Some time ago TriCity Potters board member Owen Lee suggested that we plan an expedition to the Sunshine Coast to take part in their annual ART CRAWL. He even invited us to stay at his family’s Gibsons cabin if we chose to stay for a couple of days.
Members were enthusiastic but in the end it was a small group of us who travelled around the southern part of the Sunshine Coast on Saturday and Sunday. Sue visited some studios on Friday, and joined us for all day Sunday but on Saturday just Linda and I took the 11.55am ferry in the morning (after our reserved ferry was cancelled earlier and then re-instated!) and met Owen at the first venue on the brochure: Liz de Beer’s Klaywerk Studio, right near the Langdale ferry landing.
Liz greeted us warmly and showed us all around her studio and showroom. She spoke to TriCity Potters some ago so it was good to see where her work is made, how much there is and note the variety of techniques she uses. We learned that this amazing woman takes the 6.20am ferry over to Horseshoe Bay five days a week for her job as teacher and technician at Parkgate Community Centre in North Vancouver. She also has a studio there and enjoys working alongside her students, and at home, alone. Such energy!
You’ll see that Liz uses sgraffito technique on much of her work, with images inspired by her early years in Africa and by her environment here on the West Coast. Here are Linda and Owen surrounded by Liz pots in her showroom. Clearly some of these pieces are made as a result of her teaching experiences.. there’s some raku work and a Vincent Massey-inspired platter.
Linda spotted a latte cup with very delicate flower drawings and Liz enthusiastically showed her the transfers she uses. That cup’s going home to Coquitlam!
Thankyou for an impressive first stop on our CRAWL, Liz. We did enjoy seeing all your work.
We headed into Gibsons next but I think I’d better stop here. I plan on putting together several more blogs to show the other studios we found. Our two days on the Sunshine Coast were full and so much fun!
