POTTERS
GUILD

of BRITISH
COLUMBIA
—e

1359 Cartwright Street
CoramVelle tsk
Vancouver BC VoOH SRY
Fax: (G00) 669-5027
fel: (G04) 669-5045

Newsletter

October, 1997

Women on Fire

On August léth, 1997, ewenty four women

ranging in age from twenty two to eighry

cwo met at the Tozan kiln site at Malaspina

University College in Nanaimo, BC. We

were there to fire the Anagama kiln built by

Dr. Yukio Yamameo

dedicated to Yukio's granddaughter, killed
ih Chve eartheuake thar devastated Kobe,
Japan in 1995; we wanted to honour her

spiric with thus special firing.

Wome

Francisca, New York aruda from all acre

1 travelled from Taiwan, San

Canada (including several BC potters) oo

fire with renowned Minnesota potrer, Linda

Christianson. At her own home, Linda
wood fi

res dishes in a Bourry-box kiln. Her
wsive experience at building and firing
wood kilns as well as her wonderful

extel

presence sec the tone for an amaxng

éexpenence tor everyone.

Linda Christianson eyes a tea-bowl

Adter introductions, on a hot and sunny
Saturday, Linda began with a discussion
on glazing options, wadding and tumble
king. We eagerly set tc

it. It soon
became apparent that the concern of mot

having enough pots co fll the kiln was

replaced with “how are we going oo fir
ches all ind”. The firse day comeluded
with a slide presentation of Linda's work
which gave us all a real sense of the
possibilities open to us through wood
firing.

Day
jobs necessary to get the kiln firing -

cleaning and preparing shelves, splitting

Two saw everyone working on specifi

and stacking our wood supply, hosing
down the site and surrounding trees with
water, wadding and cumble-stacking
pieces. We blessed the kiln and started
the fire.