Steven Hill Workshop with Delta Potters Association: A Review by Sergia Hinde

Atthe end of June, Steven Hill of Red Star Studios, Kansas City, Missouri was the Hottest Show in Town.

After months of planning, meetings, tel- ephone calls and countless emails, the day finally came when Steven amived. Delta Potters did a great job hosting the event at the South Delta Ree Centre in Tsawwassen, home of Delta Potters Assoctation. Close to 100 participants arrived early the first moming.

Steven brought with him some beautiful work including tea tumblers, mugs, plat- ters, pitchers, vases, and ewers. Some pieces were glazed in shades of soft vel- vety aqua with subtle differences in colour emphasizing line, shape and the liquidity of the form. Others resembled desert scapes at sunset, soft golden sands shifling to ochre and shades of sage. The insides of the pots were just as beautiful as the out- sides. They draw you in, inviting you to look, admire and touch. | was struck by the

subtlety of the colourations, but there were some other indefinabbe qualities. From the smallest to the largest, these pieces were not just lively, they were alive.

THE MAD

POTTER ~~

Steven gave a slide presentation which included snippets of his life with camens of his famualy, his home and his studios, The slides showcased his earliest works from 1974 when he was driving a delivery truck and throwing pots, to 1976 when he bezan potting in camest and to mow, His work has evolved over the years to its present day elegantly refined image, but still, a thread runs through it all - the hand of the artist is ever obvious.

Over the two days Steven threw his signa- ture melon pitcher, cypress pitcher, a25 Ib platter with slip work, tea tumblers, mugs and bowls, ewer and an oval watering can. He worked slowly, with precision and used almost no water, of soit seemed. “I'm not 2 speed demon on anything I do,” he told us. “Every single time I put eight pounds on the wheel | throw it to the best of my ability at the time.”

He read quotes from a handcat that in- cluded glaze recipes for his reduction cone

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September 2002

8 Potters Guild of British Columbia Newsletter