Just Jack and the Potter

New -REVISED- Bat System

2011-01-11T13:39:00.000-08:00

Back when I was working for Ceramics Canada, the Alberta Potters Guild held a workshop in the warehouse with a fantastic potter by the name of Ryan Cameron of Velvet Antler Pottery in Field, BC. Now, the town of Field is just a short drive West of Lake Louise. The town itself is actually located within Yoho National Park and to live there you actually have to be an employee of the Park system. Ryan is a potter through the winter and a forest ranger during the summer. And if you could see where he lives you, as I do, would think he has the best life in the world! Actually, I'm going to see if I have any pictures....

Ryan, as you can see in the picture above, throws alot of his pots on bisqued tiles which are set into a bat. So after that workshop, Ceramics Canada had a fellow routered out bats like Ryan’s and sold them, and of course, I HAD TO BUY ONE. So I've had mine for about six years and must admit it has done considerably well. But now the water has finally got in and only allows me about half a day of throwing before it starts to expand. So onto Version 2.0.

Now, you can buy systems like this like the Versa-Bat System but they make the inserts a specific size that only fit their system, and I already have all these tiles. So the new experiment is instead of wood, using plastic. At Greenbarn, Vancouver's clay supplier, they sell PLASTI-BATS. And it turns out that a tile is the same thickness as a plasti-bat. So remembering some elementary school mathematics I was able to find the centre of a circle and then centre the tile. After that a little cutting and sanding.... I think I've done it!!!

The big test will be tomorrow morning when tile and clay catapult themselves across the studio. Or, it just might work.

Here's some construction pics.

A piece of History... Only a potter could love!

2011-01-10T15:11:00.000-08:00

So during the xmas break my Daughter and I were out walking Jack when on a path, surrounded by forest, we came across a pottery jackpot! Well, maybe an historical, industrial, pottery jackpot.

We found Sewer Pipe!

Now, I realize that most people would find that terribly disgusting, as my daughter did. But I had little resistance when I told her we had to dig it up. So why is this important you ask? Because it's pottery history!

Before steel pipes, and now plastic pipes, sewer piping was made from clay. But not just clay, stoneware, and it was salt fired stoneware. And all of this came from the home of clay products, Medicine Hat, Alberta.

Taken from the Historic Clay District's web site (http://www.medalta.org/companies/acp.html) Alberta Clay Products ( notice the 'MEDICINE HAT A. C. P. Co.' stamp on my pipe) began in 1910 and continued to supply sewer pipe to Western Canada through the '40's and '50's.

For many years A. C. P. was the only manufacturer of sewer pipe in western Canada. It continued to expand and make money even through the height of the great depression; so much so that the Yuills set up two separate stoneware pottery companies: Medicine Hat Potteries Ltd. in 1937, and Alberta Potteries Ltd. in 1941.

And the large bee hive kilns on site, now the Museum were the original kilns used to fire all this pipe. And it just so happens that while I was at ACAD we were able to tour the museum. So here are some pics.

What to do today...

2010-12-12T09:56:00.000-08:00

Big events this sunday in my neighbourhood. First, potter Fredi Rahn is having her open house today starting at 11am. But I must say, as beautiful as her pottery is I am hoping that she will be serving some of the bread she bakes in these special clay pots. A Bread Cloche. She also has artisan bread workshops as well. You can check it all out here.

Second, Capilano University has their annual pottery sale on this weekend just up the hill from me. It's a great show some very talented new potters as well as some established ones in the continuing ed. program.

And if you don't already know, Jim Gottuso (Sofia's Dad's Pots) has a great taste is hand crafted beers and also makes beautiful beer glasses. It just might be time to check out his etsy store for my Christmas wish list?!?!?!

Sometimes all it takes is a Change of Scenery

2010-07-15T13:12:00.000-07:00

I received an invitation I just couldn't refuse. An old friend invited us out to visit her and her family out in Cultus Lake. Being that Mackenzie was in town and Carol, my friend, has a son the same age, I thought, what an great opportunity. Did I mention 'waterpark' was the topic of conversation....

