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20 March 2010
Saturday 20th March 2010, at Plymouth College of Art, Tavistock Place, Plymouth PL4 8AT
As well as the chance to meet up with other members and hear what has been happening during the year, the AGM offers a great opportunity to see a free demonstration by a leading potter.
Jack Doherty must currently be one of the UK’s busiest and most well-known studio potters, so I am delighted that he is able to demonstrate for us at our AGM.
Former Chair of the Craft Potters Association, he is director of Contemporary Ceramics and Ceramic Review, and heads the organising committee for Ceramic Art London. He is also one of the selectors for many exhibitions and fairs, including Earth and Fire, Setting Out and the Oxford Ceramics Fair as well as demonstrating at festivals such as Aberystwyth.
Since 2008 he has been Lead Potter at the refurbished Leach Pottery at St Ives, establishing the new studio and developing a contemporary range of standard tableware, while continuing to make his own individual pieces in soda-glazed porcelain.
“I love pots which have a useful life. I make functional porcelain which ranges in size from fine delicate tea cups to large and unexpectedly rugged slab plates and dishes. The forms are either thrown or slab built with surfaces which are pierced, stretched, carved and ribbed. I use combinations of different porcelain clays which react with the sodium during the firing to give subtle changes of colour and texture. The lighter coloured pieces have a thin wash of copper and water brushed into the surface marking. The darker work incorporates a clay which is stained with copper oxide. This is applied as a veneer to the interior of the pot where it penetrates the form producing a graduated coloured surface on the outside.
The firing plays an important part in determining how my pots look. When the temperature is approaching “white heat” I spray a mixture of bicarbonate of soda and water into the kiln. The resulting vapour in carried through the kiln chamber by the path of the flames. It flows around the work producing a soft gentle glazed surface where it touches the pots.”
There has always been a close relationship between the Leach Pottery and Japan, which Jack is now revitalising and developing. A prestigious exhibition was held at the Japanese Embassy in London in September 2009, and there are exciting collaborative residencies and exhibitions planned for 2010 and beyond.
Jack’s work has been widely exhibited and collected both here and abroad, and has been featured in numerous publications and articles. He is the author of ‘Porcelain’ published by A&C Black.
As usual at an AGM, there will be the opportunity to purchase work, so do remember to bring your cheque book or cash.
An AGM pack giving details of booking arrangements and all other necessary information will be sent to WPA members by Ali Fife, Secretary.
Visitors are welcome to attend the demonstration, and should contact Ali (admin@westcountrypotters.co.uk) to book their place. Cost £20.
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