Review by Rachelle Chinnery Pottery Making Techniques: A Pottery Making Illustrated Handbook Ed.: Anderson Turner, Pub.: The American Ceramic Society, 2004 140pgs, Soft Cover, ISBN: 1-57498-201-X In the tradition of Ceramic Monthly Handbooks, editor Anderson Turner has taken selected articles from Pottery Making Illustrated and compiled them in a soft-cover book. Pottery Making Techniques is an easy-to-read, step-by-step collection of demonstrations covered in three sections: "Throwing’, 'Hand- building’, "Finishing and Firing’. Unlike the magazine, this book has no ads, no classifieds and no distractions from the demonstra- tions; it is cover-to-cover tips and techniques. The articles in the book have all appeared in early publications of Pottery Making Illustrated, but there are supplementary photos, both colour and black and white images, of finished work. In "Throwing’, for example, Dannon Rhudy documents assembly of a combination slab-and-thrown pot over five pages. She lays out her process in nineteen black and white photos and shows the finished pots made with this technique in seven colour shots. Her explanations, which accompany the numbered photos, are clear, concise and succinct. This is just one of fifteen equally interest- ing articles in the "Throwing' chapter. ‘Pulling Handles’ by Steven Hill, ‘Combining Found Objects with Clay’ by Todd Shanafelt, and ‘Carved Teapot’ by Jim Connell are other techniques presented in lesson format. The “Hand-Building’ chapter presents such varied topics as "HomemadeTwo-part Extruder Dies’, by David Hendley, and how to build a wall-mounted extruder from a bumper-jack. In the final chapter, ‘Finishing and Firing’, Douglas Kenney presents ‘Airbrushing an Abstract Expression’, which is a twelve-part photo documentation of his painted and airbrushed. twenty-seven inch platters. In this article he includes a list of tools and materi- als as well as recipes for airbrush underglazes. ‘Glazing and Finishing’ is full of surprises too, One author, Lili Krakowski, writes about kitchen-style glaze testing where she advocates measuring by volume with cups and tablespoons. Her clear glaze recipe reads: "Frit 3124 (Ferro)...41/2 cups, Clay....1 cup, Flint...1 cup (scant, do not pack)”. “Building a Domed Cylinder Kiln’ and ‘Firing with Paper Saggars’ are other units in this chapter well worth reading through. It's difficult to imagine anyone not finding something new, informative or even work- transforming from this book. It is a series of workshops packed. between two covers and worth carefully reading every one. Aberthau Potters Celebrate Aberthau Potters, formerly West Point Grey Pottery Club, celebrated their 30th birthday as a pottery club in April, 2004. The history of Aberthau Potters is intertwined with Aberthau Mansion and the WPG community centre. Together they have forged a relationship to offer studio and teaching space to individuals to explore clay. One of the original founding members, Maria Tomsich, is still active in the club. ‘Today, the many different languages spoken by members attest to the diversity of members’ backgrounds, as well as the unifying power of art. Members have appreciated. the unique ambiance of an old coach house, annexed to a stately mansion, surrounded by a verdant park at the shore of the sea. Nowadays some of the Aberthau potters even have their own studio at home, but they still belong to the club for exchange of ideas, access to workshops and demonstrations by professional potters, and, of course, the camaraderie. As part of several planned events to recognize the 30th birthday of the club itself, a raku day was held on April 10 for the 100 plus WPG studio users, which included both the students registered in classes through the community centre and club members. All the studio users were invited toa free raku workshop given by Cheryl Stapleton, our intrepid studio manager, and to have a piece ready for the raku day. It turned out to bea beautiful sunny day for Cheryl and experienced raku member Billy Whittman, who were the lead persons in the actual raku firing, A lunch organ- ized by member Rona Hatherall, a truly beautiful feast, accompanied the raku, making for a perfect day. The 30th birthday celebration continues in June when the Aberthau Potters hold their semi-annual pot luck dinner. The West Point Grey Association board members and staff of the community centre have been invited as special guests to this year's potluck dinner. The club's pot-luck dinners are legendary for the amount of food that magically appears at 6:00 PM., not to mention the astonishing variety! This June's pot-luck is shaping up to be the best ever as the Aberthau Potters plan to be "puttin’ on the Ritz” for the community centre's board members and staff. As well, the club is looking into starting, a scholarship fund for the community centre's studio users and there is a committee exploring the possibility of creating a ceramic piece for nearby Trimble Park. Our 30th birthday has spurred. some very positive energy! Suzanne Starr, president Aberthau Potters 6 Potters Guild of British Columbia Newsletter June 2004