LEFT: Recent work by
Holly McKeen. Vase,
12” in height. Pewter
crystals on white/teal.

TOP OF PAGE, RIGHT: Night of fire performance art wood-fired
kiln—about to burn through. We wondered what they were building
throughout the week. On the last evening, they whitewashed the
front and showed a slideshow on it through-out the evening as they
brought it up to temperature. Then the skillsaws came out as they
cut the crystals into the side of it and cranked up the music and
stoked harder with something to colour the flames until the whole
thing ignited. What a show!

ABOVE, MIDDLE: Are we having fun yet? Five of the presenters.
Yes, that’s the infamous Peter Ilsley of London, in centre. He was at
Shadboldt some years back, some may remember. (I’m on the far
right).

4 “ ABOVE: At the Teracotta Museum, La Bisbal.

RITISH
COLUMBIA
a

Continued from Page 6

On our last evening we were
honoured with a “Night of Fire”
celebration. Something that our
B.C. local bylaws would never
allow! Five kilns all with different
purpose (one to raku and then
—more important—to heat the
liquor, raisins and nuts beverage

enjoyed by all). The barbeque

dinner was amazing with many
Catalan specialities—as the fires
blazed. The evening ended with the wood kiln performance art piece
that ultimately burned to the ground, but not until crystals were saw
cut into the side of it for quite a spectacle.

New friends and old, we said our farewells as the week ended, and
Ginny and I headed off to the south of France for a week, and to Paris
for another, all the way discovering and enjoying more of the culture,
history and art of Europe. And, best of all, new techniques learned
have found their way into my most recent work.

For more on Holly McKeen’s crystalline glazed porcelain, go to
www.greendalepottery.com or on Facebook at Greendale Pottery &
Country Guest House:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Greendale-Pottery-Country-
Guest-House/214604825227653?ref=hl

www.denysjames.com
TEL: 1-250-537-4906

Potters Guild of BC Newsletter - December/January 2013/14 7