SHOW

Who knows what a show is? You? Entertainment? A display, a sale,
a record of achievement, or a work of art in itself? The recent show
in the gallery of the Kootenay School of Art with Frances Hatfield's

and Bob Kingsmill's pots, and Mary Turk's paintings encompasses
several show types. It provides an easy, acceptable balance of diver-
gencies, Inthis, perhaps, lies its weakness. In trying to stretch too
thin with its limited resources, the show failed in several areas.

As entertainment the show appealed to only a select few, most of them
sharing certain philosophies in common with the potters. Asa sale, I
doubt if it was as successful as “Blue Mountain” pot shows. As a dis-
play of new work and as a record of achievement the fabric of the show
began to wear thin. Mary Turk's paintings have been seen before and
quite some time ago. I may be wrong but I don't think the paintings in
the show were done in the last twelve months. Frances Hatfield's pots,
I suppose, are new but seem the same (with inconsistent features still
apparant). Bob Kingsmill's pots have changed, although whether some-
thing has been achieved or not is open to question.

As a work of art in itself the show came off reasonably well considering
factors such as a closet-gallery with interior decorating by Kootenay
Linoleum. My main gripe here is the way so many potters have to bring
their inspiration with them as a support. The pots are a final product.
And as pottery is more product orlented than most arts, I believe it is
the product that is to be shown, NOT a delicately arranged, tasteless
combination of weeds popping out of pots, and logs holding them out.

A suburban ticky-tack in the midst of the wilderness in an apt analogy,
if reversed. The pottery in the show was of sufficient quality to make
“accent” unneeded.

About Frances'’s pots I have Little to say. There is really nothing wrong
with them. They are safe but good. Some, especially earthenware, I
found a little gaudy, but basically it is a slight inconsistency that puts
them off. There may be a subtlety that I am unaware of. I feel a dan-
ger, however, of confusing subtlety and obscurity. These great axloms
of pottery: Zen, Earth - fire, Individual craftsman, master - apprentice,
I find trying at least. Okay. Frances has a belief in good, functional

pottery. Enough. For some people a subtle piece of pottery is just not
enough for today. 13