Last month, in the section titled Semi- Annual Guild Exhibitions: Feedback, [ mentioned a letter encouraging the Guild to publish detailed information about the Gallery; how to include work in an open Guild exhibition; what the Gallery books like; and to give detailed descriptions of exhibitions as well as other relevant infor- mation. The recommendation suggested that this would probably have a positive outcome by encouraging members who are not already in the Gallery of BC Ce. ramics to subenit their work to these exhi- bitions, See below in the section Partici- pating in Open Guild Exhibitions for further details about submitting your work tothe Decemberexhibit Stems and Steins, The Communications Committee brainstormed and developed the idea of including a Gallery insert in the newsletter two or three times a year, This informative sheet has much marketing potential and could be mailed to our customer database. The insert, a four-page section, is pro- jected to feature informative materials in- cluding photographs of the Gallery, text and images about new work, upcoming exhibits, investment potentials for collec- tors, historical and technical information. The Gallery Committee is working hard to put the inaugural edition together. Look for it later this fall! GALLERY SALES This summer has not been as busy a we had hoped and planned, The downward trend beginning in May continues. June sales fell far below our projection, record- ing a decrease of 26%, the lowest sales figure in five years. It was an extremely weird month because although the dread- ful weather kept the number way below normal, several artists experienced very good sales of mainly larger items. Al- though no significant analysis has been done, this suggests that we didn't see the casual visitor, the ones who purchase the multitudes of stnaller items, Rather we attracted the dedicated ceramic lover who came despite the rain! July sales were a little brighter than June"s, yet we still did not achieve our target by 18%, again a record low in five years, Approximately halfway through the month of August, we are at 3% of our target; we can only hope that the buying continues, Something we “ GALLERY NEWS hive just instivated is extending our hours slighily. Instead of being open 10:30 am - 5:30 pm seven days a week, we now open at 10:00 am everyday and stay open until 7:00 pm on Thursday and Friday nights. During the first week, the sales on the two everings have definitely proven worth- while with atwo-day average of aver 40% of the day's total sales made in the extra hour and a half! PARTICIPATING LIN OPEN GUILD EXHIBITIONS These are guild-wide events, open to all members of the Guild. We refer to the display area ofthe Gallery where this work is showeased as an exhibit to indicate that this area ts something other than the ongo- ing retail displays. It is a temporary, spe- cial display of work that we do not usually carry, and it changes on a monthly basis. The word exhibit is not intended to dis- courage Of exclude (hose members who feel their work is not up to ‘gallery" stand- ards; you do not need to be, or classify yourself as a professional potter to partici- pate, The only rules of thumb to follow are: the work does what itis intended todo, for example a functional teapot must be able to hold hot liquid and pour well and a salt shaker should hold and shake salt; items should not draw blood when han- dled and should have a stable base. Each open guild exhibit is based on a theme to allow for a cohesive display. For Decem- ber, the utle is Stems and Steins. [t in- cludes goblets and beer tankards, which have been very popular gift purchases in previous years, and indeed year round, If you make either, please think about in- cluding them in this year’s exhibit. Once you've decided, there are a few de- tails and logistics that need to be sorted out. The Gallery will need the following from you: statement about yourself, list of works with retail prices and labels, and shipping/delivery. In the information about you, consider this as an artist's statement. This can include any but notnecessarily all of the following: resume and/or curricu- jum vitae meaning a more claborate sum- mary of your activities and education, in- formation such as ceramic-related educa- tion, exhibitions, workshop/teaching po- sitions and publications. Do not feel you need to make more than asimple statement Potters Guild of British Columbia but it should be interesting to our custom ers and our staff. [f you're nat sure where to begin, think how you would introduce yourself to someone interested in your work; why you de what you do; how you came to be a potter; what are your influ- ences and inspirations, Ii is nvost impor- lant to ensune the reaxder has a sense of you and your personality. After all, they are purchasing one of your creations, a piece of you. Having some further knowledge of the maker greatly enhances the sale. Please include an inventory list with your work, Lf you are sending in more than one of a particular item, same description and same price, just indicate the quantity rather than listing it two or twelve times. It is important that the information describes the item in enough detail for the Gallery staff to identify it. Please include the retail price of the itern: keep in mind that our commission split is MV'S0. On the actual pieces, we require that you label them with the code for the exhibit ‘'SHOWL ___’. leaving enough room after for three num- bers and the retail price. The labels should be no larger than 3/4 1/2", If your work needs further identification, please use a separate label and beginning with the number 1, and corresponding to your in- ventory list, label thern as such. This label is removed once we have numbered it in our inventory system. When you are think- ing about the number of pieces to submit, anticipate that there will be perhaps one to three on display depending on the number of members participating and works sub- mitted, You should include enough for the same amount in overstock. If you have experienced great sales with a particular item, it may be prudent to plan sending more. SHIPPING AND DELIVERY The dates for delivery of work are Decem- ber | to 3. We cannot receive work any earlier because there isan exhibition. Setup is on Friday, December 3, If you are able to deliver the work by hand, I anticipate that we will ask you to leave the work packed in the boxes rather than you need- ing to unpack them. Those members who do not live in the immediate urea are espe- cially encouraged to submit work and not to he overwhelmed by shipping. Many Please see GALLERY NEWS page 6 September 1999