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