So it began. An hour drive in Jennifer's new car, Mac's ipod plugged in listening to the likes of Miley Cyrus, Avril Lavigne, Taylor Swift, and even some song about a 'poker face', and kissing a girl and liking it...

We finally arrived and like out of a dream Carol took charge. We went and got gas for the boat and were on the lake wake boarding, jumping off cliffs, playing in the lake.... it was if I was transformed to another planet. The kids had hot dogs and then 'BAM!' we were at the waterpark watching them run between water features and giant slides. I may have even tried a few myself. It was fantastic!!!

The day ended with a evening boat ride as the sun fell between the mountains.

I write this not because I ran home and made ten pots or had time to do any pottery. I think I am writing this to remind myself of the importance to get away. To leave the rat race and take time to see what else is out there. At the least, I came back a little more rejuvenated.

Thank-you Carol, Jerret, Eric, for a great day.

To a Great Woman

2010-06-30T06:25:00.000-07:00

I had the opportunity of make something for a great woman, a principal of a school in a neighboring district. It was to be related to the book Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson. You can read more about the book at http://www.threecupsoftea.com/ but the basic concept I was given was this:

The first time you share a cup of tea with a Balti, you are a stranger.
The second time you take tea, you are an honored guest.
The third time you share a cup of tea, you are family.

So what they wanted was a teapot with three cups. But being that I don't generally make small teapots, nor did I think that the style I make suited the proverb or person, I was a little nervous. So I made three sets. The first was very wimsical... and died. The second and third made it. The liked the black but thought the red suited her better. Thank-you for the opportunity to be a part of celebrating a great person and best of luck, Georgia, at your new school.

Rain = Mac & Cheese

2010-03-21T20:00:00.000-07:00

Ran a bisque today and will try and unload it tomorrow. Though it might end up being a bit of a crazy work week this week. So we will just have to see.
The only reason I'm posting is to show off 'mac and cheese.' We had a crazy down pour and to me when it's pouring rain that is the best time for some comfort food. I know, I went a little heavy on the cheese. Mmmm... was it good!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

2010-03-17T19:29:00.000-07:00

Being it's St. Patrick’s Day and all, My brother ‘Patrick’ and I headed down to Taylor’s Crossing in North Van for a pint of Dave Varga’s Stout . Dave’s stout is absolutely fantastic. So we quickly toasted to the day and got out just as what seems to have been a bus load of green people arrived.
Before we left though I snapped these pics of the brewery. If I were ever going to make a themed set of pots they would mimic a brewery. I love all the round containers. So here are some pics of those as well.

And to add to the green theme here are some green ware I’ve been assembling. To me these are starting to look live a family of stick people…

Landfills for the Arts

2010-03-15T16:01:00.000-07:00

Or how about ‘Gas from Trash to Blown Glass’….
Anyway, with all the new development scheduled for my area we have been trying to keep an eye out for bulldozers and an ear out for planning meeting news. Though on the other side of the highway one development, Steve Hynes ‘ Seylynn Village, has proposed to “Making use of the methane trapped in the old landfill site in what is now Inter-River park.”
But I thing it would be even better to use it like the Jackson County Green Energy Park. (http://www.jcgep.org/about.html)
Here they run artists’ studios with glass and metal work furnaces and pottery kilns all run by the gas collected from the garbage dump. They also run and heat green houses! Could you imagine a partnership between the North Van District and Capilano University that would allow for an expansion of the fine arts program, maybe a community arts centre, as well as greenhouses for the parks department instead of the shack they reside in now in the park. All using the gas they are burning off on the north end. If the little community of Jackson County could do it , couldn’t we?

Body Bags and Body Parts

2010-03-13T10:31:00.000-08:00

I've been in the studio making bodies and I have to say the Plainsman Clay bags are perfect for covering these pots!!! They are great long bags. I have newer bags to keep the pots from drying out, bags with little holes for slow drying and even ones with big holes for hurry up drying. I may have to start keeping all my clay bags just in case we completely ban plastic bags.

