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POTTERS
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COLUMBIA
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5th Annual Masters Symposium, Parksville

TOP: Judy Weeden’s award-winning teapot.
CENTRE: Tony Clennell demonstrating
throwing techniques at the Symposium.
ABOVE: Martha James' workshop.

By Debra Sloan

On Easter weekend, the Arrowsmith Potters
Guild (APG) hosted an excellent Sth Masters
Symposium at the Parksville Community
Centre on Vancouver Island. Potters from the
mainland joined many others from the islands
to see Tony Clennell from Ontario, and B.C.
Meira Mathison, Gordon and
Martha James, and myself. Tony had been

ceramists,

conducting a two-day workshop for the APG
that continued through the symposium.

For the symposium, the Arrowsmith Guild
wanted to present a variety of approaches:

hand-building and

sculpture. Tony focused on large-scale special

throwing, altering,
event pots, concentrating on assemblage and
attention to proportion. The Jameses were
working with wheel, slab and sculptural
assembly, and talking about artistry, skill and
design. Meira was demonstrating her thrown,
altered, carved and complex slip surface work,
and I was representing a sculptural approach,
modeling a solid piece of clay, cutting up,
hollowing and rebuilding all in one go. At the
end of the day, I needed some helping hands
from the audience to hold it all together for a
few critical moments!

‘There was also an interesting demonstration
on how to properly pack a fragile pot: Ron
Lotan from Ladysmith (potter Lilach Lotan’s
husband, http://ceramic-art.ca/index.htm)
reusing corrugated electronics boxes. After an
elaborate process of making horns of protective
paper to cover all protrusions, and supporting
all gaps, then adding layers and applications
of bubble wrap, and papers, the boxed teapot
was thrown and kicked around the room,
and unpacked to reveal an unbroken pot to
everyone’s delight.

People freely moved from one presenter
to another throughout the day, with lots of
questions and answers, and discussion. It
was very interesting how many of the people
there were ex-mainlanders now living on the
Island!

An excellent lunch was provided by a local
caterer, Real Food of Parksville.

At the end of the Symposium there was a
showing of teapots with awards. First prize
went to Judy Weeden ($100 gift certificate
donated by Vancouver Island Pottery Supply)
and second to Cheryl Phillips (500 Pots
donated by Victoria Clay Art).

Later, a happy group of presenters,

accompanied by Les Crimp, Al Bubnys,
Alison Tang, Ron Robb and Jan Lovewell,
met at the local sushi place. Alison Tang was
féted, as she had given her notice, packed her
car and, along with her dog, was to head off to
Mississippi for a two-year residency. However,
at this moment Daryl Hancock is kindly
hosting Alison as she sorts out crossing the
border! The Arrowsmith Guild will be sorry
to see her go, but are very excited about her
opportunity.

‘Thanks go to Al Bubnys and Jacie Herbison,
the organizers who headed an enthusiastic
group of volunteers, and who got everything
set up and taken down, kept everything
running in excellent order throughout the
day, and even managed to find extra tools for
those of us who forgot their own!

Presenting important symposia is a tradition
that Island potters have managed so well
over the years. Those of us who remember
the great Malaspina events put together by
John Chernetski—pivotal to ceramics in
B.C. during the 70s—will attest to this. And
now the APG has managed to present five
excellent Masters Symposia. Assembling a
symposium is a big job and the APG has put
out the call for an Island Masters Symposium
which would be better served by a joint
effort by more of the Island pottery guilds
and associations (see the APG website: www.
arrowsmithpottersguild.bc.ca). Symposia
are a wonderful way to provide support and
communication for potters. One thing we all
know is that potters love to get together, and
do so with great effect.

Volunteers needed

Canada Day bowl throwing demos

Iam looking for two or three volunteers
to demonstrate bowl throwing and a
couple of volunteers to help set up and
take down on Canada Day. This demo
will support the Celebrate the Bowl
exhibit, which will be opening on that
day at our Gallery.

Granville Island is an exciting place to
be on Canada Day and I can guarantee a
big audience for the demos. Please contact
me if you can help: Jinny Whitehead,
vwhitehead@shaw.ca

Potters Guild of BC Newsletter - June / July 2011

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