COLUMBIA KELOWNA CLAY FESTIVAL 2008: What a rush! The Okanagan Potters Association pre- sented this unique and intimate festival August 8 to 12. Emcee Bob Kingsmill reminded us that ceramics represent a large community around the world, and that potters are known for their willingness to share. Jim Robison from the UK showed the variety of work from murals to stretched dishes that he produces. His demonstration on Friday was spectacular for the collapse of a big slabware vase as he tried to stand up and join the two sections (the fault of unfamiliar clay.) What the audience will remember however, is his quick recovery and how the pieces were re-rolled and reassembled by next day. Many in the audience commented on how valuable it was to see how to recover from a blip. His square ‘slam dunk’ dishes, stretched footed dish and extruder demonstrations were all successful and useful to the audience. Paul Andrew Wandless from Philadelphia explored different ways to address the surface of ceramic pieces. He told his audience that as long as you understand a process you can apply it anywhere and that is a more important thing to take away from a workshop than actual artefacts. He also pointed out that making art means you must respect criticism because you cannot expect everyone to like whatever you make, Relational Ceramics / Continued from Page 9 umbrella of usage sufficient to encompass both Gunda’s work and Lauras? One of my concerns is that we can get into all sorts of intellectual gymnastics and end up with what could be considered, if I play devil’s advocate, invented justifications. Certainly Amy's breathless address was very dense with ideas and it was only afterwards that we got to chew things around a bit. Within the scope of this short article I cannot hope to discuss all the dimensions of the issue but I would encourage a debate. I have to admit to, in a sense, having a foot in both the practical and intellectual camps. I have just finished my teaching stint at SFU. One of the things I look at with my students is looking at and talking about Art. Most of them have little background and I try to lead them around the convolutions of “artspeak” and de-mystify the process by validating their perceptions and then putting some structure around ideas and perceptions. I use some of the work from a noted critic and writer about art ideas, John Berger. Berger defines mystification as explaining away what might otherwise be obvious. In one example, he compares the impenetrable and obscure writing of the most comprehensive work on Frans Hals with the discussions of a group of children looking at a Carravagio. The children go straight to the real issues of the painting and as Berger says, “It is the painting simply acting on them.” If we are open to what pots will tell us we need to let them simply speak to us. Potters Guild of BC Newsletter - September 2008 Hh James Hibbert wins the blind throwing contest. By Liz Robison — = 7 Friday only and worked on hand building and Lorel Sternig from Kamloops presented on Win mosaics. Many of her works are commissions and she produces raku pieces also, such as animals and birds. James Hibbert from Naramata amused the audience with a movie clip of him carrying buckets of clay as a child, reminding us what a heavy medium clay is. Experimentation is crucial to him and, he says, “Creative mess is better than tidy idleness.” On Saturday only, James demonstrated throwing techniques —how to join two thrown pieces together. He likes to see strength in the rim of a vase because that is where the form ends. James also demonstrated his novel ‘clayotine’ which clamps a pot so that it can be cut in half without toppling over—useful to turn a bowl into two wall light covers. Tony Clennell of Ontario was influenced by an aunt and uncle who started a pottery in 1947 and worked there until they died. Tony has made a conscious effort to move from the kitchen to the living room with the scale of his pots as he believes people will pay more to enhance their living rooms than for utilitarian kitchen pots—an important criterion when your whole living is made from pots. During his solo demonstration, Tony provided an entertaining commentary added to the strong and skilled work he put into producing larger-than-life casseroles and dishes with fine detailing on handles and knobs. He also talked about the importance of continued learning as he is working on a masters degree at Utah State, while teaching as well. The audience was free to wander from demo to demo or concentrate on one presenter in more depth. There was a trade stand by Greenbarn. Yosuke Koizumi demonstrated a Shimpo wheel and Japanese throwing techniques. There was also the opportunity to view the travelling exhibition BC in a Box 2008: FingerPlay, small works by members of the Potters Guild of BC. Burt Cohen, representing Potters Without Borders, had a table set up to display information on Ceramic Water Filter technology as part of a solution to waterborne disease. Social activities included the presenters and Okanagan Potters Assoc. exhibit opening at the Art Ark Gallery Friday evening and a barbecue social and pottery exchange on Saturday. Truly something for everyone. On Sunday, the Festival broadened out with a Free Family Fun Day, where people were encouraged to throw or hand build a pot or have one raku fired. Potters and helpers were generous with time and patience and the event was punctuated by volunteers blind throwing cylinders and trying to pull the longest handle. On Monday and Tuesday, 36 enthusiasts turned up for Hands-On Workshops with Paul Wandless and Jim Robison. Intensive or what? Congratulations to all concerned with Kelowna Clay Festival 2008, it was a triumph. Remember to renew your guild membership this month! And please pass this edition of the newsletter along FREE to anyone you think may be interested.