page 6 Jane's page Annual General Meeting The Potters’ Guild of Bricish Columbia's Annual General Meeting is to be held on Friday, May 2nd at 7:00pm. The place is still co be confirmed. uild New To follow up on Karen Opas’ timely editorial in last monch's newsletrer, which has received many posiuive comments from the membership, | thought it would be appropriate oo reflect upon the fortunate sttuanon of this organization. While many of our neighbours and associate organizations in the arts community are facing potencally uncertain futures (54 million has been cut from BC Cultural Services and $15million from the Canada Council; and new many cities want to | introduce non-smoking by-laws in such public spaces as bingo halls, where marvy arts and other charitable organizations make a significant contribution co their revenues} the operation of the Potters’ Guild of British Columbia has continued to remain self- tunded. So, while we need to be a bir unpopular at ames and withhold services {like the newsletter, or showing in the Gallery) if membership dues haven't been paid after che one month grace period, it is because the Guild relies on these revenues, in conjunction with commissions from Gallery sales and newsletter advertising, to remain independent of unstable government funding. (Sources: Sowthwer Regional Ars Comcil’s Chnorterty Journal aad she Wancrseact Cuttcerad Allies) As mentioned in last month's newsleteer, the Potters’ Guild of British Columbia is now on-line! Our e-mail address is: bepguildi@incouch.be.ca Although our site is less than 2 weeks old, the Guild has already received an inquiry about upcoming local workshops from a lady in Minnesota, and also a request for sales/scudic information about one of our members from a local follower. As our address becomes more widely known, it will probably become more difficult co respond ‘live’, bue for now it's really a wonderful thing to be able to reply co a letter without the need of paper! As part of che AGM (see above), the board is planning a soctal evenc {including wine and munchies!) for after the meeting, Also in the works is the entertainment part of the evening, which will be announced in nexc monch's rewaslecter {along with where the AGM will be held). Gallery News Sales in the Gallery of BC Ceramics for the month of lanuary ended up being 35% higher than last year’s total. As in previous years, the Gallery held its annual 10% CMF Sale, but chis year the sale continued throughout the month rather than for just the first wo weeks. Another postive factor was Che high levels of stesck we had after the holiday blitz, so heartfelt “thank yous” are due to all the Gallery artists tor keeping us well supplied with your wonderful work! As Linda Doherty has mentioned in her column, the Sneak Preview for Lottery for Pottery has been on display in the Gallery throughour February. The preview has received very positive feedback from the public, and has resuleed in a number of ticket sales. As pieces have been rotated in and our of the display, chey are packed up and ready for storage until the ‘event’, and others have then be rotated in, This means lots of moving of pots and redoing of the display, bue mage of che pieces will then have a chance of being previewed, and the conszant indlux of new werk is definitely creating interest. [t has been a wonderful experience for all of us here to see the work being created by Guild members all over the province, and to calk to many of you on the phone (and take a peek at your pictures as they come in!) - it makes the vastness of BC and its clay communicy a little less overwhelming; thank you for your participation. As Lottery for Pottery is packed away at the end of the month, rhe pieces for the Tozan exhibit will be set up in che Gallery. Emie Watkins has done a grear job organizing the selection of work to be shown in the Gallery, and [ look forward to helping set up che display. Ernie is planning on having some large phetas of the kiln as part of the display to help educate che public abour che Tozan kiln and its creation in Nanaimo. The Tozan exhibit runs from March 4 - 30, and the opening reception will be held on March 6th, 6-8pm. The featuce artise tor the month of March is Laois Romanow who, after leaving Cntario (and Fusion) for the warmer climes of BC, has settled in Ladysmith. April’s feature artist, Yukike Kurata, is a new Guild member who's recently moved here from Japan. Also in April. the Gallery looks forward to an exhibic of recent work by the current Smudio 5 ceramicist, Susannah Carnie. The exhibit runs from April 2 - April 27h; the opening reception will be on Thursday, Apeil 3rd, 6-8pm. Jane Matthews You're Invited... to the opening reception of the Tozan Society's exhibit in the Gallery of BC Ceramics on Thursday, March 6th from 6-8pm. Gallery of BC Ceramics - Upcoming Deadlines for Submissions April 15 - Deadline for the nexe Jury session. If you would like to receive the complete secof guidelines, please call and we'll pop it in the mail for you JuneZ3 - Submission of work for the July exhibic in the Gallery. All members of the Powers’ Guild are encouraged to bring werk in for this show. Unerled, bur cheme of a summer tea party. Work will leave the gallery as it sells (high tourist time} so we will need to have backup sock. Call Jane if you have any questions July 31 - Deadline for Exhibit Proposals for 1998, Application forms and guidelines are available in the Gallery or we can mail one to you.