Insight into visit to China for IAC Conference

In September Roland Summer was in China for more than three weeks to join the IAC conference in Xi’an and to participate in the First Biennial of Contemporary Teapot Art in Shanghai.

He has put a lot of pictures on his website and they give a fascinating insight to his trip. I am sorry the link is rather old, but it is not the worse because of that. please explore these great pictures.

www.rolandsummer.at/china.2008.htm

Wanted

WANTED couple/single, to share our home, grounds, pottery  facilities & workshops in France.
See   www.frenchpotteryholidays.com for further details.

For sale - Ladi Kwali Casserole

I have been advised of a casserole by Ladi Kwali which is for sale. Its size is 12 inches by 6 inches approximately and the lid has been well repaired (was broken in half). Any interest let me know at: sales@studiopottery.co.uk and i will forward your enquiry to the seller who can provide more information.

Warning - Forresters Fund For Children - Vardis Scam Warning

I just received this email from a member - take care!!

Best wishes to you all,

Stephen

Forresters Fund For Children - Vardis Scam Warning

“I just want to make sure that no one gets duped by this scam.

I was cold called by a gentleman telling me that my work was to be put into their charity booklet and it was going to be published on 1st July.  I would get much advertising and sales from this booklet and it would only cost me £199.

I told him to send me further information and when he refused I became suspicious.  He became very pushy and tried to get me to agree to the deal there and then.  He refused to give me his name or contact and became rude.

I put the phone down and put in an internet search.  I’m so relieved that I said no as it is definitely a scam.

He said he was interested in potters for the booklet so be warned!

Don’t be fooled.”

Bonham’s ceramics Department is no more!

I am not sure that it has been widely publicised, but I gather that from 1/1/09  the ceramics department at Bonhams has closed. Marijke Varrall - Jones, the former manager has set up a business to provide advice and will also organise regular sales of contemporary ceramics. Her website is  at: www.maaklondon.com for any one who is interested in finding out more.

Kiln, Blungers, Agitator, Casting benches and Glazes for sale

FOR SALE:

1. Workhorse Kiln
This kiln is well used but it has just had the full elements replaced and it is working very well. I also have a full set of furniture made for the kiln to maximise on the firing capacity which I will throw in if the top price is met. It is 3 phase at something around 30 amps per phase. We fire bone china in it and it produces great results.

£600.00 Including furniture £600.00 excluding furniture ONO

2. Semi Porcelain Blunger
Perfect for the home slip caster. This is currently used for semi porcelain but will blunge any clay. It plugs into the mains and runs very well. It will make around 200 kg’s of clay into slip at a time.
£200.00 ono

Bone China Blunger
Perfect for the home slip caster. This is currently used for Bone China but will blunge any clay. It plugs into the mains and runs very well. It will make around 200 kg’s of clay into slip at a time.
£200.00ono

Earthenware Blunger
Perfect for the home slip caster. This is currently used for earthenware but will blunge any clay. It plugs into the mains and runs very well. Incredibly strong motor has done and will continue to do well long into the future. It will make over 200 kg’s of clay into slip at a time.
£150.00ono

Earthenware Agitator
Very good machine. Holds a lot and will continue to run 24/7. Made of stainless steel. Will hold over 300 litres (over 65 gallons).
£300.00ono

Casting Bench Large
Home made from wood and plastic. It is mounted on wheels and catches the slip at one end to return it to the agitator. It has fixed wooden rungs. 72″ x 31″ x 35″
£120.00ono

Casting Bench Small
Home made from wood, plastic sheet and plastic coated metal. It is moulted on wheels and catches the slip at one end to return it to the agitator. This one has a removable plastic coated grid. 60″ x 21″ x 35″
£100.00ono

Black Gloss
High Fire Earthenware Glaze 1150oC. 120kg’s+ made up. £300.00ono
G14 Leadless transparent 1000oC to 1150oC. £25.00
High firing white Earthenware filter 750kg’s+ £200.00ono
Select 2450318 Leadless Transparent 1120oC - 1160oC 150kg’s £250.00ono

Contact: Adrian Kilburn, ARK Ceramic
The Forge, Worle Quarry
Lower Kewstoke Road
Worle
Weston-Super-Mare
BS22 9LE
Tel: 07733 46 75 01
Email: adrian@arkceramic.co.uk

Wabi Sabi

BBC FOUR Monday 16 March 2009

In Search Of Wabi Sabi With Marcel Theroux

New programme
Monday 16 March
9.00-10.30pm BBC FOUR

If you understand “wabi sabi”, the Japanese say, then you will understand Japan and the Japanese, yet they have immense difficulty explaining the concept themselves.

In this film, Marcel Theroux travels across Japan in an attempt to discover the beauty of things imperfect, impermanent and incomplete – the literal meaning of “wabi sabi”.

In a challenging, funny, frustrating and ultimately rewarding journey, Marcel seeks to solve the riddle. In his quest to find out more, he immerses himself in three very different lifestyles.

From living with a local family in Tokyo; to sampling “wabi sabi” objects and practices in the old capital, Kyoto; and training in a remote Buddhist Zen Monastery on an Eastern Japanese mountain, Marcel comes to understand that it is a concept that must be experienced and felt rather than defined in words.

John Pollex tells me he has seen some clips of this programme and it looks very interesting and gives a good insight to Wabi Sabi _ some of you may like to see if you can watch it?

Talks/Demos

Prue Cooper has just delivered an interesting talk and demo at West Forest Potters. She mentioned that she would be willing to do other talks etc… and i could add her to my list. I don’t “precisely” have a list, although i do know a good number of potters/ceramicists who are willing/enjoy giving talks and demonstrations.

If any one would like me to provide a list on the site, let me know and also whether you would like to be on it! Just respond to the blog or email me on talks@studiopottery.co.uk

Good News

Linda Bloomfield tells me from the Country Living Fair this week that sales don’t seem to have been affected much by the gloom and doom that’s around. This has been my experience to on visiting various events in the last couple of months. Lets keep it positive - maybe there will be some ‘green shoots’ before too long!

By the way, Linda is writing a book on Advanced Pottery Making at present - more when this gets to the publishers.

Good News - Bad news

Tonight in a cold London with my son in a bar - we put our coats down - a moments inattention and they were both stolen - leaving us both a cold journey home. Nice people! But on my way home, a taxi driver offered me his jacket, if it would help. So what message can one draw. Nasty and Good they both are there, but perhaps the nasty were needy….maybe, and the Good… well  it shines through!