Now that the Christmas holiday is over and people are going back to work and school tomorrow I find I’m ready to get into my studio and to see my clay friends again. We enjoyed a super family and friends get-together with 14 of us at Steve and Jen’s home in Pitt Meadows for Christmas Day, some good walks when the sun came out and another family gathering just before New Year. On the latter day the grand-boys insisted on studio time, painting previously fired work and then having a much truncated clay time. Two pics here to show you how big those boys are now..

Just after the new year started I spent an afternoon rolling out and slumping some new platters, plates and dishes. They can be drying prior to a bisque firing for the next Raid. Several of those artists have signed up for another get-together soon.

Yesterday Alan and I drove into Vancouver, hoping for a short walk before the next rain shower. We opted for an urban stroll, parking under the south end of the Cambie street bridge, next to the CityStudio building. Now I know that the building is used by Vancouver City’s artist-in-residence. A few steps east we stopped to consider public art on industrial pilings adjacent to the path: ‘SHOULD I BE WORRIED?’

https://www.straight.com/arts/1005306/city-vancouver-unveils-new-neon-text-artwork-false-creek

Also inviting our attention was an odd boat-shaped box with a woven ‘hat’ atop another tall piling. I can find no explanation for it on Vancouver City’s public art webpage. Pop-up Art? Do let us know if you have information on this intriguing object.

Of course I had to record the refurbished sparrows by Myfanwy McLeod. Such fun to see them in an urban setting.

Next, Alan and I parked near the Western Front and delivered the latest batch of Raiders’ plates and Eric’s Ram Rhyton to Eric’s studio/home there. The main event was an invitation to select an Eric Metcalfe gouache painting (from four) in trade for my work throwing, assembling, slip-painting and firing a number of rhytons. Below is the painting that we selected: ‘Pinacle’ 2015. We could happily have taken home all four!

One of the Eric-painted rhytons is now in the collection of Kamloops Art Gallery, Eric will keep the latest horn-handled one for himself, we have one Eric-painted rhyton each, I have made four for soda firings (one now happily lives in Dunbar) and I have kept a slip-painted Ram Rhyton for myself. So that’s nine, Eric!

Here we are in Eric’s studio. I’m holding Eric’s latest two plates in the first photo.

Our Vancouver day ended with Al checking super Davidson poles at Douglas Reynold’s gallery and Allen Sapp paintings at Heffel while I found an art space, upstairs a block east on Broadway. Makers rent a space to display their work for a month at a time, no-commission sales are handled by the landlord. Supper at Barney’s with Brian, Val and Mike completed our day.

Best wishes for a peaceful world and comfort, contentment and creativity to all my artist friends in 2020.