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“Charmed”. That was the word chae Pat
Taddy used to describe his reaction to the
Jeff de Boer show at the Canadian Craft
Museum. It's the perfect description for
Jeff's show, There is nary a ceramic morsel
in the exhibicion, bur there is an amazing
display of craftsmanship melded with
whimsy. lf you are in the Vancouver area
before November 17th check our “Coal
Stuff” at the CCM (639 Homby Se). Jeff is
known for his detailed suits of armor chat fir
mice, cats and raes. | accidentally ateended
his leccure where he stated that his primary
influences were ‘Brancusi & Bugs Bunny’,
this sounds weird, bur che resulcing work is
beyond superlatives. My particular
favourite pieces include a sterling compact
desigmed to hold one oreo cookie for the
snackish execucive, Skipper of Arc, looking
stylish and brave, and the armor for a portly
King Henry the VIII mouse, | want to keep
on gushing, but ic is getting rather
embarrassing, Suffice it to say that ] am
now a full-fledged de Boer groupie and will
strive to get a plaster cast of his right hand.

My quest for the error free Newsletter
continues in vain. Last month [ failed to
include the fact thac che Fraser Valley
Pocters Guild is also one of the sponsors for
the Takeshi Yasuda workshop. Sorry for
the inadvertent snub! And | misprinted
the website address -AGAIN, Margarer
Hsu is doing a great job of setting chat up.

September just kind of floated by,
noteworthy mainly because ] didn'r have
to pull out my umbrella too often. [ cat
sac fora week, and was forced co put aside
my east side prejudices againse Kicilane.
Walking access to the beach, especially
when it is cool enough that chere aren't
too many intimidatingly perfect bodies on
display, is a decided bonus. Bur perhaps
there are some of you who think char the
displayed perfection would be the best

part.

lam also facing a studio move which
sends cold chills down my spine. Moving
studing always sends me back co my
fantasy of being a miniaturist. ] imagine
the one strong light versus the 6 or 7 clip
ons [ now use, the supply of politically
incorrect ivory tablets char fit easily into
an old scotch box rather chan the 20 plus
boxes of clay, the half dozen 3 haired
brushes against my wheel, a cable top
easel instead of a kiln. [ see myself on
moving day with one table and ewo
cardboard boxes instead of pwo
truckloads. On the posidive side, [| might
have been a marble sculptor!

I've always wanted to write a rechno cps
column. Former instructors and studio
parteers are probably choking on their
coffee as they read this. Get someone to
whack you on the back, chen read on for

: Potter’s Guild of B.C. Newsletter

® The Newsletter is published 10 times yearly as an information link for members. Submissions of articles, letters and
* anything else of interest are happily received and should be submitted by the 25ch of any month. LInclassifieds and articles may

» be edited for space needs. The fax number is 604/669 - 5627.

: Editor: Karen Opas General Manager: Jane Matthews Editorial Board: Tam Irving, Gillian McMillan, Carol Mayer
« Gallery Assistants: Julia Maika, Christina Loch, Aaron Nelson, Melanie Corbin, Tamara Ball

* 1997 Membership Fees (Based on Calendar Year):

» Individual: $40

» Seniors/Full time Students; $25

* Institutions! Groups / Corporations: $80
* Family or Studio (max. 4 pers-ns}: $55

« Board of Directors: President: Linda Doherry; Vice President: Gillian McMillan; Treasurer: Pat Taddy; Secretary: June
" Macdonald; Directors: Laura Arpiainen, John Cloutier, Les Crimp, Fay Hickey, Carol Mayer, Deborah Tibbel, Ron Vallis, Laura

: van der Linde.

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some helpful tips for the technically
challenged.

How to throw a really large bow!

(The Nightmare Commission):

IF your centering skills are like mine, che

clay must be very soft. Take abour 20

pounds of clay, center iton a bac and

throw an excremely chick sided bow] Ic

will look like this: ==! TRIM
LINE

Don't worry about how ugly ie is inside or
out! Let it dry for a day or two to a soft
leather hard, Now, put your bat-attached
bowl once che wheel, take your trimming
tool and trim che inside of the bow! until
itis smooth perfection. Then flip it onto
a bat big enough 06 support the rim and
start trimming away the excess 7 or 8
pounds of clay on the outside until it
reaches the desired sveltmess and shape.
You will have to stop and let the inner
clay dry some more as you keep crimming.
If you are patient you can trim to a
Duchess of Windsor degree of thinness.
You will want to keep a grindstone handy
for your trimming cools, And a reviving
beverage for any skilled potters who catch
you in che act...

Karen Opas

L/2 page: $65