LETTERS

An Open Letter to Potters Guild Members

For a variety of personal reasons | have decided to relinquish my position on the board of the Potters Guild. The recent AGM included the airing of a number of issues dealing with the changes of the past year, changes in which | have had an active role, Before leaving | want to make a few com- ments about these.

For the past twenty years | have been the Direc- ton/Curator af the M.¥. Williams Geological Mu- seum at UBC. During that time my activities have ranged across most aspects of museum work, in- cluding retail business development, exhibit devel- opment and public programming. | have been in- volved in two business partnerships, ome of which is Still active. Although fat a potter, my fellow board members have without exception made me feel welcome and equal despite my outside roots.

Three distinct topics which emerged from the dis- cussion at the AGM concern me. Firstly, that there is a feeling of afienation on the part of many mem- bers, Secondly, that many members seem to be uncomfortable with the idea of being on the board. Thirdly, that potters are getting older and need to encourage more young artists. Relevant to the first two, | noted to one individual at the meeting that organizations are often run by governing boards, and the most effective way to express dis- agreement and have influence is to join the Board and become part of the process of change. This is my main reason for serving on a variety of boards, the Potters Guild being one. Also, It's a great way of meeting interesting people and making lasting friendships. The best way to avoid alienaton fram the Board and its work is to jain it, or become ac- tive in one of the standing committess.

The problem of new practitioners is also very im- portant, and the clay fraternity is not the only one to share it, The Lapidary hobby which | am quite familiar with consists in very large part of people well pest retirement age, Lacking younger practi- boners, the hobby and its public face has been in- creasingly marginalized and made moribund | think the clay fraternity can do better end the Guild provides an effective mechaniem fe -ssuring suc- cess,

In tarms of ine cian ‘ie last yeas, . ot hon, The world es a rapidly changing place and ‘ve Guild of yesterday cannot be the Guild of to- marrow. In my considered opinion, tha Potters Guild wes In imminent danger of financial (in other words, total) demise whan | pined the Hoard over a year ago. It was only a matter of time. Things lagk considerably more hopeful now, largety be cause of the great dedication and energy shawn by Jan Krueger and Jane Matthews over the last six

months. They have yet to realize any but the most basic monetary reward for their efforts. Their suc- cess is central and critical to the Guild's survival, something tha membership does not seem te fully appreciate. If the Gallery fails, the Guild will have lost its public face and its means for survival. | also think that Ifthe membership does nat begin to respond with collective suppert and/or constructive critics, the Guild's long-term viability and suc- cess will be seriously compromised.

To paraphrase John F_ Kennedy, “Ask nat what your Guild can do far you, but what you can do for your Guild.” The needs of today demand &, and | think the Guild and its members aré equal to the challenge. | have very much enjoyed my board role and wish the organization success in the com- ing years.

- Joe Nagel, May 3, 1995- TOZAN CULTURAL SOCIETY

We were notified in time for the April 1, meeting that the Vancouver Foundation has agreed to grant us funds up to $40,000 for cornpletion of the Kiln. This was wonderful news and we are, of course, ail very excited about this, This will enable us to com- plate the building and other Hems on the list of

“THE DALAM items important to the kiln. We cannot thank them (SNLITRT DOLS MOT enough for their assistance, JOMMCH PAPRICATE corona F ~ bell = Le Ls . Thanks te : 4 to the INTRODUCE THE donation of v1, DREAM OF THE 1965. To en... ie success of tes iu. rer JSYPPLIERS anong ture, please note the following guidelines. TH FEOFLE” 1. Size: no larger than S"hign xS"wide - wei ci- THEODORE SOOKE. mensions: (MET SRE : “UTHT 2. Tea bow! or cylinder shapes are preferable for ease of firing:

3. Please use specifically raku clay and maintain a uniform wall thickness for ease of firing;

4, Sipn each pot and number 1-10 for ease of |.D. Don't forget you are invited to submit a pot for yourself;

§. Please deliver the BISQUED pots (Fired to cone 06 if possible} to FireArt Studios in Nanaimo at 4365 Wellington Rd. by June 15,1995. - Piease contact Sue Mutchen at 245-5083 If you have any problems.-

se o°* gall the requirements of Malaspina “ollage for the site and services to- gait ‘2 Of ine services are costing more than iu. ted so we are busy looking for dona- tions = i beck +: AY water lines 5 fine hydrant, etc. Wve alse du wulvert. As you can see the Board of" octare %* bus

Yukio Yamamoto will be grving a one day seminar

at North island Collage in Courtenay on May $. He will also be giving a demonstration and slide show

at the Fraser Valley Potters meeting an May 11.