° Ferry Building GALLERY
DVD Review By Patty Osborne i ee

Handbuilding with Mitch Lyons
www. mitchlyons.com, 2006
DVD / 1 hour / $39.95 US

Mitch Lyons’ DVD, Handbuilding with Mitch Lyons, can be
enjoyed on many levels, from his “broomstick” technique for

AY /ER/ED

making weird and wonderful cylinders and his use of textures and

coloured slips and clays for decoration, to his efficient methods

V La and workspace and even the way that the video was produced.
Ae A

ie To make his cylinders, Lyons starts by pushing a 44-inch dowel
into a thick, even coil. He then enlarges the opening in the coil
by rolling the dowel and the coil on the table. He inserts larger and larger dowels and
cardboard tubes into the coil and continues rolling to enlarge the opening and thin out the
walls of the cylinder. Texture and/or coloured clay or slip are added along the way. Lyons
introduces us to his unique work by using the shape of a small pumpkin to explain his
fascination with the interface between shape, line and texture as a form grows. Throughout
the DVD, this interface can be seen in the relaxed but concentrated way he follows the form
and texture of a piece, rather than forcing the piece to follow a pre-conceived plan. His
commentary, which was added after the video was filmed, adds to this spirit of exploration
as it describes what is happening in a manner reminiscent (in a good way) of the play-

by-play of a golf tournament: no extra words or music, just one voice describing what’s
going on. In the first part of the DVD, Lyons makes cylinder after cylinder, each one opening reception
with a different texture or shape, using a minimum of fuss and a maximum of creativity. JESGAY, MA 6-8 PM
In the second part of the DVD he makes coloured clays for inlays, coloured clay pastels, artists in attendance

and coloured slips that are first applied to newsprint and then transferred to his cylinders.
MEATHER JOHNSTON
HEATHER MCALPINE
HEATHER CAIRNE

HEATHER ASTOM
ie, eee Fe) cane

Lyons works with his tools close at hand—a roll of newsprint hanging from the ceiling, a
fettling knife in his back pocket, a small pasta roller (for making ultra-thin coloured slaps
for decoration) on the end of his table, an ancient ping pong paddle (for gently securing

and shaping the floors of the cylinders) close at hand, and a five-inch roller hanging from
a hook on his belt. This organization gives the viewer further insight into the mind of this
experienced potter. The DVD is a pleasure to watch and is filled with ideas and techniques
that could send the viewer off in their own creative directions. Excerpts are available at

HORSESHOE BAY
ART WALK

Sunday, July 10; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Thirteen potters and painters would

http://ceramicartsdaily.org.

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

Deadline: Sept. 15

like to invite you to see their work at

~
POTTERS
an

COLUMBIA
a

Lark Ceramics is publishing an exciting
new ceramics book in our “500” series, and
we would like you to submit images for
consideration. Paul Andrew Wandless, author
of Image Transfer on Clay, will jury 500
Prints on Clay, a 420-page, full color survey
book. This international collection will be
beautifully presented and widely distributed
throughout the world in Spring 2013.

We welcome outstanding ceramic works
that feature image transfer techniques. Ceram-
ic pieces may be created with any type of clay
and employ techniques including: screening,
monoprinting, stenciling, stamping, relief
printing, lithography, kiln prints, decals and

any combination of these or variations.

Artists whose work is selected for inclusion
will receive full acknowledgment in the
book, a complimentary copy, and discounts
on the future purchase of books. Artists
retain copyright to their work. Lark accepts
high-quality digital images. No entry fee is
required.
be
by Sept. 15, 2011. For entry form. see:

Submissions — must postmarked
http://www.larkcrafts.com/wp-content/
uploads/2010/05/500-Prints-on-Clay-
entry-form4. pdf.

Paul Andrew Wandless

submission questions and please share this

Contact for

with anyone who prints on clay.

seven neighbourhood venues in beautiful
Horseshoe Bay.

Stroll between sites on the approximately
45-minute route or catch the artwalk
shuttle leaving Gleneagles Community
Centre every half hour. There is ample
parking available at Gleneagles. Be
sure to catch the pottery and painting
demonstrations in the art studios.

Afterwards, take some time in the
village browsing in the shops, having a
coffee or a bite to eat or just sit in the park
and watch the harbour activity.

For more details please go to:
www.horseshoebayartwalk.com or con-
tact Jackie Frioud at jfrioud@shaw.ca or

Helen Weiser at goombah@shaw.ca

Potters Guild of BC Newsletter - June / July 2011

10