BOB KINGSMILL WRITES This fall I have participated in two pre- Christmas fairs and the experience, while positive, offered a quirky reminder of my uncle, the deer hunter. He was once off in the Alberta bush, throughly camouflaged, and into his sport. He even had the boots and cloth- ing sprayed with a neutral scent. A slight movement stopped him in his tracks. There he stood, rifle ready, hyper- alert, when a cocky little fox trotted out of the woods. Without noticing the presence of mas- sive firepower, it marched directly up to the uncle. Stopping but briefly, it lifted one of its back legs and did its territorial marking on the camouflaged leg and de- scented boot. The creature then carried on, unaware of the disorienting effect it had caused. Standing next to tables and plinths of my stuff this fall was like standing in the woods - you were never certain what might come by. It is remarkable to note the number of potters who make use of these sales: to many it is an important outlet. Some fairs are massive and com- plex, like Circle Craft’s Canada Place Christmas Market, and some are mod- est, like the Vernon Farmers Market Christmas sale. They are always a gam- ble; sometimes they are excellent, some- times they are sour. Whichever way it goes, potters put themselves and their wares out on a limb. Naturally the experience can sometimes dampen the spirits (if not the boots). [had a man approach one of my stoneware murals and exclaim, “I’d have to be nuts in the head to spend that kind of money for something like that!” So I called him an anal-retentive sheep woo- er whose parents practiced philately. Just kidding. I merely smiled and made some inane comment about how tastes vary. I think we could all remember the fox. We'll all have irritants, but if we remain steadfast in improving the quality of our work and continue to put it into the marketplace, through whatever vehicle, the community of potters will remain vigorous. Bob Kingsmill The Municipality of Saanich and the Public Art Policy CALL TO ARTISTS FOR INDICATIONS OF INTEREST The Municipality of Saanich is undergoing renovations to three Recreation Centres. In keeping with the recently-adopted policy of the municipality, the “Percent for Art” guidelines will apply to all three building projects. The Public Art budget for Gordon Head is $23,000, for Cedar Hillis $16,000 and tor Pearkes is $9,000. Artists interested in participating are invited to submit letters of interest. This letter for one or more of the projects, should be accompanied by no more than 20 slides of recent work, a slide list and a resume. For each project, up to five artists from among those applying will be chosen to submit final proposals. Each project will be . incependently juried. Deadline for letters of interest: +:30 p.m. December 10; 1992 Deadline for final proposals: February 28, 1992 Proposals should be sent to: The Arts Manager Greater Victoria Intermunicipal Committee 525 Fort Street Victoria, B.C. V8W 1E8 604-386-8661 Also contact the Arts Manager jor further information on the Public Art Policy; the stage and restrictions on each project: the architect’s statement and the projected time-frames. WORKSHOPS VINCENT MASSEY: A Glaze Workshop with a Difference! Vincent Massey's wonderful exuberant pots with their brightly coloured stone- ware glazes are, I am sure, known to many of you. This is not a technical glaze calculation workshop, but will concen- trate instead on glaze applications with a simple method of making glazes fit. Vincent will also show slides to demon- strate his techniques. We are holding this workshop on Satur- day, January 16th, 1993, from 10am to 4pm at the Burnaby Art Centre, 6450 Deer Lake Ave., Burnaby, and sharing costs with them, so that registration is through the Art Centre (note that the form on page 9 is to be mailed to BAC). The fee is $25.00 for all registrants. With the opening of their new facilities at 7700 Minoru Gate, the Richmond Cultural Centre celebrates a Cultural Week. The Denman Island potter Gordon Hutchens will join the Centre with the Richmond Potters’ Club sponsorship by giving a two-day workshop on January 23 and 24, 1993, from 10 am to 4 pm. The sessions are free to Richmond Pot- ters Club members, and $15.00 to non- members. A pot-luck lunch will be held on Sunday: bring some food and your own utensils. A cafeteria and nearby mall are available on Saturday. Contact Shirley Inouye at 231-6440 for pre- registration. The Fraser Valley Potters’ Guild is sponsoring a February 5th and 6th workshop at Kwantlen College with the American Frank Boyden. Contact Cathi Jefferson to register. $40.00 for the two days. More on Frank and his work in January. Page 4 November/ December, 1992