Steven Hill Workshop Review by Sergia Hinde continued 10 glazes. “Do what you can with what you have, where you are.” Theodore Roosevelt, and “God is in the details,” Mies van der Rohe. There were many ‘moments’ during the two day weekend demo. Some involved invited guest Don Hutchinson's light and humorous banter with Steven. One other was our very own “home town boy’, Vin- cemt Massey, who took the stage as a helper/volunteerto great applause and cries of, “Yeah, Vincent" and “Binty!” The weekend was great. Those who were there would surely agree with Steven when he says he realizes now that, “My purpose as a potter is to celebrate throwing.” Monday was the start of the workshop’s second part. Twelve participants met in Delta Potters studio for the first of two four-day hands-on sessions with Steven demonstrating tea tumblers and spirals, It was a good day and a good start. Then things heated up a little. At 4:00AM Twes- day our telephone rang and my husband, a Battalion Chief with Delta Fire Depart- men, was called out to a fire at the South Delta Rec Centre. Just after 6:00AM, the phone rang again. The fire was confined in the gymnasium. Delta Potters Studio sus- tained no water damage, but had some smoke, While the gymnastics program lost everything, Delta Potters was fortunate. Asa Director of Delta Potters, 1 was asked to inform the rest of the Executive of the status of the fire as well as to contact Workshop Coordinators Sharon Grove and Stephanie Graves re a change of venue. Potters are creative, resourceful and adape- able people. This was never more apparent than in how the workshop continued. The Rec Centre was shut down and now a crime scene with suspected arson. Rec Centre Staff were terrific and allowed the removal of a wheel, clay and some tools for Steven. By noon, barely six hours after being notified of the fire, the first hands-on session reconvened at the home of Stephanie Graves. We gathered in Stephanie's kitchen and watched Gari Whelan of Nanaimo create a delicious guacamole that we carried down the road to our sunny beachfront lunch destination. Then back for an afternoon ‘driveway demo" by Steven. September 2(8)2 Wednesday morning, we made a quick trip to Delta Potters Studio to gather our clay, tools and belongings. The smoke smell was acrid and stinging. Thanks to some very fancy footwork by Steven and the coordinators and the generosity of Don Hutchinson, we headed over to the ceram- ics facility in Langara College. Steven had earlier told us that in his opinion, “You know what bisque does to clay? It just sucks the life out of it,” Well, we very nearly bisqued and Rakwed his pots all in one fell swoop at our Studio and there were many jokes made to that effect! The first session continued on at Langara College until Thursday. Friday morning, the secomd hands-on started there as well and then moved back into our studio Sat- urday morning for the next three days. Going into Delta Potters Studio later on July |, when the workshop wag finished and the studio returned to its normal con- figuration, it was hard to imagine that Steven's workshop was a fait accompli. Steven Hill was fantastic. Were it not for his professionalism, his charm, quick wit and his obvious love of hrs craft, the hands- on portion of the workshop may well have been a disaster. He inspired us to stretch our boundarics. In his own words, “This week is not to get you to think like me, but just to think.” Steven Hill retums to British Columbia in the summer of 2003. to teach at Meichosin, TRAVEL TO MEXICO with Denys James San Miguel de Allende November 28-December 13 Workshop/excursiomlanguage/art Handbuilding workshop/excursion/lan- fuage/ art/tours. Denys’ workshop focuses on surface {reatment und firing Options at low tem- perature. Alsoavail- able: silverwork, — drawing, painting, Spanish, bronze casting and more. Fee $1995-2195. In- cludes airfare from Vancouver, transfers, accommodation, all meals, tuition, Wari- able retum dates available, Deposit $100 . Pottery forming in San Marcos Oaxaca January 16-February 4, 2006 Workshop/cxcursiomlanguage/art Handbuilding, surface development and low temperature firing including wood- fired adobe bottle kiln, Siggar, pit, and Raku, Fee $2050- 2250Cdn. In- cludes airfare, trans- fers, tuition, homestay and breakfast with Mexican family, Span- ish instruc- tion, ancient pottery forming and firing day in Zapotec village, visit to Monte Alban. Deposit $ 10K), Oaroca: building adobe kiln Information or Registration Denys James Phone/fax 250.537.4906 182 Welbury Drive email: Saltspring Island, BC, VBK 2L8 Potters Guild of British Columbia Newsletter website: www.denysjames.com