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“WNAd 5 DOS.

POT TERY

HIS IS the first year Pottery has been introduced as a sub-

ject at the Art School. It is one of the crafts in the Design

Course and so far has been limited to the Third Year
Design Students.
At present this subject is still in the experimental stage, as all the
clays, glazes, kiln, etc., are new and must be tested. However, very
pleasing results have so far been accomplished, and it is the hope of
the students to find a practicable British Columbian clay which
eventually might lead to a distinctive pottery for the province.
There are many ways to make pots, but J am sure there are few peo-
ple who realize the amount of exacting work necessary to create one.
‘The hand-made pots may be made by rolling the clay in a ball, after
all the air has been beaten out, and a shape made by pressing the
thumb into the center and working with it. The clay can also be
rolled and shapes built up by coils which must be closely welded.
Small shapes, such as ash trays, can be made from a one-piece plaster
mold, which is filled with clay-slip. Then there are the one and two-
piece molds made from templates, which are pieces of wood cut in
the desired shape and turned on a pivot, with solid clay as the shape.
This is then covered with plaster, a one or two-piece mold being
made according to the shape. The casts are later filled with clay-slip
and impressions taken. The casts may be used as often as desired.
The clay-slip.is made by squeezing liquid clay through a bag or
sieve to remove all impurities and to give an even, creamy con-
sistency.
After the pots are dry and have been sandpapered, they are in what
is known as the green state and are ready for firing. The packing
and firing of the kiln is almost an art itself, and space does not per-
mit a description of it. But the fact that a temperature of 1050
degrees Centigrade, and higher, is reached often before fusion takes
place, might give an idea of the care and scientific skill that must be

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