Continued from Page 9, Cambodia

lictle article in Ceramics Today at http://www.ceramicstoday.com/
articles/Khmer_pottery.htm

It was a surprise to see more than low fire earthenware pottery. They
were taking antique vases, urns and other samples and re-inventing
the process to make them with mostly local materials, albeit with
more modern tools and equipment. We made do with limited tourist
English while they showed us around the studio and complex. It was
very familiar, yet distinctly Asian.

It’s a shame that all of their knowledge and records about their
ceramic and pottery heritage disappeared along with entire generations
of families lost in the war and strife that have marked Cambodia's

recent and ancient past. The NCKCR is now creating employment in j j
one of the poorest areas in Cambodia (despite all of the tourist dollars Some pots that Don managed to bring home (intact, as you can see).
that come in for Angkor Wat) and rediscovering the pottery heritage
that this region shared with the rest of Southeast Asia.

Travelling and meeting potters and finding wonderful pots is such
a treat, but we can’t bring back all the things we want as the darn
stuff gets really heavy and bulky. It’s a good thing pottery gets through

customs easily enough. If you ever wonder about visiting the amazing

temples of Angkor Wat, you must also schedule a visit to Serge and

the NCKCR.

Pandy -on expejence

kootenay school of the arts

Earn a 2-year diploma in clay, fibre, or
jewellery and small object design, ora
1-year certificate in the metal studio.

Call now for details on full or part-
time programs.

Bisqued pots.

For further details call 1.877.552.2821
or visit selkirk.ca

COLUMBIA Potters Guild of BC Newsletter « March 2009 10