Smokin’ J’s in BC
The #1
agricultural export from British Columbia is weed. They also have a stash of
mighty fine J’s in the pottery world out there on the Wet Coast and they just
happen to be friends of mine. I’m off next week for a month in the Paradise of
beautiful BC and I’m going to be visiting four smokin’ j’s ( Judi, Janet, Jan,
and Jefferson Cathi. First of all, I’m going to see Judi Dyelle who has been
smokin’ since she graduated from Ontario College of Art and then as a young 20-year-old
went off for a couple of years to study in Japan with Shimaoka. Judi has walked
the walk her entire life. There is porcelain piled high all over her resume.
Same goes for long time friend Jan Phelan also
a grad of Ontario College of Art. Jan really entered the scene with a big splash
in 1984 when she was awarded the commission to make dinnerware for Canada’s
Governor General and she has made superb work ever since. Judi and Jan have
always made art for a living. Tenacity, courage, stubbornness with a heaping
helping of creativity.
Cathi J was
a career nurse but as long as I can remember she has smoked up the soda kiln
and been a fine maker and sought after workshop presenter. I am going to wind
up the trip at Cathi’s making some pots and enjoying living on the gorgeous
Cowichan River.
Janet Zadra
and I have met in Italy, and here at Pinecroft. She has the fever but not
severe----yet!. She is an engineer that is taking a 6-month sabbatical to try
to learn to inhale pottery. If the smoke takes effect I will try to talk some
sense into her and tell her to keep her real job. If she quits her real job
then she has what it takes- tenacity, courage and stubbornness. I too have
these qualities with the added bonus of a strong back and a weak mind.
What
excites me about these smokin’ J’s is their dedication, commitment, and yes
their stubbornness. We have a lot in common and I can’t wait to see them all. I
am one lucky bugger!
Come to
think of it there is my friend Jen Drysdale and my grand daughter Julia. What
is it with creativity and smokin’ J’s?
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