The birds are chirping in the trees and the butterflies are flitting and fluttering in the breeze. Critters and creatures are coming out of the woodworks – sometimes literally – at this time every year. You can’t turn your head without bumping into a spider on its string or a caterpillar slinking its wiggle-walk along a branch.
Nowhere is the abundance of all fauna great and small more apparent than at this weekend’s Spring Show and Sale put on by the St. Albert Potters' Guild. This year, they are featuring little critters that flit, crawl, or slime their way across the tops of mushrooms. Some are real, some imaginary, but all are delightful in every way.
Spokesperson Margaret Belec clarified that it isn’t a theme because not all of the fantastic and beautiful pots will be decked with ladybugs on the handles or butterfly inkblot-and-polka-dot patterns.
“Everything is not about animals but we are featuring little creatures. People are making all kinds of different animals,” she said, noting that the event itself is called All Creatures Great and Small.
There will be a table display devoted to dozens of these pieces, a bug and a wee beastie for every taste, all created by the approximately 60 members of the guild, plus a few special guests.
The event, always held either on the last weekend of April or on the first weekend of May, also always features a wide variety of functional and decorative pieces from many of this city’s best, brightest and most talented potters. The members range from amateur to professional level but each has her or his own style and finesse that they bring to their work. It’s a thrill to take in.
As usual, there will be a table of donated items that will be sold off to raise money for ovarian cancer research.
People are encouraged to check out the work and come early if they possibly can. The popular event always has a first-day rush crowd in search of treasured pieces.
In one fell swoop, you could accomplish all of your shopping needs for your personal collection or to offer as gifts for birthdays, anniversaries, or other special occasions. Belec reminded everyone to remember that Mother’s Day is coming up the following weekend on Sun., May 8.
“We love to put this event on to show people all of the creative members that we have in the guild. This is a time when we can see each other’s work because we don’t always get to see what everyone is producing,” she continued. “It’s a great time to get everybody to bring in their pieces and we get to ‘ooh’ and ‘aah’ over what we see. We have some great potters in our guild.”
She added that some of the contributors have been at it for a few decades but where some of the newer members lack in experience they often make up for it – and then some – in sheer creative experimentation and energy.
The Spring Pottery Sale runs over the next few days, starting tomorrow from 5 to 9 p.m. It continues on Friday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and then concludes on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
It will take place in the foyer of St. Albert Place, 5 St. Anne St. Admission and parking are always free. Visit ‘St. Albert Potters Guild’ on Facebook for more information.
