Unitarians in the Slocan

July 5 to July 10 -  our week with ten Unitarian friends from Vancouver.  Full and fun!  Mid-week, Cole had organized a "Slocan Valley Artisan tour" - four artists that Cole knows and who were expecting us (if not 12 of us).  Here, in order of our visit, are some glimpses of them, their settings and their works.

#1.  Robin duPont, Vallican.  Wood-fired pottery with many different clays.  He teaches at the Alberta School of Fine Art and has built a house just off the highway at Vallican where he lives with his wife and kids.  Beautiful pots.

Robin explaining the wood-fire techniques - no glaze ...

… and in his studio - pieces at every stage ...

… as you see, we are one large pot and one squat mug to the good!

#2.  Dianne Carter, Winlaw.  Woven blankets in gorgeous natural-dye colours.

blanket for Rebecca, in warm moss greens and browns ...

... her other winter-made blanket ...

… and rag rugs, in front of her old Doukhobour farmhouse with weaving studio added ...

… and, behind me, the Slocan River

Dianne in her vegetable and flower garden ... 

… sampling the borage flowers

#3. Pamela Stevenson, Perry's Back Road.  Wood-fired pottery.

"IMBIBE".  On Pamela's studio shelves are 108 cups and bowls, her year-long project to learn about drinking vessels from cultures around the world (9 regions, 12 vessels for each) from the Neolithic to the pre-Industrial.  Phew!  She hasn't copied any, but has used the forms and symbols.  All wood-fired in one kiln-full.  She made 150 and chose her best 108.  Then she drew the symbols.  She's interested in archetypes - symbols that appear across cultures and times.  They are all gorgeous.  She has a catalogue with a photo of each, and a plan to mount each on its own small wall-shelf - like a 108-piece picture.  Now she just needs an exhibition venue.  The MOA??

all these vessels are part of the 108 ...

… and two 'rejects' were sold - an African to Connie and a Korean to Doco

 

#4.  Rabi'a (Johanna Gonzales), Appledale West Road.  Sculpture - most in rusty metal.
Also her "Artful Lodger" B&B.  Here are the outside and inside of her main B&B cottage.  Inviting!  Any takers?  Only problem in this season is the Slocan-River mosquito.

… because it begins with 'A' (and Dickens)

straw bale, made by her

I was all set to climb in for a nap

Rabi'a's boardwalk to the Slocan River, with sculptures in the marsh.  A swim beckoned, but three obstacles that day - no swim-suit, no time, and millions of mosquitos.  But I'll try again, after mosquito season.

a present to Cole from Rabi'a, now by the Old Ranch House

Rabi'a and a piece of our fascinated group

We came home in time for that night's chefs to prepare tacos for 21 - Doco had invited several from the town for a discussion about some of what's going on around here (Julia and Norbert, Morgen and Ric, Ana, Jeff and Chris, Anne Champagne and Art Joyce).  Good talk on all sides.  All in all, a full day!