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POTTERS
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COLUMBIA
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New Artist in the

By Laura Carey

Gallery

We are excited to welcome Vic Duffhues (a newly juried artist) and his
exciting "alligator glaze" to the gallery! Vic, of JoVic Pottery, is based in
Ladysmith.

Asa potter, I feel deeply connected to our planet and its rich human
history. Many potters will tell you that working in clay is perhaps the
first act of creation developed by people. I’m not sure that they weren't
doing some carving first, after all, we weren't there to see. But I do
know that museums around the world have treasured ancient bowls,
and I feel a deep connection to each of the potters who found working
in clay so deeply satisfying. Clay vessels always make a statement about
the culture that was present at its creation. I like to think most of
the work has a spiritual connection. It certainly does for me, so yes,
working in clay lets me attain my own goals and life purpose in a way
that not only fulfills my creative needs, but is spiritual for me as well.

While I am considered a production potter, I'm proud to say that
I don't make factory ware, and I absolutely refuse to uses molds or
presses. Ir’s true that a ram press can result in total consistency, but it
leaves me cold because it lacks individuality. It’s rather like artificial
insemination, it works, but it takes all the fun out of it. In any event,
very few of my pieces would physically lend themselves to presses.
It’s actually comical that I strive for consistency in dinnerware, while
many who operate ram presses use multiple molds to creative slight
differences and thus create “faux” hand-crafted works.

I know that my work reaches far back into the past and will live
on well into the future. But unlike ancient potters, ] have modern
technical advantages, like the pug mill I use to make sure my clay is
well-blended, and the computer technology that helps me to ensure
that my functional stoneware is completely food-safe. Our glazes are
the result of many years of testing and development, and they too, are
the result of a creative joy, albeit sometimes also frustrating struggles.

www.jovicpottery.com

Island Artisans Featured in New Gallery By Andria Lee Winters

‘The Island Artisans Association is pleased to present the Excellence in
Crafts Gallery, a pop-up gallery open for the summer and committed
to supporting local artisans and their work. We are located at the heart
of beautiful Victoria, in unit 210 of The Bay Centre, near the Douglas
Street entrance on the second floor. We are open seven days a week,
during the generous hours of the shopping centre, and host an ideal
outlet for local artists and craftspeople to expose their talents and
artistic abilities to locals and visitors alike.

All work is made locally on Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands,
and the artisans commit to in-gallery volunteer hours each month to
help promote their work and support the association. A collective of
potters, wood-turners, jewelers, weavers, photographers, sculptors,
painters, textile artists, metalworkers, glass artists, and many other
skilled artisans, the members strive for excellence in their respective
craft offering value and beauty to those who enjoy quality. All items

in the gallery are for sale, and the work is in constant rotation as new
artisans join and unique work is made and introduced.

With a mandate to foster excellence in crafts and to support local
artisans in developing a successful craft industry, the Island Artisans
Association has maintained over 70 members for the past 10 years and
is rapidly expanding. Much like the summers of 2011 and 2012, when
our gallery space was located in the heart of Chinatown, we are again
open for business, eager to support our members in this opportunity
to display and sell their handcrafted work.

For more information about what we do and the products that
we offer, please email gallerymanager@islandartisans.ca or
call the gallery at 250.383.1983. To learn more about the Island
Artisans Association and for membership information please visit
www.islandartisans.ca.

Potters Guild of BC Newsletter « July/August 2043

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