Vancouver, B.C. V6H 3R7
(G04) 683-9629

Potters Guild of British Columbia

1359 Cartwright St., Granville Island

“New stetfer—

APRIL 1994

ISSN 6319 812 X

STRANGERS AND SURPRISES

Any pottery studio open to the public can anticipate
the occasional surprise to walk in. [t can be uplifting,
imrelevant or can darken the spirit. On a drizzly Saturday
in February | had a visit from a street singer - or rather, a
charming guitar playing musician who had successfully
topped up his "guiness account” by performing near of in
the Granville Island Market, As he came in I was
attending an English visitor who had bought a small raku
tile.

Oblivious of my minor financial transaction but not
unaware of the attractive English girl, he opened up his
guitar case and gently extricated the guitar. | was
immediately fearful that he would let fly witha love
ballad that would so transform the young woman that she
would be unable to deny some primal urge and their
subsequent behaviour would do extensive damage to the
pots on display! This fear however well founded,
dissipated in embarrassment when the musician said, "I

want to sing a song for Reg Dixon - when he was making
pots and teaching back in the sixties, he was very kind to
me, He won't remember me, but he'd remember my friend
Phil ‘cause Phil was really good with clay."

In a strong and mellow voice, he belted out a song for
Reg - there he was, surrounded by pots and singing a song
to celebrate the generosity with which Reg had treated
him 25 years ago. This whole event took but a few
Minutes. He sang one more piece, packed up his guitar
and rejoined the streets. It was the kind of tribute many a
teacher would have been deeply touched by, It was given
freely and anonymously. | could perhaps have taken his
name. It's almost better that I didn't - he's probably one of
many able to express that gratefulness.

Last | heard, Reg Dixon still lives out in Mission and J
trust he’s well, especially in the knowledge that strangers
are singing songs for him. His work with clay and
teaching helped lay the foundation for the vibrant and
healthy clay scene we have in B.C. today.

Bob Kingsmill

NEW CANADIAN FOUNDATION CREATED FOR THE CERAMIC ARTS

A new charitable foundation, one of the first to serve a specific art medium, was established recently in Vancouver,

British Columbia, as

The North-West Ceramics Foundation.

The past decade has witnessed all levels of government—federal, provincial, and municipal— freeze or reduce their
funding to the arts. In these difficult times, The North-West Ceramics Foundation (NWCF) was created to provide new
support in at least one arts area—excellence in ceramics. The broad educational objectives of this not-for-profit society
are to Inspire and support activities which strengthen the craft and artistry of ceramic works, foster the continuing
evolution and vitality of this medium, and stimulate interest in and knowledge of the history, aesthetics, criticism, and
technology of ceramics, The stimulus for the creation of this society came from the Potters Guild of British Columbia.

cominued on page 7

April 1994

Potters’ Guild of B.C, Meweletter |