Mudslinging therapeutic for members of Edmonton Potters' Guild

Rod Denton slams a large block of redclayon a table.

The Edmonton Potters' Guild memberhas been throwing mud around the guild space in the basement of the Victoria School for the Arts for close to 20years.

"What I really like is the fact that we use all our pottery at home, so if you need something special, like a big mug for your coffee or a little jar for a sauce, you can make whatever you want."

The other bonus is, he says, "you're never short of a Christmas present."

'The sense of community is phenomenal'

5 years ago

Duration 2:12

Head behind the scenes with the members of the Edmonton Potters' Guild.

You can see more from the Edmonton Potters' Guild on CBC TV at 10 a.m. Saturday, noon Sunday and 11 a.m. Monday or on the GEM app or on demand here.

The guild hasoccupied the same 1,900 square feet in the bowels of the art school since 1952.

The volunteer-basednot-for-profit offers classes and studio time to 84 members. Membership is limited as 84 is the number ofwooden lockers available for works inprogress,but the waiting list has grown at times to upwards of 100 people.

In three decades Patty Holowaychuk has hardly ever missed her time at the wheel.

"You never really know what you're going to end up withwith the glazing and there's a lot of different elements involved so it keeps it exciting," Holowaychuk said, calling the process magic. "You can do it for 30 years and still be surprised."

Holowaychuk is workingto get some pieces finished for the guild'smajor fundraiser, the 67th annual show and sale on Nov.16 at Alberta Avenue Community Hall, which everyone chips in to make happen.

"Not only do you love to see your own pieces, but you love to see everybody else's pieces too because that's the great thing about being in a guild," Holowaychuk said.

"You're kind of inspired by all your friends and the people around you as well to try new things."

Lynn Ratsoy agrees the sense of community is phenomenal.

"I don't know whether it's the people who are drawn to pottery, or whether it's the space itself, which is not glamorous,"Ratsoy said.

"Everybody puts on their apron, gets covered in mud and you can't tell whether you have a Supreme Court judge or you have somebody who's working in a convenience store, everybody is the same."

The guild says it would like more people to know that feeling and that's why it's looking for new space, maybe twice the size of itscurrent home.

"People are craving this kind of opportunity to get back to basic arts, craft, stuff that's been around for millennia and all of us that are here really love to do it," Ratsoy said.