June 6, 2008 and will start and end in London. It is scheduled at that time of year for lovely weather and to avoid the peak season cost. We plan to visit the studios of Walter Keeler, John Leach and several others, Fine Craft Galleries and take walks around interesting archaeological sites and castles in the West Country. The comfortable journey in a 24-seater coach will take us to St. Ives, Salisbury, Wells, Bath, the Wye Valley and Stoke-on- Trent to see Pottery Museums and factories. Accommodation in good quality hotels, most meals and all entrance fees are included. If you would like to know more please e-mail or phone us for a full itinerary and price. Gillian McMillan memillan@sfu.ca 604 937 7696