our wonderfully dedicated staff and a supportive gallery committee, this has been achieved
successfully.

Brenda’s arts administrative knowledge and skills with gallery staff and guild members have also
contributed to the continued expansion and growth of the Gallery of BC Ceramics and the many

artists it represents. Our gallery staff are invaluable. They have been key to achieving gallery

goals; friendly customer service combined with opportunities to learn new skills and information

access have enabled employment growth and commitment.

The gallery website has been redesigned to improve service to our artists and customers.
Information, such as Jury and Gallery policies, exhibitions, inventory sheets and shipping
procedures can now be downloaded easily from the web. Images of works and Gallery Exhibition
Openings can now be viewed online as well. Gallery staff renew the ceramic displays regularly in
order to keep the gallery interesting and visually fresh to our audience. The gallery staff also
works hard to promote Guild programs such as membership, “BC in a Box”, Tajimi Exhibit,
Potters Guild 50° Anniversary and “Made of Clay”.

As we gear up for the very busy and hopefully successful summer season, Brenda would like to
extend a “thank you” in advance to the gallery staff, volunteers and artists whose energy and
contributions make her tenure as Interim Gallery Manager a pleasure.

Events and Fundraising

“Raku-U” continues to be a popular event. Our thanks go to Markian Kyba and his team who
perform the double function of educating the public in the art of raku at the same time as they
raise funds for the guild. “Raku-U” was a great hit at the BC Art Teachers Association
Symposium in February as well as at “Made of Clay” in April and as part of the July 1 activities
on Granville Island.

In April we held the “Too Good for the Shard Pile” Sale. Thanks to all who donated work and the five
teams of people who helped at this sale. It is a popular event held at the Lougheed Mall and we
succeeded in raising $5,000. These funds will help defray some of the extra costs that we will be
incurring in this celebratory year.

Jim Stamper handed over the organization of “Made of Clay” to Dale Delansen last year. The
December event at the Roundhouse was poorly attended and sales were low. The Board has
decided to concentrate its efforts on a spring/summer event as it believes that competition
between the many Xmas craft sales is now too high and the market is saturated in the Christmas
period.

Enquiries
Leon Popik: electronic, Jan MacLennan and Markian Kyba: voice

Leon joined the Board in March 2005 and has been answering general questions or concerns
relating to BC ceramics or other ceramic related questions. On average he finds one valid
question for every sixty e-mails or spam messages received daily. Many of the valid e-mails are
from out of this country with questions about who there is to see if they come to British
Columbia, and where pottery can be purchased within our province.

Leon has an interest in the archives we presently have, and over the next couple of months or so
would like to work on organizing the BCPG current archives. He will also review our library with a
view to revitalizing our book collection.

Jay MacLennan and Markian Kyba continue to share the task of responding to voice mail
messages.

JulylAugust2005 Potters Guild of British Columbia Newsletter 13