Life between Montaigut-le-Blanc and Bowen Island could not be more different but for me it has one element in common and that is the pleasure of working with clay. My family and I have divided our time between these two worlds for the last 37 years, spending summers in a small medieval hill village in the Auvergne and returning to Bowen to enjoy its lovely wet and dark winters.
In France, my studio is up near the foot of the mountains in a hamlet called Chazoux (population 37: 6 adults, 3 children and 28 donkeys), on the ground floor of a house built in 1814. The room is vaulted, has a very large open fireplace from which women used to collect ashes, a natural detergent, to do the bi-yearly laundry in what is called a “bujade” a very large clay basin tucked in the corner of the room against the stone walls. Massive iron hooks protrude from the ceiling on which large hams, rolled in ashes, hang and matured for many months before being eaten.
On Bowen (population: 6,792: 3,680 people, 3,112 deer) my studio, built in 2010, is a small wooden cottage wrapped by a cedar deck. It has a Vermont woodstove and from where I work on the wheel, through the window, I can see a small Japanese maple tree coming out of a planter in the center of the deck.
Every summer I throw pots in the old stone laundry room, in preparation for a Raku firing event that will later be held in my village, down in the valley, near the river, next to the old walnut oil water powered mill. Villagers, families and many children, come and glaze already made pots, then watch in awe the magic of Raku firing and at the end of the day go home pleased by an unusual afternoon and carrying a fired pot, sparkling with gorgeous colours. The proceeds of the day go to the local heritage association “Mons Acutus” (old Latin name for Montaigut) to fund some projects, such as restoring the village ancient bread oven or the water mill.
Back on Bowen I watch rain drops fall off the red maple leaves while listening to the CBC radio or Leonard Cohen. A few years ago my family and I had a show at the Ferry Building in West Vancouver called “A family Affair” showing works from my husband Paul, our three kids, all artists, and myself. I have the good fortune to sell my work at “Red Horses” in Dundarave, where Shelly Adams bought one of my large salad bowls to use for the cover of her recently launched cook book.
This year I will open my house and studio for a Christmas Pottery Sale here on Bowen. Please drop by. I would be delighted to show you my space, my work and my Japanese maple tree.
Sunday December 17, 10-4
234 David Rd (Millers Landing)
