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Niwa Ceramic Gallery: A
New Venture for Potters

Vancouver potrer Yi Wei Wang is opening
an innovative mallery in Gastown that
exclusively promotes organically-fired
ceramics of local artisans, As a potter,
Manager and owner of Niwa (Chinese for

"Mud Girl" of “Female Potter"), Yi Wei hax

experienced first hand the difficulty of
selling woxad-fired pots at craft fairs. She
explains “I cried a couple of craft fairs, but
none of them had good results... [the
general public] doesn't understand the
process [of wood-firing|". For Yi Wei, che
key to raising the profile of the local
céramists practicing wood, salt, soda, raku
or pit-firing is to provide a professional and
reputable faciliry where organically-fired
ceramics can be seem togecher, and where
these potters can be represented as a highly
specialized, collective group of calented
ATEISTS.

For Yi Wei, the beauty of wood and other
types of orgarse firing lies in their simple

und unconrrollable nature. A degree of
randomness athects every firing, resulcing
im pieces that are one-of-a-kind, each
with is own personality and quality. To
appreciate their subcle differences is to
know the nature of their firing (amd vice-
versa). Thus, for Yi Wei, exhibiting a
large range of these works tegether in
close proximity to each other in her
gallery will “give people che opportunity
to see the subele differences between
them”, facilitating the appreciation and
education of organic fining.

Opening in March. Next subrnission period
is che first week of June. For more
eiformaton write to: Niwa Ceramic Gallery
#120 -] East Comoud Sees, Vancouver,
BC V6A 4H2 of phone 604 | 681 - 6417.

Christina Loch

Joint Exhibition

Last fall several ceramic students from
Emily Carr visited the University of
Washington's ceramic department.

There was a joint exhilicion berween che
ECLAD and UW students at the
University of Washington with an
interesting contrast between the almost
toeally non-functional work from UW and
ECIAD's equally strong stress on
functional work. ECTAD instructors Sally
Michener and Paul Mathieu gave
critiques and presentations which will be
reciprocated this month.

Darn't miss the exciting collaborative
show by UW and ECLAD sruderes in the
Concourse Gallery during the week of
March 13 - 22. An exhbition featuring
the work of instructors Sally Michener,
Paul Mathieu, Akio Takamori and Jamie
Walker will be held on the same dates in
the Acrium Gallery (located in the new
South Building above the library).

Rebecca Robbins

Ceramists.

My Prices are absolutely competitive.

A hearty thanks to all my loyal customers.

March 1st, 1973 - March 1st, 1998

25 year supplier of matenals & equipment to Potters, Sculptors and

ISLAND POTTERY SUPPLIES

Mailing address: P.O. Box 393, Nanaimo, BC, V9R 5L3
Location: 1315 Fielding Road, Nanaimo, BC.
Phone: 250-753-1633 Fax: 250-753-1633