A unique feature of our local community is the existence of various artisan guilds.
The word guild is one of those terms we often hear in a variety of contexts, but I love the fact that in essence it denotes thousands of years of history of traditional skills and technologies being passed from generation to generation. Some guilds trace their roots back to medieval times, when craftsmen formed associations based on their trades, each of which controlled the secrets of the arts, or "mysteries" of their crafts.
Here in Prince George we have several guilds, each with their own local history and connection to long and colourful pasts and fraternities.
One of the most vibrant guilds is our local Prince George Potters Guild, located at Studio 2880.
What a challenge it is for me to even begin to grasp the complex historical lineage of our current potters who are probably able to trace their roots back centuries to locations from around the world.
I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with one of the guild's members, Leanna Carlson, who has been involved in pottery for 25 years, both as an active member of the guild, and now also as a successful business owner with her own studio located on the Hart Highway.
Leanna is, in my opinion, a notable example of someone who has been able to evolve an artistic practice from the recreational level to a successful, entrepreneurial model. Leanna's first career was as a computer programmer, but as she recalled for me, her first encounter with pottery changed her life in a profound way and charted her on a course to self-fulfilment and independence.
I've long had a curiosity about the popularity of pottery, particularly with how it is often presented in mainstream movies and TV, wrapped in a certain kind of indelicate sensuality. Leanna suggested that while we don't have a big relationship with clay in this area (being a forest product city), she witnesses first-hand all the time how people light up with excitement the first time they come in contact with clay and begin their long journey into the art form.
One of the appeals of pottery, according to Leanna, is the potential to make so many different items, and the element of chance that comes into play with the firing of the clay. And when I suggested that there are probably hundreds, if not thousands, of households in the area (including my own) where one can find the products of our local potters, Leanna's humble response was a simple "it's so very gratifying."
Another interesting aspect of pottery we discussed was around the question of it being an art form or an artisan craft.
Museums and galleries around the world contain pottery items from various epochs, some dating back thousands of years. These items take a variety of utilitarian forms, but it is interesting to note the level of artistry and design that is almost always infused into these artifacts, regardless of their cultural or geographic origins.
The answer Leanna and I seemed to arrive at is that arts and crafts are not mutually exclusive, in that in order to excel at an art, one needs to take time to develop technique and creativity. In pottery, one has an opportunity to develop both, right from the very beginning.
I ponder that it be comparable to being a baker. You can either just focus on making delicious loaves of bread, which is an absolutely admirable endeavour, or you can create gorgeously designed, custom pastries. Both are made by bakers, but the infusion of design certainly sets the two apart.
And in this day of age, it is wonderful that folks like Leanna have been able to parlay their personal passions into thriving businesses.
I asked Leanna what her model was, and she shared with me the key to her success in the formative stages of her business was to surround herself with business people who could mentor her and teach her business principles and strategies.
And I must say for me how fun it was to sit and listen to an artist talk about things like cash flow projections - clearly dispelling the myth that a full-time career in the visual arts is generally improbable.
I asked Leanna what advice she would give to artists aspiring to become arts entrepreneurs and she said "Make sure you learn. Give yourself the right amount of time to learn everything you need to know. Be a pioneer and learn to design a product and business that is truly your own."
Sage advice from a longtime member of probably one of the oldest guilds in existence, both worldwide and here in our 21st century city.
If you are interested in learning more about getting involved in pottery you have a few options.
Check out the P.G. Potters Guild website at www.pgpotters.ca, or call Studio 2880 at 250-563-2880.
And if you are heading up the Hart, do visit Leanna Carlson's delightful studio located inside the Crown Market, or visit www.carlsonpottery.com.
