STUDIO 3;:A SUCCESSFUL COOPERATIVELY RUN POTTERY STUDIO
Joan Barnet, Lenore Rosen, Manabu Seki, Pia Sillem, and Jinny Whitehead

continued fram page 2

studio

pottery

708 3330

This studio is only large enough to be con-
sidered a working studio, as there is litth
or ne room for display. During sales, the
entire space is transformed into an exhi-
bition gallery during which time none of
us can come to work. [t's a total group ef-
fort. We all give 10% of our intake back
into the studio account. This is how we
generate a reserve, which covers our in-
surance and Greenbarn bills. Pottery sold
outside of the studio also brings in 10%
for the studio. We all have our own very
distinct aesthetic, which makes for a vari-
ety during our sale. Most of the pottery
works very well together and no one does
production. We feel that our studio is not
large enough to accommodate the particu-
lar requirements of a production potter.

The space we do have is pretty well
equally divided among the five of us. Two
of us have full time jobs and one part lime,
Pia and Jinny seem to spend most of their
time in the studio, [tis understood that the
person who spends the most time in the
studio also docs a proportionately larger
share of the general housekeeping and
maintenance of glazes and kilns, Il works
well for us that not everyone is in al the
same lime. The weekends are there for
those who work during the week, but we
organize Saturday evenings when we all
gel together, often share a meal, and get
excited about pottery. It's 4 time we can
discuss problems, tdeas or events,

May 2001

We are happy with the current sumber of people in our studio and are not taking in
new members, Our rent is paid on a monthly basis. The downside of our reasonable
rent is that we can only expect a month notice. The best part of our studio is that we
share the space and equipment, We have maintained a friendly and supportive envi-
ronment for everyone where we cun create freely and not be judged. We feel it’s a
sacred place to us and treat it with due respect. The most important thing about
sharing a studio is that we all pet along and that there ts room for everyone to create
which sometimes means a quict place. The studio needs to be an environment where
everyone feels equally supported. In a group environment there can be a risk of a
perception that some members might not be pulling their weight, but we've found
that these and other potential obstacles are best predicted and worked out before-
hand. Write up a contract that each member signs. It helps to be able to refer to a
written document in times of conflict. It should also be decided how to solve prob-
lems before they arise so that everyone can follow a standard procedure.

Studio 3, currently in its third year, has been very sucecesful as a cooperative. Our
neat studio sale will be the first weekend in November.

Jinny and | will be at the Made of Chay sale, Please drop in and visit us there.
Pia Sillen

SPRING WORKSHOPS AT THE SHADBOLT
GLAZE FUNDAMENTALS: EXPLORING LOW-FIRE GLAZES

Glaze guru Darcy Margesson, who has taught glaxe chemistry at
Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design and been a pouter for 25 years,
covers the basics of glaze chemistry in this intensive workshop. A
variety of clear, textured and matte cone 4 glazes and a range of
coloured slips will be mixed, tested and discussed.

Sundays, May 27 and June 3, |}Qam-4+pm, $96.30
PHILOSOPHY, AESTHETICS & ERGONOMICS OF WHEEL WORK

Les Manning, former director of ceramics at the
Banff Centre for the Arts and an artist and teacher
for 30 years, belps professional ceramic artists or
instructors develop personal identity through both
the mental and physical approach to their work,
Craftsmanship, design and ergonomic pinciphes
as they apply to the potter are all discussed.
Saturday/Sunday, June 117, 1}dam-4pm,
$171.20

Call 291-6864 for information on all Spring and Summer

programs and workshops
City of SHADBOLT CENTRE FOR THE ARTS
Burnaby 6450 Deer Lake Avenue
Paris Recess’,  Bumaby,BC VSG 2/3

Potters Guild of British Columbia 9