HAVE WE GOT WORKSHOPS!

In a desperate attempt to overcome a state of shyness
that has lingered far too long within me, I decided after
Christmas to be available to teach some workshops.

So, in February and March, | gave workshops in
Tsawwassen (South Delta Rec. Centre) to the Delta
Potters, in Gibsons to the Sechelt Potters Guild, in
Qualicum Beach (at the Old Schoolhouse) to 40 or so
Vancouver Island potters, in Surrey (as a replacement
for Mary Fox) to the Fraser Valley Guild, in Vancouver
to the boys at St. George's School, and in Duncan to
students and teachers at the local high school,

All this activity reminded me, omce again, of the
tremendous amount of activity in our field in British
Columbia. There are people in every nook and cranny
of this province struggling with the technical difficul-
ties. and probing their own creative potential, and |
was left to wonder, what with all this strugeling and
probing, where in the world did people find time to go
to workshops? More importantly, why? What was
going on? What was being accomplished? Were they
being satisfied? Did they become better potters?

Naturally, some of the participants were merely at-
tempting to escape brutal and unusually morbid
marital [or its equivalent) situations. Others were
relieved to take a short break from their own endeav-
ours, to see if the “teacher” was genuinely keen about
clay, or was just another borderline pedagogue who
would leave the community with more social problems
alter only ome weckend than they'd had in the
previous two surmumers.

Some might suggest that It is the visiting “professor”
who makes a workshop tick, but I think that it's really
the participants that make or break it. If they aren't
awake, and curious, interested, probing and demand-
ing: -if they don't somehow clarify the things they
want or necd, it's unlikely they'll get much back. By
the same token, if the teacher has a serious case of
mental constipation and is unwilling to give gener-
ously, the energy and anticipation can dissipate.

There is value in coming together to discuss mutual
experience, Infact, 1 don't think we get together often
enough. Do you go to workshops? What do you
expect? Are you satisfied? What criticisms do you
have? How could they be tmproved? How can we help
one another improve the quality of clay work in B.C?

With these questions in mind, don't forget the Malas-
pina Ceramics seminar later this month. Go there.
Speak to someone you haven't met before. Fight your
shyness!

Bob Kingsmill

NSCAD
SUMMER
1990

For The Mova Soocia College of Amand Desips offers
afecmation «3 Lf and 7 week sumneer ceri counes im Ar}
write: = Mistery. Act Education. Craft, Design and Fine Apis.

SUMMER 196) CERAMICS PROGRAMS:
RegerarsOfice MAY
S063 Deke Seeeeg = Brace Taylor
Holifas Ceramics For Public Spaces
iowa Sosa «=Rehecee Rapp
Cada Explorations in Tableware

JUNE

Take Pereira

Earthenware Poetery Intensive
visilor: Acre Call

JULY
Deborah Black
Decorated Ceramics

WORKSHOPS

The Srd bi-annual Ceramic Symposium takes place
May 11-13, 1990, at the Medicine Hat College, and
features lectures, workshops, forums, and Saturday
night dinner, Presenters include Les Manning, Tam
Irving. Greg Payee, Dave Settles, Don Wells, Allan
Jensen, Michael Obranovich, Pat Bovey, and Shirley
Rimer. Fee $125. Contact (403) 529-3844.

The 15th anniversary conference of the Ontario Clay
and Glass Association, Celebrate Fusion, will be held
the weekend of June 1-3, 1990, at Carleton University,
Ottawa. Steven Hill, a production potter in Missouri,
and Sally Michener, currently Chairman of the 3-D
Department at the Emily Carr College in Vancouver
will both be giving a workshop as part of the proceed-
ingsoftheconference. Forfurtherdetails contact Elin
Racine at (416)923-7406.

The Malaspina College in Nanaimo on Vancouver
Island is holding their 1990 Ceramics Seminar on
April 28th, 9:00 am to 5:30 pm with instructors
including; Penny Birnbaum on Animal Masks; Mary
Daniel on Slip Oxides and Lustres; Walter Dexter with
Raku demonstration; Dave Fairey on Slip casting:
Tom Harrison on Plaster Molds; Wilf Hatch on Photo-

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