So today is throwing the extremities day. But it may lead to more body parts as well. Tomorrow will hopefully be an assembly day.

But the real reason I came up to write this was to say how much I love my new mug. What's really amazing about hand crafted items I find is the things you notice over time. Like how I noticed that the top isn't perfectly round. Where the handle has been attached is slightly pushed in. It sounds minor but I just didn't notice it until lately. And I have already had many cups of coffee out of this cup. As well, when I was in the studio this morning, where the lights are a little brighter, there are these amazing gold speckles in the ash glaze. I'm sure they were there before but it just took a different day, a different light, or maybe just a different perspective to notice the little nuances’. I love that!

So thanks again Jack. I’m enjoying your mug more and more every day.

2010-03-10T12:24:00.000-08:00

I just came back from four fantastic days on the Sunshine Coast and though most of the trip was sitting on a deck overlooking the ocean watching tugboats go by I did make one pottery excursion.
I needed a mug. Yes, there are mugs in the cupboard of the Trails End Cottage but not one was handmade. Now, this is the Sunshine Coast! It’s famous for its painters, potters, weavers and writers. But I didn’t want any mug. I didn’t want a Cranberry Pottery mug with their decorative flower patterns. Nor did I want to visit Liz De Beer’s studio because I see her in North Vancouver at Parkgate where she teaches. So I decided to walk through Gibsons and see if there were any galleries that might help.
I drove into Gibsons and stumbled across a artists co-op gallery called the Landing Gallery just up from Molly’s Reach (‘Beachcombers’ fans know where I’m talking about). Right inside the door was a beautiful copper red vase. This was a good sign. Though the tag on the vase I found the rest of the pottery of Jack Ploesser (Fire and Ash Studio). The pots were beautiful. Lots of layering of glazes, beautiful reds, purples and flowing ash. And what caught my eye the most was probably the altered pieces that seem to be tilting in the wind. And there were even two mugs. They were beautiful copper reds but unfortunately….dragonfly’s. Now it was close. For someone who isn’t a big fan of decoration, these were beautiful. Almost what I wanted…
But I believed I was on the right track. So on the Sunshine Coast, being such an artisan community, they have great signage which lead me right to his studio!!!! His house! So without calling ahead, which I would strongly suggest, I showed up just as he was trying to pull out of his driveway. In the beginning he tried to brush me off to his wife who was in the house but I’m sure when he saw this 6’4”, 250+ lbs guy start to walk towards him he had second thoughts. But I did manage to get him to give me the grand tour!
In an area of tall trees on a tucked away little street is Fire and Ash Studio. The focal point which gives it away and separates it from the other houses on the street, is the two burner, medium size, downdraft kiln which meets you at the top of his driveway. As we squeezed through a door just past the kiln it opened up to the inner workings of the studio. It was full of the necessities of a production potter all in about the size of a single car garage. His gallery, as he led me into his house was his living room converted. A beautiful home full of natural wood and flowing pottery. And coming from someone who showed up unannounced, Jack is not only a great potter but a great sport. Thanks Jack!
And yes! I did get my mug.

My reply to Sequoia Miller’s Blog 'On Being Useful'

2010-03-03T19:46:00.000-08:00

My reply to Sequoia Miller’s Blog 'On Being Useful'

I have to start with a story. It was told to me while I was going to art school.

The original Brown Betty (teapot) was a copy of the Yixing teapots of China. It was a small 2 cup version that functioned perfectly. It’s round style allowed for perfect flow of water around the tea. It’s pouring spout flowed and stopped without any dripping and it was the perfect size as it was easy to pick up and the volume was enough that the tea didn’t go cold. But as tea became cheaper people drank more, and therefore, demanded a larger teapot. So the small Brown Betty was expanded to a seven cup version and the problems began. Seven cups of liquid was quite heavy needed two hands to pour. It also went cold before seven cups could be drank (so the idea of the tea cozy came about). It also poured horribly as it always dripped. (My grandmother had a rubber extension that fit over the spout).

So my point is, when we try and expand on an idea that has already evolved to be perfectly functional the object sometimes looses, even slightly, some functionality to gain other qualities.

