Proyecto Arte Del Fuego (Art of Fire)

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Pia, Jinny and Pat

Jinny Whitehead’s tile with coloured clay/

In August the Cuban-Canadian Ceramic Art Collective
gathered ceramic artists from Cuba, Canada and the US at
Kwantlen University College (in conjunction with the
Fraser Valley Potters Guild) to explore new ways of seeing
and working together by investigating together the advan-
tages and pitfalls of contemporary ceramic technology.
Visiting artists included Antonio Lewis, Ziomara
Gutierrez, Alberto Lescah and José Vasquez Xenes.

One of the techiques introduced by the guest artists was the
use of “charcoal”. They make their own “charcoal” crayons
out of clay and oxides and then use them to draw on green-
ware. Often this drawing material is mixed with liquid

12 Potters Guild of British Columbia Newsletter

Participant drawing with charcoal

at Kwantlen College. August 2004

LA

Catherine Merrill with participant

oxide washes. The approach of these Cubans is that they
are artists first and clay is the medium.

Participating potters were treated to an inspiring series of
workshops, slide presentations and demonstrations.
Prohecto Arte Del Fuego is directed by Antonio Lewis
(Cuban) and Catherine Merrill (American). Ceramic artist
Alison Petty and Kwantlen ceramics instructor David Lloyd
were instrumental in organizing this fine series of events.

Martin Hunt with information from Jinny Whitehead
Photos courtesy of Jinny Whitehead

September 2004