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POTTERS
GUILD

BRITISH

COLUMBIA

ase)
NEWSLETTER

potters

October 2002

Volume 38 Number 9

Connie Glover
Octopus's Garden

This spring | completed Octopus's Garden, 4 mapor
public art project at Riviera Gardens townhouse
development in Richmond. The project is 105 sq ft
of relief ceramic tile installed on a 33 ft long curved
concrete bench.

After attaining the commission through the public
art process, the project took three months to com-
plete. The developer, Adera Developments Ltd,
agreed to provide the concrete bench where a retain-
ing wall/seat had been planned and then a wooden
replica of the concrete bench was made, adding 8%
to all measurements for shrinkage of the clay during
drying and firing. This was a bit of a brainteaser
because the concrete bench had been inaccurately
built, requiring measurements to be taken every two
inches and enlarged by 8%, Fortunately, after re-
moving and rearranging most of the studio cquip-
ment and furniture, the finished wooden bench just
fit in the studio,

T began the claywork by rolling out slabs and draping
them over the wooden mould, then joining and
smoothing them before building up the surface in
relief. It became apparent that some areas were
drying too quickly, even though the whole form was
carefully covered in plastic and dampened sheets
were draped over the clay plus a humidifier was used
under the bench. When the relief work was com-
pleted, | began painting sone areas with slips before
cutting it into tiles and removing them from the form,
Fach piece was numbered, hollowed out in built-up
areas to maintain an even thickness, and scored to aid
in adhesion to the mortar. The tes were soda glared

in my gas kiln in three
firings but a subsequent
two firings Were neces-
sary bo COmect some
problems resulting from
an unexpected colour
change inthe clay I was using, The installation took
five days with me working with professional tile
setter,

The bench sits under a tall silver maple tree and the
surrounding landscape has been planted with tall
grasses, creating a shady green oasis. It is used and
enjoyed by passing pedestrians, the nearby elemen-
tary school and daycare centre, and Riviera Gar-
dens residents. | bope it will gently remind the
public of the beauty and complexity of the ocean
and its creatures and the urgent need for preserve-
tion of this fragile marine coosystem-.

Connie Glover