Potters Guild of British Columbia

1359 Cartwright St., Granville Island

Vancouver, B.C. V6H 3R7
ISSN 6319 812X_

(604) 683-9623

JANUARY 1994

NOTICE OF ANNUAL
GENERAL MEETING

The Annual General Meeting of the Potters’ Guild of
British Columbia will be held on Thursday, February
24th, 1994 at 1359 Cartwright St. Vancouver, B.C. at
7,30 p.m,

see page 2 for Nominating Cite. report.

photo right: MORGAN ARMSTRONG, is
presented with the majolica coffee set by its maker
D'Arcy Margesson. Ms, Armstrong was the winner
of the free draw at the recent exhibition of Coffee
Cups and Java Jugs at the Gallery of B.C, Ceramics
on Granville Island, Vancouver,

ieee Jan Kid

THE TOZAN KILN PROJECT

by Les Beardsley

There is much excilement among potters here
in Nanaimo, B.C. these days. We are forming a
Canadian Tozan Society to bring to Canada a Tozan
kiln.

The Tozan kiln is a unique Japanese
climbing, wood fired kiln. There are only two of
these kilns in existence in the world, One is at the
home of Tozan Master Potter, Yukio Yamarnato, in
Himeji City Japan and the other is in Flagstaff
Arizona at the University of Northern Arizona.
These kilns are unique in that they can be fired
without bisquing or glazing the ware and heavy
pieces of sculpture can be fired withoul the usual
problems being encountered. The original Tozan
kiln was in use from 1722 to 1860 producing ware
for the Feudal Lord of Himeji. Dr, Yamamoto
revived the Tozan Pottery in 1970,

The proposal is to build the kiln on the
grounds of Malaspina University/College with a
Japanese Cultural Centre or Tea House. The
Nanaimo Arts Council is giving us a preat deal of
support and Administrator Jeorge McCladery ts a
wonderful source of Knowledge and of great help to
us trying to get this project organized.

Our aim is to have the Tozan kiln in
Nanaimo available tw be fired by groups of potters
who would come from all over Canada to participate
in the firing. As well, we hope to have “school Arts
Program" firings, and students from the College and
University level come to do firings,

The tradition of the wood fired climbing kiln
has gone from China, to Korea, to Japan, to the
U.S.A. with each country making il a part of their
own unique culture, We in Canada would like to

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