COLUMBIA

Stan Clarke, Contd from Page 7

In 1971 Stan started Greenbarn, a pottery
supply business that sustained a growing
amateur community of potters and grew
to service all of B.C. By 1979 the business
outgrew its premises on Stan and Jean's farm
and was relocated to North Surrey. Stan stayed
active with the company until his retirement
in 2005. He would sometimes muse about
the days ‘back on the farm’ when he sat
around under the cherry trees with customers
(friends) drinking coffee and discussing glaze
problems. Such musings never meant he
had any intention of living in the past and
he certainly never retired in the ‘normal’
way. He went on to experiment with blown
glass, became a proficient wood turner and
worked to build wood turners guilds in the
Fraser Valley and Greater Vancouver. He also
continued to work in local schools, repairing
and performing maintenance on kilns and
other equipment used in the creation of
ceramic art.

On September 11, 2008, the City of Surrey
recognized Stan as one of the inaugural
recipients of the Civic Treasure awards. The
ceremony was held at the Business and the Arts

»

Stan with a pug mill.

reception at the Surrey Arts Centre in Surrey.
The purpose of the Civic Treasure award.
was to honour Stans contributions to the
cultural sector of Surrey. Stan was recognized
for advancing cultural development, being
a positive role model for emerging cultural

we a

Discovery:

Art Trave

2009-2011

-s

CERAMICS EX

2

i
i,
haa os

Morocco

Lombok/Bali
Crete
Burma

2 Turkey

Potters Guild of BC Newsletter - March 2010

leaders in the community, and helping to
generate a greater awareness, interest and
support for arts and culture in Surrey.

His achievements were many, and those
who had the opportunity and privilege of
meeting Stan could not help but be inspired
by his enthusiasm for life’s rich pageant and
all the adventures it held. To paraphrase his
own words: he used his time, skill, experience,
intuition, sense of design, respect of nature
and his fellow man to promote the sense of
fun and joy that can be had when working
with clay and creating something that has life
and excitement in it. He will be remembered
by many asa good friend and by all asa tireless
supporter of the ceramic arts community in
British Columbia.

For more background see online: A Modern
Life: Art and Design in British Columbia

There will be a gathering to celebrate our
friend Stan Clarke at the Surrey Arts Center,
Programme Room, 13750 88th Avenue (Near
Bear Creek Park), Surrey, B.C. on Sat., Mar.
13, 2010, between Noon & 3:30 pm. A light
lunch will be available and coffee, tea, or a glass
of wine. Bring your memories, stories and smiles,
Contact:

Bev Atchison, 604.856.8017, beva@shaw.ca