confotied from pape J supose and frustrate, but this isthe excite mentof working with fire and the ekement of clay. [t is impossible to know exactly how the pece will emerge from the kiln, | may have some sense but generally it ts more than éxpected! The most entertaining workshop I have attended was. one given by Michael Casson. With total ease he magically threw huge pouring vessels, decorming cach by swirl- ing on slips in a wery relaxed manner. Michael would fix a clay wedge to the vessel and pullithe handle using both hands, He seemed a giant of a man beth in the physical sense as well as the energy he exuded. An artist who left a profound impression on ime was Ruth Duckworth. She spoke at Emuly Carr one evening. | will never forget the diminutive woman who stepped to the podium, barely able to peer ower it. In fact she chuckled and stepped to one side to speak more easily to us. Her en- ergy and enthusiasm is still with me. I re- call her saying that during her lifetime when an opportunity presented itself, such a& Somoone saying do you know how to do....*, ¥, 27 She would always answer yes, accept the proposition, and then go away and learn how to do it. Today when Lam faced with a challenge, { remember her words anc follow her advice. KATHRYN O’REGAN In March of 2000, | was thrilled ta be inviled to exhibit several of my pieces at the Stretch International exhibinion in Charlee, North Carolina, This invitation was extended tothose people who strenched the limits of clay. The exhibition was part of the gallery tour for participants at the 45" Annual Conference of the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts, held at the same time. In May of 2001, the editor of Ceramics Technical (Australia) asked for my per mission to use acetal of one of my pieces un ther May cover. In the same ise, there was an article featuring my artwork The last twe years have been a time of journey and allowing my art to grow. ] spent a number of weeks in Spain and Portugal duning the fall of 2000. More recently [ travelled extensively in Seot- land, backpacking my way through the Orkney [shinds and the Hebrides. The in- fluence of this tapes- try of vistas and cul- tures ts gradually find- ing tts way into my work. This year | tumed to brush and canvas once more. I have also incorponsed melal into my wall pleces. There ts a painting in my studio that | have been working on for six months. | keep the painting in full view, returning when a particular image or appantion demands that it be included in the canvas, I'm not sure When, iFever, i will be completed, It is now very far away from my initial comcepl. Perhaps one day it will tell me — enough! Although this very personal piece may never become public, it is providing inspiration for other new work, It is this continual search for new methods in which we may express, with or without written words, ourstory. [have discovered that if 1 sit quietly and enter a more intui- live state, a solution of resolution of an issue will appear to me. As artists we are fortunate to be able to deal with life's expenences by processing them through Our art. Katha O'Regan 04-943 - 8050 kathrynartis¢n@decnet.egn Kathryn O'Regan Untitled, tile (parple, lime, peach) multifired, 11.4% 43.7 cm Works hop and Travel with DENYS JAMES San Miguel de Allende, Mexico November 79-December 14, 2000] Handbuilding workshopexcursionlan- funge art ours Oaxaca, Mexico January |7-February §, 2002 Workshopesxcurston/linguagefan Information or Registration DENYS JAMES 182 Welbury Drive Saltspring Island, BC VEK 2L# Phone/fax 250.597.4905 e-mail Website: waw.denysjames.com Potters Guild of British Columbia Newsletter Call for Entry yul-tensils EXHIBITION deadline October 15 Contemporary Crafts Gallery in Portland Oregon is secking fine artists/‘crafiapeople io participate in yal-tensils, an exhibition of fanciful kitchenwares. Works must be innovative and challenging. functional or utilitarian, aesthetic orconceplual, in wood, metal, glass, fiber, and/or ceramic. Send slides of 3 works maximum (no more than 2 slides per work) plus a cheque $1508 payable to CCG Contemporary Crafts Gallery, 3934 Corbett Ave, Portland, Or, 97201. www .geocities.comiccgpds or email aoce 3994 Ganol.come or 503.224.2654 October 2001