Even the choice of material can reduce its functionality. For example, I’m sure there are far better materials to make storage jars from than clay. It doesn’t mean potters stop making them. I don’t believe anyone buying pottery purchases it only for its functionality. They buy it because it’s beautiful, it’s interesting, thought provoking, it feels good.

Which brings me to my point of what makes pots ‘non-functional’:

1. The most obvious, DESIGN. Yes, by changing that perfectly evolved functional pot it can sacrifice functional elements of the original design. This means changes in shape, size, glaze surface, etc.
2. COST. I recently had a little extra money kicking around so I had a brief thought I could invest in a piece by my earliest influence, Walter Keeler. To make a long story short a Keeler pitcher is about $3000!!!! If I had purchased it there’s no way it would have ended up in my kitchen cupboard. I don’t care how functional it is! It would be surrounded in glass and locked away for only one’s viewing pleasure. Therefore I believe once a functional object ceases to function as it was intended it become categorized as non-functional and price will do that.
3. COLLECTABILITY /Decoration. I believe it was Tony Clennell who said it you want to make more money stick a hole in the foot of your plates and hang them on the wall ($7.50 a hole). He also recently wrote a blog showing images of the inside of his house. On his walls he has a simple shelf with interesting collections of different pots(It has always amazed me) . Wall decoration. These pots as art or pots as decoration become art objects and no longer function as they were intended.

The first one is fairly obvious. But the last two are, I believe, more detrimental to the creators of functional work. In a recent excerpt from Ceramics Arts Daily titled, Contemporary Functional Pottery, These artists claimed to be functional artists yet said they didn’t care if there objects were used or not. Julie Crosby said “It does not bother me if someone buys a pot from me and does not use it at all.” Shadow May said “It is not really important to me that the user be aware of an intended function for this piece.” Only Nicholas Bivins said it bothered him that buyers didn’t use his work. And if you just look at the difference between the images put out in this article compared to a catalog of mass produced ceramics (eg Denby) it says the same. Denby photograph’s their pots functioning, whether it’s a place setting on a table or with food on them, where as, ‘contemporary fuctional potters’ show the opposite; their work as art. Fancy blended backgrounds and pots that are clean, perfectly aligned – not functioning. Set as if on display.

So we can blame galleries and buyers for the decline in interest in functional pottery (or should I say the increased interest in art pottery) but when we treat our work as art and above common use then we only have ourselves to blame.

A New Start (... or at least a shared focus)

2010-03-02T13:36:00.000-08:00

I've decided to change.
Recently I have been spending more time in the studio therefore my reading and thoughts have been focused more on pottery. I have signed up for those annoying email news letters from different pottery groups and organizations, I have a facebook account where I can read the short and varied opinions of other potters and their advertisement of new work and upcoming shows and I have even started to check in on pottery blogs to here the more expanded rants and sometimes raves of potters in the ‘professional’ world. (I don’t actually know what that means – ‘professional’ – as it pertains to potters and/or the arts… I think that would be a good future blog post….).
And this brings me to why I decided to change my blog to include pottery. Because sometimes I just want to say more than what is allowed in those little reply boxes.

Thanks.
dm

Lynnmour's Methane Treatment

2009-03-14T13:14:00.000-07:00

Ever wondered what that fenced off stack like structure was. You know, the one situated just up the embankment, close to the end of the gauntlet. If I told you it was the Methane Elimination Facility would you know why?

A little history.
From the mid-1960's to 1987 there was an active garbage dump in Lynnmour. Premier Street was the access and the reason why there is a slightly raised entry and slightly lower exit to the park from this point. This was where the weight scale was originally located.

Before the garbage dump this area was a flood plain of Lynn Creek. The topography was the Aurborlynn neighbourhood slope on the west side of Lynn Creek and the Upper bluff where the cemetery sits to the east. Everything in between was fairly flat. Of coarse, the perfect spot for a dump.

