President’s Message

It’s spring, at least here on the Lower Mainland, although I have
heard reports from other corners of the province that there is a
change of season afoot. From the notices I see online and in the
newsletter this month, the selling season is again in full swing. If my
own practice is anything to go by, however, it is hard to be in the
studio right now with all the yard things to do — weeding, planting,
pruning, mowing - just about any reason to be out in the sun and
warmer weather. On the cooler, rainier days I am still inspired by
the excitement and energy from the Clay Symposium held at the

It’s a new season and the directors are getting a feel for their new
roles. We now have a membership committee and its members are
in the process of defining their rolls and thinking of ways to address
the needs of the existing guild members and attracting new ones.
As many of you may have already noticed, we have extended our
communications to include Facebook, posting notices and sharing
interesting clay related bits and pieces. If you haven't yet, please

“Friend” us to keep updated.

Shadbolt Center in March.

—Denise Jeffrey

Gallery & Exhibition News By Laura Carey

Gallery News

The Gallery of BC Ceramics is proud to
welcome three newly juried artists: Mike
Allegretti, Kinichi Shigeno and Kathleen
Tennock.

Based in Robert’s Creek on the Sunshine
Coast, Mike Allegretti’s Creek Clayworks
studio has recently branched out into salt
firing. The gallery is happy to out some
amazing large-scale salt-fired vases. Richmond
artist Kinichi Shigeno is well-known for
his sculpture and handpainted porcelain
functional pieces. Shigeno has a brand new
line of functional ware featuring cedar beetles
as well as his iconic signature focus, high-
heeled shoes. Whistler-based artist Kathleen
Tennock is only the second artist we currently
show who is creating work in a naked raku
style.

Come one, come all to see these beautiful
new additions in person.

May Exhibition: Maggi Kneer
Around the World in 80 Plates
May 2 to June 3; Opening May 2, 5 to 7 p.m.

Around the world in 80 plates combines the
three loves of my life: clay, travel and food. I
grew up in England on the south coast near
Brighton, lived for one year in Germany, and
19 years in Hong Kong before immigrating
to Canada 22 years ago. I enjoy exploring
new cultures, cuisine and customs and find
this enriches my work. I have been fortunate
to have visited about 60 countries. This new
body of work, using images from my own
photographs and ephemera collected over the
years, reflects my impressions of countries I
have visited.

My work reflects nostalgia for my childhood
days, afternoon teas with my grandmother,
starched linen tablecloths, polished silver,

Argentina, tango dancers, by Maggi Kneer.

home baked cakes, cucumber sandwiches
with no crusts and the smell of furniture
polish.

My work is a mid-fire stoneware, multi-
glazed and decorated with sprigging, as well
as both traditional ceramic transfers and
computer generated decals, many of which
are taken from my grandmother's Mrs. Beeton’s

Crete, Minoan pots, by Maggi Kneer.

Potters Guild of BC Newsletter - May 2043

Book of Household Management, circa 1900.

The ornamentation on my vessels is
influenced by the exaggeration and excesses
of the Sevres porcelain and Victorian
dinnerware. The forms come from the triple
curved shaped of medieval English baluster
jugs, the linear rhythm of Art Nouveau vases,
delicately lobed Sung Dynasty bowls and the
vivacity of T’ang Dynasty tomb figures.

I hope my work will encourage viewers to
pause and reflect on their own childhood
days, and remember the good things of the
past and maybe regret their passing a little.

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