Later in the day last Monday I drove in to Vancouver, mainly to help make up numbers for a quorum for Circle Craft’s AGM. First I stopped at the Gallery of BC Ceramics to leave some new pieces for them. They now have four more small salt-fired jugbirds from last December’s firing and a couple of earthenware plates.

Manager Laura phoned me the next day to ask about the process I used on one plate. First I had painted with green slip, then I applied a dampened newspaper stencil, then another coat of a different slip. The paper, when removed, leaves a crisp edge to the design.

I looked at the current show of David Lloyds’s students’ bowls. They had interpreted the idea of a bowl in a variety of ways and visitors will be pleased to see them all.

As usual I took a wander around the gallery and I chose to photograph the work of Maeva Collins, who makes pit-fired work. sometimes completed with driftwood handles.

Another artist whose work caught my eye is Kathleen Tennock from Whistler. She is new to the gallery.

And what a surprise to see Kinichi Shigeno’s new work. Bettina Matskuhn pointed out to me that he is covering the surface of his pieces with masses of pine beetles! And he apparently confessed to her that he does have a shoe fetish! I had a hard time not taking home his high-heel handled cup.

Over at Circle Craft I noted that my work is still in two nice locations, the bright earthenware jugbirds in a shelf and the salt pieces out on a plinth with some complementary woven kelp forms. Nearby there is a good-sized group of work by our recent TriCity Potters guest, Fredi Rahn.

Following on with the series of 40th Anniversary shows in the gallery, the current show is featuring Circle Craft glass artists. I neglected to make a note of names for some of the work I photographed but they are spectacular.

The AGM was interesting. I am pleased to know about the running of the Co-op and also to hear  that after a somewhat fraught year the organization is on track to continue to promote and support BC Craftspeople. A summer show/sale is planned for Jack Poole Plaza, near the Convention Centre, as well as the ever-popular, and financially important Christmas Market.

I was also happy to sit with other clay fanatics, Fredi Rahn (who was acclaimed with others to serve on CC Board), Linda Doherty and Penny Birnam.

And afterwards I gave Thelma Ruck Keene a lift to her home near Commercial Drive. We could have continued our conversation far into the night! Bless her, she wrote the fine review of my Rara Avis show at Circle Craft in 2007 which I use on my website cover page. Before spending many years writing reviews for the local Craft community she owned a Fine Craft Gallery in Kingston, Ontario. Like me, she hails from England’s West Country.