POTTERS
GUILD

of BRITISH

COLUMBIA

ae:
NEWSLETTER

[G bc potters

July/August 2003

Volume 39 Number 7

Joanne Copp
Vessels of Clay

My earliest experience with clay was as a child
making busts from niverbank clay while on a family
camping trip to Grand Coulee Dam in Washington
state, My mother regaled my siblings and me with
tales of making clay horses and people to play with
during her childhood on the Canadian prairies. We
made similar creations, which we dried in the sun
and carefully transported home, These treasures
lived for years on our basement windowsill before
finally succumbing to dampness.

Years later I studied art at the University of Victoria,
where | explored a variety of art methods and media
including sculpture with wood. fibreglass, metal and
clay, as well as the two dimensional media such as
painting, drawing, printmaking and photography.

After starting a family, | returned to my original
passion with clay. I
joined the Bumaby Pot-
ters Guild, and pursued
my education further at
Capilano College in the
Ceramics Program, Al-
though during this time I
delved into all facets of
ceramics from glaze
chemistry with onerous
amounts of test tiles, to
throwing dinnerware, the
more sculptural feel of
handbuilding was really
my interest. Experimen-
tation was the order of
the day and I spent many
smoking out the Arts fac-
ulty with my kilns of ar-
ganic burnables. Results,
sometimes disastrous,
only kindled my desire
to continue,

H: 41.0% W: 19.0cm

Jounne Copp Sawdust fired vessel limed with 23,6kt
antique gold, 200), H: 26.0 x 'W; 33,3 cm

We eventually relocated to Roberts Creek on the
Sunshine Coast, where my work continues to be
handbuilt with coils, bumished and sawdust fired.
My pieces are vessel oriented and
vary in shape and size from large and
spherical, to tall silhouetted forms
and delicately carved work. More re-
cently, a Canada Council Grant ena-
bled me to explore the effects of vari-
ous metal leaf used in combination
with clay. My current work is con-
cerned with form evoking a sense of
movement. The contrast between the
dark outer surface of the vessel and
the luminous leafed interiordraws the
eye to follow the nm of the piece and

a rhythm emerges.

I am inspired and influenced by the
West Coast landscape in which I live,
Mountains rising out of the sea, the
constunt rhythms of the ocean shore,
time worn pebbles, mists and winds
are what I carry with me always.
Joanne M, Copp

Joanne Copp Tall sawdust fired vessel, | 9944,

More information an pages 5 and J)