The Comer Chair The board has been meeting throughour the summer, so I'd like to use this space to keep you informed of what we've been up to. Ifany of che committee projects sound interesting, please feel free co ger involved. We will atrempt to post times of all commicrees on the blackboard in the office so chat you may call the office to find out times and places. Communications: We're working on a new look for the newslecter, hope you like it 40 fae. Publications: Laura A. has done all the work on the Catalogue so far. She could use the help of one of the members at large. Programs: The “Oif the Wall” Exhibition catalogue is now available, The show will be cravelling to Port Moedy. Made in Clay: There will be some changes co che set up next year, but the time and place will remain the same. Workshops: Gillian is proceeding with a John Leach workshop for Spring $7. Fund-raising: We are planning a large event to raise funds for the catalogue and other educational purposes. Outreach: Les has divided che province into six secGons, each with a member ag a contact person. Resource Center: The library and slides will be updated. Studio 5: The kiln needs repairs and new shelving is underway. A list of studio guidelines is being prepared. Gallery: Monthly exhibits have been chosen for 1997, New jury guidelines are being prepared. For details, see Jane's report, You are always welcome to volunceer in che Gallery, This ts just a small part of the guild activicies. We hope you'll make time to participate, Linda Doherty Check our the Potters Guild Web Sire ar: hetps/araw.cwin/chome/redhen/PGuild Noodling Around Exhibits Vancouver collectors, ericies and columnists are gearing up for the September exhibit openings at public and private gallenes. The local press reserves limited press for reviews of these exhibits, and the subsequent competition for che atrencion of the art critics usually leaves craft-related exhibics low on their list of priorities, You won'teven know they happened, or are abour to happen, unless you happen to subscribe to an appropriate publication, such as chisone, Even then, timing is not always on your side — publi- cation deadlines do not always comfort- ably coincide wich openings. Such was the case when [ decided to do some noodling around exhibics. It started with an invitation to the July opening ac the Richmond Art Gallery of the exhibition Fired Lip!, An art gallery featuring clay, notan unknown phenomenon, but certainly unusual enough to lure me out co Richmond. When I enter an exhibir[ always seek our some kind of statement that provides a touch stone for che content. In this case it was offered as a Group Statement in the handout; “Fired wp! began as an idea potters coming together to share energy, camaraderie and quality work on a yearly basis. The sharing of common passions hes united individuals into a group thet supports and encowrages one another. Fired Up! has evolved along with our long-term commitment to clay and to a vehicle char educates and excites the public.”. This evolution has been happening for che plas Owelve years and now includes a core group of ewelve potters. [tis always interesting to wander around a group show and allow yourself to be drawn, or wot, to individual pieces or groupings, Some works were familiar and were strolled by, others attracted atrencion because of their timeless, almost museum- like quality, some had surfaces thar invited touch, and ochers were forced into uneasy unisons chat agitated che senses. The show gained significant substance for me when coupled with che potters’ stacemencs in the handout. Had these statements been included alongside the minimal labels, then [ believe the objective of “exciting and educating” the Page 3 public would have been more simply achieved, Regardless, chis was an excellent opportunity © View the works of chese potters within the art gallery environment. The individual pieces shewed no signs af being oucef place or feeling any discomfort. From Richmond | made my way to the Gallery of BC Ceramics to have a look ar the installation of Simon Ho's work (July 2nd - 25ch). Enticed Nature and Feelings, Simon's adventures with form and surface echo his ability to chink new thoughts whilst accepting the influences of the past. The move from his bell-like shapes to more broken pod shapes is an interesting one, and contains promises of a journey co be continued, In this exhibit his works existed in a vacuum of quietude, particularly noticeable in che chatter created amongst the other works in the Gallery. Penultimacely, | visited the Off the Wall exhibit ac che Canadian Craft Museum. This juried exhibit fatured work by ten potters who responded te che challenge co create a piece thatin some way reflected che title. The juror, Baco Ohama, chose pieces chat shared a “caring for and sensitivity to craftsmanship" and chat came together in a unison neither forced nor uneasy. They work well together, This exhibic will be travelling on to Port Moody Art Centre for the month of Cetober, so if you missed itin Vancouver you now have a second chance. Finally, back to the Richmond Art Gallery for the opening of Sylvia Borda's exhibit of photography Of Myth and Mies (August 15th - September L6ch). I mention it here as a feetnore because the images thacincrigue her are of the ancient world and include works in clay. [Numinated in ligh boxes you will find layered photographs of stone horses, edges of ruins, heads of statues and clay vessels. Titles such as Reflection and Endightenment reflece the intent of che artist but, for me, it was the photos of those wonderful clay vessels that provided a personal context and left me wanting to revisic Andrew Wong's photo images on his Great Wall of China in the Off the Wall Exhibic. Carol Mayer