A Snowy Start

The morning after my arrival in the UK was snowy.  No wonder the poor little Bonsai does not grow much.  The other picture was looking out my bedroom window about 8 am.

Some Architecture

When I flew to UK there was about a six hour wait at the Hong Kong International Airport for my connection.  I spent time admiring the architecture by Sir Norman Foster and Associates .  It is a huge complex with an almost completely self supporting ceiling and roof structure with huge stainless steel anchors to the outer walls.

Fellowship of the Fire Exhibition

These will be the last of the exhibition photographs from Thoresby Gallery.  The top picture is of a "Conversation Couch" which was at the gallery and of a type I had not seen before.  Another view of one of Mark Griffiths' round Pilgrim bottles and a very tall jug made by Nic Collins which stood around 750 mm.or 30 inches tall.

More Pictures from the Thoresby Exhibition

The round bottles and other pots were made by Mark Griffiths.  He had had a bad firing in his anagama so these glazed pieces were substituted for the exhibition.  The large and very heavy piece was by Nic Collins.   It was a multiple fired clay pad which was a lot of fun but too heavy to hang on a wall so would have to sit flat by the hearth.

Two Large Pots

These two large pots were part of the "Fellowship of the Fire" exhibition held last month at the Thoresby Courtyard Gallery in Nottinghamshire, England.  The top picture is one of Steve Parry's wood fired pieces and the lower image is of one of Nic Collins pieces. Both were very impressive.

The Venue

This is the mansion at Thoresby Park which is near the Sherwood Forest which accounts for the statue of Robin Hood in the Thoresby Park Courtyard where the Exhibition was held.

Woodfire Potters Exhibition

The reason for the break in my blog entries was that I was invited to participate in a wood firer's exhibition at the Thoresby Gallery in Nottinghamshire in England.  The top picture shows some of the display while the second shown some of Estelle's and my work.  The English potters participating were Nic Collins, Mark Griffiths, Steve Parry and Peter Swanson.  David Binch of Oakwood Ceramics was the organiser.

Sakura

Another picture of the cherry blossoms in Tokyo and families picnicking under the flowering trees. Japanese people really enjoy their spring festivals.