AN OPEN LETTER TO THE CERAMIC ARTISTS OF CANADA

Dear Potters, Ceramic Artists or whatever we call
ourselves privately or generally:

From time to time each of us examines the success of
our relationships with our companions; this immediately
leads to a consideration of the value of organizations.
The fact that artists may be served by organizations
has been amply demonstrated. The success of organiza-
tions such as the Canadian Guild of Crafts (Ontario), the
Alberta Potters' Association and the Metiers d'Art due
Quebec are examples. Success has been possible because
these people have had the wisdom to adapt to current
needs or they have formed recently with current needs
clearly in mind. The Canadian Guild of Potters has,

in the statements that have appeared in the Nov/Dec

and Jan/Feb issues of Tactile, demonstrated wisdom in
choosing to adapt. The expressed needs of Canada's
potters are their only quide to the form that any
adaptation can take.

The accompanying letter by the President of the Canadian
Guild of Potters describes the wish and intent of the
Guild and the role I am to play in attempting to accompli
these. This undertaking will be neither simple nor easy
and if it is to be brought to a reasonable and useful
conclusion, I and my as yet unselected committee wil]
need all of the support and facts that we can get. Due
to the nature of the Charter of the Canadian Guild of
Potters, we will be responsible to every clay and glass-
working artist and craftsman in Canada who wishes to be
included, whether or not she or he is a member of the
Guild. However, we are confined by the very real
limitations of time, distance and money; we cannot talk
to everyone. We will direct our discussions to those
people who already represent some sort of bringing
together or organization. Directing members of the
Alberta Potters’ Association and of the Metiers d'Art du
Quebec are obvious candidates, but there are many others
less specifically related who are equally representative.
I know it sounds arbitrary and authoritarian; I hope you

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