These images were taken in 1963 seemingly before the dump evolved. But from this time forward it moved fast and furious to becoming the blight of the North Shore. In a 1970 Development Study, the Inter-River Area was described as follows: "The area contains the City and District Cemetery, gravel pits, the North Shore sanitary fill and garbage disposal and some residential development.... The garbage disposal operation has caused pollution of the Lynn Creek. The area is scarred by the B.C. Hydro 1200 K.V. power line which occupies a cleared right of way 300 feet wide" (1). In this same study it talked about the how the smell was becoming less as the dump continued to stretch north. It was from this movement that the park began to evolve.

By the mid-1980's it had become the topography we see now. Steep slopes up from Lynn Creek almost to the level of the cemetery. In 1984 a new study, the Central Inter-River Background Study, stated "the future of the landfill is currently under study.... Under completion of the landfill, the site will need to undergo a period of decomposition of materials and site regeneration. This necessitates limited use of the site as open space" (2).

In this same study, "Premier Park recreational areas south of the landfill be upgraded in accordance with an overall site plan" and this becomes Inter River Park.

In December 1987, North Vancouver District Newsletter, reads the following:

Landfill Closure Ahead of Schedule
Good news for District
residents...
The Premier Street Landfill will be closed for good next year
as promised. In fact it will be discontinued in March or April, several
months sooner than expected.(3)

So when you walk the gauntlet, looking up the slopes and noticing the odd
plastic bags sticking out of the earth, think of the tons of material that made
up those tiered fields and why we have a Methane Treatment area tucked away in a
little fenced area to the north.

Just for further interest...
There was a garbage dump in North Vancouver prior to this one. These images are from the District archives and they show a landfile at 17th St. and Rufus.

The image notes say that this "site was later filled from material from the cut [highway] to build Rufus Park."

2.2.2 Inter River Area. A Development Study of the Land Between Lynn Creek & Indian Arm in the District of North Vancouver British Columbia. Aug. 1970
Public Services. Central Inter-River Background Study. April 1984.
Landfill Closure Ahead of Schedule. North Vancouver District Newsletter. December 1987.

Trying To Find Dog Park Info on dnv.org !?!?

2009-03-09T15:06:00.000-07:00

I'm adding this link to my Interesting Links though, to tell the truth, it's far from interesting.

'Dogs In Parks', the North Vancouver District's web page is suppose to give all the information about walking your dog in the district. You might think it would contain helpful information like maybe explain what "off-leash" means. What Dog Etiquette might be. A good map of dog 'off-leash' areas.... In my opinion it falls short.

I admit, at first glance it looks simplified and inviting. The sub-title gives the reader clear information to what they are going to find here: "On this page you will find Bylaw Information, Dog Etiquette, and a map of the parks in the District of North Vancouver." Unfortunately, after the title, things start to loose that simplicity.

If you have hit the link for the map you get this large, extremely detailed, map of all the parks in the city and district of North Vancouver. The map itself doesn't have a visual symbol or detail that gives dog owners a easy information piece to use when they want to walk their dog.

What is interesting about this map is that the chart on the right shows 7 out of 141 parks (in the district) have off-leash areas (5 percent). So even though we push for park space in our own individual communities, dogs are not really welcome. Instead we choose to heard them into smaller areas (which are still multi-use) so, seemingly, they can police themselves. (Sorry, small rant.)

As for educating dog owners to the rules and regulation The dog by-law link actually takes you to the legal 'Dog Tax and Regulation Bylaw #5981.' Not an easy to understand version that the average person can comprehend but instead every schedule, paragraph and sub-section set forth and effective July 11, 1988. It contains consolidations, amendments, definitions. licencing, commercial dog walking permits, applying for commercial dog walking permits, fees,.... Do you get my point? Not something the average dog owner wants to peruse before venturing out with Tigger.

Only, at the bottom is there a glitter of hope for some information that might be of use. Under "Additional Information" there is a link that takes you to yet another page, which then gives 'Dog Etiquette.' Unfortunately, a let down again. Most of the points are about the destruction of district property; know were your dog isn't allowed, tread lightly, respect the park, be licenced and vaccinated.... That's about it!

