Clinton News-Record, 1984-07-11, Page 36Addy McPhee says her pottery is unique because she uses different materials to produce
a quality product. The Bayfield potter isinvolved in a co-op program where eight potters
own and run a business in London. (Wendy Somerville photo)
"Pottery is changing."
Potter's wheel creates
-unique clay . products
Mastering -boat launching
Trailering makes the sport of boating
evenmore enjoyable. It broadens your
boating horizons and experiences. It lets you
explore waters you have previously seen on-
ly on a map. In a country so richly endowed
with good boating waters and launching
facilities, it's a pity that' more farhilies are
not availing themselves of the opportunity
to "see Canada by boat".
But launching a boat can be a frustrating
experience for those who have not previous-
ly -handled a trailer of any kind on the back
of their car. However, by keeping a few
basic ideas in mind, and with a little prac-
tice, it doesn't take long to become an . ex-
pert.
'1'he most important thing to remember is
that when backinga trailer, your car's
steering wheel must . be turned in the op-
posite direction from the way you want the
trailer to go. If you want the trailer to go to
the right, turn the steering wheel to the left,
and vice versa. This is the whole secret of
expert trailer handling.
The best way to learn is to practice in a
large empty parking 18t. After you have
managed to back your trailer in a straight
line for fifty feet or so several times, the rest
will come easily.
Regardless of how well you learned to
handle your trailer in a parking lot, you may
Turn to page 19
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By- Wendy Somerville
Situated on a sharp curve, away from the
Bayfield's downtown core, is a large
towering structure with a bold sign
professing the studio of Addy McPhee
Potter. Inside the studio are shelves lined
with clay , mugs, teapots and figurines.
Nestled in the corner is a small wood stove
and a large siamese cat lies on a cushion
near its hearth. This is Addy McPhee's
comfortable setting for producing her one
love; pottery.
She began working with clay in a Toronto
studio and later moved to establish what is
now Beechwood Pottery in Dublin. It was
here that she started to establish a name in
pottery circles and with the general public.
She displayed her work at area craft shows
and pottery exhibits. Addy said she
continued showing her wares until the public
recognized her • name and products.
Addy's work is not to be confused with
ceramics; a more simplified way of working
with kilns and clay. She explained the
difference, "Ceramics is the overall term
for anything made of clay; here, you start
with a molded figurine and glaze and fire
it.
"Pottery is making everything by hand,"
she said. "All my products are individually
made, starting with clay."
Addy explained she mixes all her own
glazes, builds her own kilns and fires the
pieces herself. The steps for producing a
finished piece of pottery include preparing
the clay, by cutting and evening out the
shape; forming it on the pottery wheel;
letting the object harden; trimming and
drying it, then firing it in a kiln at 1800 F.
degrees.
The Bayfield potter explained that once
the piece has been fired properly, it's
removed . from the kiln, glazed . and
decorated with special. paint •
"Most of my paints have oxides in
them,"she said. "This gives me an unusual
look with color."
Once the painting is completed, the item is
fired again in the kiln again at 2,300 F.
degrees.
Addy said most of her products are both
original and durable.' "They are even
dishwasher and oven proof," she noted.
The McPhee studio is open to the public
who are welcome to come in and browse.
Her products are also sold in the village at
The Country Store.
She said the prices for her work are
cheaper or comparable to other professional
potters, "Most potters have an idea of what
any object is worth and the price range is
usually acceptable for what the piece is."
As a member of the Ontario Potters
Association, Addy said she finds it difficult
to educate the public on "what a handmade
pot is."
The potter is involved with seven other
potters, in an artistic co-op program. Art
and Soul in London, is managed by eight
potters who live in different areas outside
the city. They all work different hours and
share the expenses of the store.
Addy's pottery is unique, even though her
field has a limited artistic range.
"I deal with stoneware and porcelain; which
allows for more one of a kind pieces," she
explained.
She finds making teapots to be more
challenging than other pottery. She
explained, "Everything has to work. I
prefer the curved lines of a. teapot."
Addy is constantly experimenting with
new designs.
"Pottery is changing all the time. Nothing
today, is as it was two.years ago."
EVANS
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ounb9t rui
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1/4 Mile North of Bayfield on Hwy. 21 565-2443
1