The current show at the Gallery of BC Ceramics ‘Put a Bird On It’ is open to all BC Potters’ Guild members. The slightly fanciful title of the show refers to a quotation from the popular TV show, Portlandia. I gather that it’s an often mentioned suggestion for marketing! But it has allowed us to produce slightly silly creations for this show. Certainly it seemed to be a show intended for me! So I brought in my newest ‘Purple Gallinule jugbird’, a much older ‘Bird-Handled Chalice’ and one of my oval plates depicting a loon. I must admit that I expected to see more work submitted for this membership show, especially from those who, I know, produce bird-themed work.

My son Mike joined me for the opening on Thursday evening and we enjoyed the variety of sculptures and functional pottery on display. Of course all had either a modelled bird attached, an image of a bird or a reference to a bird in text. As I usually do, I took photos of the pieces I found interesting, well-made or beautiful. I’ll simply post these photos (there are lots!) and endeavour to name the artist and the title of the pieces in the captions.

To see everything in this eclectic show you can visit the gallery until September 28th.

As I chatted with Hiro Urakami he wondered what has happened to colourful pottery. Tastes evolve but we agreed that at the moment there seems not to be as much colour in the gallery and in this show as we’ve seen in the recent past.