pope +

Soctable Clav -A Night To

Rememb

How Do They Do That? With skill, ease,
grace, innovation and daring-do. The
second Poeters Social held on October [4th
at Langara College saw an impressive turn-
out of pottery enthusiascs who were treated
to demonstrations by D'Arcy Margesson,
Lynne Johnson, Mas Fumo, Jacqui Berglund
and Suzy Birstein; all for a small donation
to the Potters’ Guild to offset expenses.

D'Arcy Margessan showed off a plattertul of
skilled brushwork on his majolica ware,
while offering a wealth of techno-tips,
including how to build your own banding
wheel, Some highlighes of majolica hints
included bisque and glaze firing should be
done slowly during the last 150 degrees to
allow the slow release of anganics in the clay
(and to deter white spots), decorating when
the glace still has a bic of moisture in it tn
facilitate the ‘tracking’ of che brush, and to
mix both fries 3124 and 3134 with scains to
cause a better melt. The high soda content
in frie 3134 will enhance the blues and
greens.

No one had che blues at Lynne Johnson's
area, where she drew a large crowd
captivated by her gestural throwing
technique and the squiggly lines on the
botroms of her pots. Unraveled from a
fishing boat's trolling line, her cutting wire
left a fresh pattern of zigzags to complement
the finger marks on her squared jars and
lanterns. Easily throwing jar after jar on her
plaster bats, Lynne happily obliged each
person who asked, "Can you do that
again!”.

Spectators had many questions to ask Mas
Funo whe displayed a graceful array of
jewel-like pinched raku boxes on his table
Asa philosophical cip, he suggested thar if
one is ‘not present’ in one’s work, images
will emerge from the finished piece
spontaneously. Mas spoke about his
pracece of not deliberately creating pictures
en his boxes, but allowing a pattern of
texture to appear differently to each person,
Indeed, his work can be at the same cme
evocative of a mountain range or ‘the
tracking of arts’.

Making tracks to Jaqui Berglund's station, !
was intrigued to discover the innovative
possibilities of paper clay. Seeming to defy
all clay construction rules, paper clay

pieces can be put together when wet, dry,
bisqued of leather hard. Thin sheets have
incredible strength, and there is no drying
time necessary before adding on parts. As
Jacqui warned however, paper has a
memory and will show any manipulations
you've tried to cover up.

Suzy Birstein had nothing to hide as she
demonstrated her drawing technique on
bisqued slab-build bowls. Explaining chat
process is very important to her work,
Suzy mentioned thar she likes to ‘re-start’
her ideas from one stage of making to the
next. The shapes created by che edges of
slabs may suggest ‘a bird, or am eve or a
wing’ as she draws quickly and daringly on
the piece.

Llook forward te the next “How Do They
Do That?" night when other members
will share tips and philosophies in a true
Potters Guild spirit, A huge thank you
mes to Ronda Green for organizing the
social amd to Don Huschinson and his
students for preparing facilities at Langara
for the pocters. If any one has suggestions
for furwre demonstrators or location ideas,
please contact Ronda Green at 921 -
9888.

Julia Maika

Letter to the Editor:

Lhave read with interest abour several
Potters Socials that have been advertised
and reported on in our Guild Newsletter
over the past few months.

The Socials seem co be well attended and
enjoyed by all. The opportunity for Guild
members co get together like this is not
only commendable but is probably of great
educarional benedic as well.

For the Guild members who live in the

As we hove ereac facilites in Parkesville,
which is within easy driving distance of
Victoria or Campbell River, could we not
arrange some Potters Guild of BC Potters’
Socials in our area!

| would be pleased to hear from any of our
BC Guild members who would like to
discuss this idea more fully. Possibly we
should be forming a Wancouver Island /
The Islands Chapter of the Potters Guild
of BC. This would bring together many of
us who are restricted im getting to
Vancouver by travel costs, plus the time,
lodging aru! meals.

If there is any interest in this idea at all ,
our members could write me at:

[510 Haida Way,

Nanoese Bay, BC

V6P SBS

phone / fax: (250) 468 - 7072
email: (lerimp(fisland.met)

We, of course, would weleame any of our
brother/sister members from the Lower
Mainland to join us. [t would be good to
hear from our members in the Inserior as
well. Maybe they could discuss forming
Chapters there as well. It is important
that we make it possible for our members
to meet as often as possible.

Sincerely in clay,
Les Crimp.

(This idea sounds brilliant. The guild can
certainly provide a list of fellow guild
members in your area if you wart to try
organizing a Potters’ Social. Editor)

Cariboo, che Koorenays, F
Okanagan or on
Vancouverlsland / the |
Islands ic might appear

quite exclusive and could

be classified as only for che |
“Vancouver Club". For | |
instance, it costs
approximately $100.00 in
travel expenses alone for |
ws to come in from The

Island.

HUGHES
ELECTRIC LTD.

Telephone: (604) 943 - 6321)
Pager: (604) 680 - 6434