International Ceramics Festival Well Worth It! Aberystwyth, Wales Not rain, wind and cold, nor travel problems for the presenters kept les the show from going on this June 29 to July 1. Although it was the first pa time there for both Rosemarie Greedy and myself, Lynda Jones, ’m sure this year’s festival was one of the best. It was well organized, had great presenters and great food. It took over 45 volunteers and 15 staff to put on this festrval in the Arts Centre of the University of Wales. Twenty four presenters from UK, France, Hungary, Netherlands, India, Japan, Mexico and USA demonstrated their special talents or spoke on their favourite subjects. We learned about the Japanese Tea Ceremony and the meaning and correct making of the tea bowl. Special kilns were built and fired and an almost life-size terracotta horse was built, fired and auctioned. There were four spectacular exhibitions including the demonstrators’ work, 50th Anniversary of the Craft Potters Association, 17 Prime Makers from Ireland and Wales, North and South Wales Potters Association as well as the permanent Craft and Design Shop—all a pottery buyer’s Mecca and an opportunity to see work from such greats as the Leaches, Lucy Rie, Mick Casson, Michael Cardew, Ray Finch, Ruth Duckworth, Walter Keeler, Phil Rogers and David Roberts. Although Ruth Duckworth couldn’t make it to the festival she was awarded the 2007 Lifetime Achtevement Award. Separate from the festival we visited potteries, galleries and gift shops and a highlight was a visit and tea with Walter Keeler in his lovely home. With the help of the Maureen Wright Scholarship and terrific friends to stay with our trip to the festival was a wonderful experience. Both Rosemarie and I are charged with ideas for our own work as well as possibilities to add to the Kelowna Clay Festival next summer. Lynda Jones maha Art Travel ~s,. FEATURING Denys we James : UPCOMING CERAMICS EXCURSIONS Sep 13-Oct 4, 2007 TURKEY Jan 14-Feb 2, 2008 MYANMAR (Burma) Sep/Oct 2008 TURKEY - Jan 2009 LAOS & ANGKOR WAT ~ 2008/2009 MOROCCO, OAXACA, MEXICO Phone: 250-537-4906 Email: denys@denysjames.com www.denysjames.com POTTERS GUILD of BRITISH COLUMBIA Akiva Yoshida firing minigama Zs