After a lifetime of traveling from one end of Canada to the other in my sales & marketing work, it was a nice peaceful change to retire to Nanoose Bay on Van- couver Island. This change enabled me to get back to my passion — pottery! | had learned how to paint in oils and to draw, but I found my ‘love’ im clay at Vancouver Community College in the late 60s, | was fortunate to have Wayne Ngan as my first pottery teacher. He imbued me with a devotion and respect for clay and the craft of making forms with clay. On retirement, | was fortunate to get another great teacher in the person of Algis Bubnys of Nighthawk Pottery in Coombs, BC, Naot only did Al help me get back my feel for clay. but became my mentor by convinc- ing me | could do most anything in pottery by just working af it, At the time I also started to go to any pottery workshops near Parksville, | met many people that I now consider close friends. Al these workshops the conversu- tion often tumed to the remarks, “Why is it we only seem to mect al a workshop every six months or so?" With this m mind, | started phoning many of the work- shop altendees to see if there was any interest in meeting on amore regular basis. The reaction was very positive and the Arrowsmith Potters Guild was born, Qur Guild is im its eighth year and growing. We have progressed from working in an inter- nally demolished CPR Railway Station to agreat building with a functioning teach- ing studio and a well patronized Pottery Gallery. Since starting back in clay I have met many potters, both locally and intemation- ally. I have taken workshops with John Leach, Takeshi Yasuda, Micki Schloessingk, Bruce Cochrane, Linda Christianson, Svend Bayer and several of our great BC potters. All these people have given me & stronger commitment to mak- ing pottery. My potlery associations in- ¢lude the Potters Guild of BC, the Crafts Association of RC, Arrowsmith Potters Guild, Comox Valley Potters Club, The Potters Place in Courtenay and The Pyro- mama Pottery Gallery in Coombs. November/December 20005 Les Crimp Studio Potter My work is primarily wood-fired fume- tional stoneware and specialty raku pot- tery. Wood-firing is my passion, The whale process from making the pottery pieces, bisquing, decorating and glazing is great. But the labour of Jove is lighting the fire in afire chamber and stoking it until it reaches the proper temperature. This may be work, but the end results are worth it. The hardest part of the whole process 1s waiting for the kiln to cool, Then, the excitement of unbricking the door is always there. It is instant gratification to see all the beautiful pots with their rich glazes and the wonder- ful flashing where the flames have “kissed” the pots. At this pomnt the work is forgotten and remains totally worthwhile. My pot- tery has given me great satisfaction. Why didn’t I do it sooner! Very recently, on July 1, a group of five of us, all members of the Arrowsmith Potters Guild, were invited by Algis Bubnys to work with him in the formation of a small co-op partnership in his retail store in Coombs. The store is behind the Old Coun- wy Market (the Goats on the Roof) which is an all-year-round prime location. Our new group of six has been named Pyroma- nia Pottery Gallery and is working very well, The members are Donna Rankin, Linda Phillips, Trudy Menzel, Jane Murray Smith, Algis Bubnys and me. Les Crimp See more of Les’ work at website hit: www.arrowamilhpottersguild be.ca Les Crimp Sushi Ser 2001 Plainsman $50clay, wood-fired to cone 10. Blue set (foreground) is an opal glase; brown set is gold Shano & Tenmoku. 10.0cm x 10.0 om, Powers Guild of British Columbia Newsletter Les Crimp, Pitcher 2001 Plainsman 550 clay, wheel thrown, Stuno glaze, wood-fired to cone 10, H, 21.0cm increase your production speed during busy season |!! stamp your own designs on clay soft or hard polymer stamps =, = =F he —+ et _ Purple Orange Arts (604)6624148 fax (604)662.4104 wew.punleorangearts.com* t+. 27 A208-1288 W. Cordova St. Vancouver BC VBC ao ales 13