Saanich, and
Saanich Peninsula

Wednesday, October 6, 1982

There’s a whole philosophy»

behind.the art of pottery. First,
it’s a lifestyle — people who.want
to make:a lot of money don’t-do
it although one can make a living
from it. Mostly, people do it for
the satisfaction of the job itself.

Then, it’s therapeutic, a great
way. of. getting. your head
- together, says Win Life. In fact,
“she says you can-straighten your
“whole life out by. doing pottery.

“Physically, you can’t control.

clay until you. can control
yourself, ’?'she says.

Apart from all the philosophy,
itv s.a popular pastime these days
and: Win’s pottery: store where.

“she runs. classes: and gives. in-.

struction is a great place to come
‘and play in the mud and get away
from the kids. oe
‘Everyone wants to” get out of —
E the house now and again and Win
-reckons her classes are a: better.
place: to go than the. pubs” — and.
far more satisfying. -

Her store on Cordova. Bay .

Road i is the oldest building in the
district and» was. ‘built on the

“herself: a ‘professional ‘painter,
“Today, many. Emily - “Carr
- paintings remain in the district.

~The store was the original fast.

food stand: selling. hot dogs and
doubled as’ a filling . station, .:

“topping up Model Ts.

Win bought. the store some
eight’ years ago += it had changed
“hands several times: ‘since Uncle’

. Tom 7 when it still sold

groceries but was run down and
had few customers. She had plans
for an art. gallery but discovered
many people- in. Cordova Bay
wanted to learn pottery.so ‘‘l put
down. my. pottery wheel and
‘started to. throw. pots.’

- Today, the ‘store. is crammed

with a variety of pottery and Win-

runs: three evening classes: each
week and a day class. With eight
~ people to a class. Win says she
takes ao 100 pottery students
a. year. She: charges $65 fora
course cof 10 tessons.

“Students. take their polery

home, use it.as gifts or sell it in

Win store. -One~ student. —
. Megan McFarlane —.went: from.
~ beginner to: professional in two

“years, says: Win, and another,

‘“‘Gregor’’, sells most of his stuff.
~ and ‘does bea utiful work. 2 es

The business. has not been
‘severely affected by the recession -

although classes have been down.
- slightly. Normally, : there’ Sas
waiting: mg Sales in’ “May were

would Sell ite
“Peter: Heald

“some “times “but” uae Teaches

china painting: — ‘something she.

"says anyone canlearn.

“In .a demonstration, sianing
with: a lump of: plain ‘mud, Win.
fashioned a jug in some. five .
“minutes, ‘After a piece is. formed -
-on the potter’ § wheel it is dried.
(about a week): and. trimmed, :
“fired inthe kiln: then: glazed - —

this. gives it a gloss. and it can now - ;

hold water.
Ne professional painter all. her.

life, Win‘started_ making: pottery

some 10 years ago, although she

still paints. Men .and. women

attend. her. popular~. classes,
mostly younger people. There are
some openiigs:‘now, Win says.”

CORDOVA BAY STORE

nenenes meet

Win Life’s - pottery store on Cordova Bay Road,

once known as Uncle Tom’ Ss Cabin.’

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qin iB