So as not to thing that I'm just cutting the dnv's approach to dogs, please see the Vancouver Parks web site at http://vancouver.ca/parks/info/dogparks/index.htm. And see 'Rex in the City.' It the district wants less problems with dogs maybe 'education' is a good place to start.

Caught, But Not Willing To Change

2009-03-09T12:16:00.000-07:00

So the snow has returned but Spring is just around the corner. The breaking clouds and blue sky were the background for a beautiful walk today. But that's not really what I want to write about.

This weekend was a beautiful weekend and a busy time in Inter-River. There was a running race going on, mini-soccer in the lower field, young riders in the bike park. Which also lead to dogs on the field, dogs in the bike park,... you get the idea. Now don't get me wrong they all seemed well behaved. Anyway, Jack and I decided to take our weekend route along the service road, just above the gauntlet and then make our way behind the upper field. That's when we ran into the by-law officers. It was from a distance, but waving a leash at me was a pretty clear communication that I was out of the off-leash area. I complied as Jack generally walks next to me anyway through this area. But as we made our way back down to the back path between the service road entrance and the bike park I decided to throw the ball a few more time in the grassy area. As we came about to the parking lot at the lacrosse box I put Jack back on his leash.

I spotted the by-law vehicle again and noticed from the top of the hill down to the lower field that all the dogs at the bike park were now leashed and with there parent owners, out of the bike area. As I walked down the hill the by-law vehicle circled and approached me. Seemingly they saw that last ball throw....

But I didn't get a ticket. (Have you ever heard Arlo Guthrie explain the significant of the pickle in his Motorcycle song... for some reason that comes to mind). The rather large by-law officer gave me a speech about how I seemed to have a well behaved dog and he also noticed that I I was generally law abiding as Jack was wearing his licence, but he let me know that they had received complaints of problem dogs in the park. He also said, reminding me, that the only off-leash area was the lower side along the river. And by not leashing my dog I was reflecting that it was okay to be unleashed in this area.

He was absolutely right. And, I was wrong.

Hmmm......... but... If everyone had well behaved, somewhat trained (comes when called, heals) dogs then would there be any problems? Because I have to admit the reason I take this route is because of the number of people that have out of control dogs but are in the off-leash area. As a matter of fact Jack has only been attack, had his ball stolen, been mounted, etc, in the off-leash area. And the people I meet as I walk outside the off-leash areas share similar stories. One woman walking with her elderly mother and their dogs tells a story of there older lab being attacked so badly that they had to carry the dog out. And the person who's dog attacked them gave a fake phone number so she was in for the entire cost of the vet bills. I've watched dogs terrorize small children by the river while their owners are no where to be seen, somewhere on the upper path... oblivious to the screams of these children. I've been bitten because I stand, and now Jack moves, between Jack and dogs that look to be a problem. The owners reply, "Well, he's on leash!" A 20 ft leash. (And why is it that I seem to be the only one who recognizes "Crouching Tiger - I'm about to attack" stance).

So to the by-law officer, you are absolutely right. But until you start educating people on what 'off-leash but under control' means, maybe a few Saturday's handing out pamphlets and doggy treats and answering questions, I'm going to continue taking the safest route for both me and Jack.

Lynnmour Park

2009-02-28T20:23:00.001-08:00

We cut through Lynnmour Park frequently and are confused by the signage posted around this park. If you enter from the South West corner by the school you are greeted with a sign that reads "Dogs allowed on pathway only." And the image is of a dog without a leash.

Now, this park is frequently used by family's with both small children and dogs because seemingly all are welcome. I have seem multiple family's with multiply dogs sitting on the benches as there children play, as it use to be before dogs were denounced to their own park areas and back when a community park was for all in the community. But really this is a whole other issue.... back to the signs!

On the other hand, if you enter this park from the North side by the district's plant/maintenance yard you are greeted with a sign stating "DOGS PROHIBITED."

The funny thing is that on each sign they reference the same bylaw #5981.

So how is it possible that this bylaw can both allowed and not allowed dogs in this park?