i The kiln was opened on the 14th of October, 1995 in a
|| formal dedication. This was the result of a great spirit of
1 co-operation between people, countries and businesses.

It was also the completion of Les Beardsley’s dream.
| This kiln could not have been built without the help and
}| co-operation of everyone from the three partners, The

Tozan Cultural Society, the Nanaimo Arts Council and
i Malaspina University/College, the city of Nanaimo, the
|| citizens and business people of Nanaimo, B.C. Ferries,
B.C. Hydro and Dr. Don Bendel of Northern Arizona
University.

| Last, and most importantly, it could not have happened
without Master Potter Yukio Yamamoto from Japan.

[| George McGladrey, Master of Ceremonies, introduced

the following guest speakers: Bob Munnik, President of
i the Nanaimo Arts Council, Rich Johnston, President of
|| Malaspina University/College, Gary Korpan,Mayor of
Nanaimo, Susan Baker, assistant to M.L.A. Dale Lovick,
Don Johnson of the Vancouver Foundation, Yukio
|| Yamamoto, Master Potter, Les Beardsley, President of
the Tozan Cultural Society and Keith Rice-Jones,

President of the B.C’ Potters Guild. Entertainment was
| provided to the guests by the Vancouver Island
‘| Symphony, Central Vancouver Island Community Music

firing in their chosen range | feel -for the growth and
experimental side of us- having the TOZAN just a

| and perhaps it will inspire some to “go beyond”
what they normally do.

School, and the Seven Potatoes Society doing the

When the kiln was opened the crowd of 225 guests

display. It was a very exciting time. The guests included
28 people from Himeji City, Japan who had come to

guests from Arizona, Washington, Nevada, Missouri and
all over B.C.

summer of work. | think the most important thing -after

-not to forget - bodies!

We will be reporting on the actual firing once we have

THE TOZAN!!!

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Donodori (Coal miners dance). Seattle potter and Priest,
Genki Takabayashi, dedicated a Zen poem to the kiln.

helped to unload the kiln and place the pottery out for

Canada to help us celebrate the kiln. There were also

It was very exciting to see the product of a very intensive

pots, of course- was the great spirit of human
cooperation that the kiln represents. | cannot stress this
enough. Look what we all did with our hearts, minds and

had time to analyze it and can give you a proper report.

Don't forget... SPRING OF 1996...NEXT FIRING OF

Maureen Beardsley

If this is printed -or a version thereof- credit should
go to my ten year old daughter Hillary Taylor
McCaffery, who minutes after getting in the car
from a “FIRING SHIFT” said;

“What did the clay freak tell her kids when she got
in the car?”
Watch your TOZAN FINGERS!”

Deb Taylor.