The show that opened last Thursday at Port Moody Arts Centre features work by adults who are taking classes there. It’s a special occasion to be able to exhibit your best painting when you have taken a class or two. Painting instructor Agata Teodorowicz has obviously inspired her students, and their work in oils shows the guidance of a gifted teacher.

Not enough clay enthusiasts took up the challenge of entering work for the show but I was pleased to meet some of them and their instructors Dan Severance, Pauline Doyle and Jacquelyn Sheridan at the opening. Sarah White was still in High School when she started to attend the drop-in clay workshops. This was just when BW Finley and I were clay artists-in-residence there. We designed the clay programme in 1996 with hand-building, sculpture and wheel-throwing classes and the ever-popular clay drop-in sessions. Now there are childrens’ classes, birthday parties and summer camps as well, all in clay.

My photos are of clay drop-in participant Sarah White with her work. Sarah has always enjoyed making fanciful dragons and fish, earlier finishing them with oxides but these ones are brightly coloured with glazes and I suspect, acrylic paint. The planter is simply an understated smart design for a specific job.

Judy Inouye took wheel-throwing classes with me when she was just starting in clay.

Taryn Tilgner enjoys throwing large bowls and Dan’s work has clearly influenced her surface. That’s OK. Taryn pointed out to June MacDonald and me that unfortunately TriCity Potters meetings conflict with clay drop-in night so she and others who might be interested can’t join us. What a pity..

Clay technician Dan Severance was excited to show me his experiments with coloured stains sprayed over clear glaze. He has made several bowls to donate to Metchosin Summer School where he will be their ceramics tech for over two weeks starting later this month.

It is gratifying to see that Port Moody’s clay programme is much appreciated. In this technological world there is a real need to offer people the chance to make something that is entirely their own idea with their hands and luscious clay.