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When you contact the MISSA
office, you will most likely speak with Sophie. She will take your registration and answer any questions you might have. During MISSA, Sophie, Meira or
Shana
will be pleased to assist you.
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Meira |
Meira Mathison
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Large Jug - Meira Mathison |
As
the Executive Director of MISSA, Meira keeps very busy all year round. Meira
is an internationally recognized potter and teacher who has
been working in clay for over twenty-five years. She is noted for her high fire altered
porcelain work using a variety of textures, color additions, thick slips
and multi-layered glazes. Her pots reflect her environment, the west coast
rain forest and the deserts of Nevada, where she has worked and taught for
many years. Meira
is a master of multi-tasking and even though she probably wouldn’t
admit it, much of MISSA’s success is a
tribute to her dedication, hard work, and creativity.
Sophie
Cooke - Dallin works
behind the scenes doing office administration and acting as the MISSA
registrar - a.k.a. E-mail Queen!
Although a long time Victoria resident, she’s from the Fraser Valley
and went to The Langley Fine Arts School as a teen, which allowed her to
make a mess in all mediums and ham it up on stage. In the decade
since, she has been learning Highland Dance, teaching Cape Breton Step
Dance and dabbling in poetry and short fiction.
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Shana's MISSA party dress |
Shana
Watson
Shana 's love of art can likely be
traced back to her preschool years of fingerpainting
with chocolate pudding. Her tastes in art and chocolate have developed
since then and she can be fairly opinionated and passionate about both.
When she isn't helping out in the MISSA office, she helps Robin Hopper in
his studio and in the gallery at 'Chosin Pottery.
The office would not run nearly as efficiently without Shana. Always
cheerful and informative, Shana is a delight to talk to on the phone.
Betty and Barb are usually the first to
greet students arriving at MISSA. Betty is a long-time MISSA student, is the coordinator of the Friends
of MISSA, and also contributes
as a member of the Board. She’s always happy to assist students in
any way she can. Barb has also attended many MISSA courses, contributes as
a member of the Board and can be found, with Betty, at the “MISSA table”.
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Bowl - Betty Burroughs |
Betty Burroughs
Betty Burroughs was born and educated in Burnaby, BC, graduating with a B.Ed. from UBC. She taught school for several years in lower mainland locations and in Victoria. Having majored in art in high school and always interested in various art and craft media, it was not until 1973 that she fell in love with clay. Since then, she has participated in numerous pottery courses and workshops and has been a student at MISSA almost every year since it began. She feels very fortunate to have had such excellent instructors as Robin Hopper, Les Manning, Tom Coleman, Steven Hill, Vincent Massey, Bill Shinn, Gordon Hutchens and many others. She works mainly in white stoneware and, besides wheel-work, enjoys handbuilding slab forms and, most recently, extruding. She is a founding member of Pacific Rim Potters, South Vancouver Island Potters' Guild, and Muddy Women. She also serves on the board of MISSA as co-ordinator of "Friends of MISSA". Betty says about her pottery: "My work is functional as well as decorative. I am always thinking how I can improve on what I do and so my work is always changing. I have begun spraying and layering glazes to achieve that "reduction" look in oxidation firings. This year I am experimenting with crystalline glazes. There are just so many possibilities to try that I get excited just thinking about them! I just wish there were more hours in a day.......week.........year!!"
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Barb |
Barb Lovick
Barb
was first drawn to pottery in the 1970s when she began taking lessons from
Mavis Mooney.
Because
she worked full time in a Middle School she had very little energy to
enthusiastically pursue this interest.
Often she would be asked, “Are you doing much potting?” Her answer was always, “When I
retire…..”
Barb
did retire in the New Year 2000!
That year she was encouraged and was greatly inspired by Les
Manning’s MISSA workshop. Her
challenge was deciding on her individual style.
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Mugs - Barb Lovick |
As a
native of the Tofino West Coast, she found nature
a foremost focus and when Les Manning counseled to always remember her
roots she then had her light bulb
moment!
Since
retirement, Betty Burroughs and Barb often get together to study/discuss
glaze recipes or to “pot”.
Betty is a most encouraging, giving friend. Barb’s husband, Ed often refers to
them as the ‘mad scientists’.
Recently she was invited to join the inspiring Muddy Women pottery
group. She loves this group of friends and learns so much from them. Their constructive criticism is a
tremendous contribution to her pottery growth.
For
twenty years Barb would get dressed up and head off to work. These days she is dressing down (in her
“grubs”) and retreats to her little pottery basement studio.
Peggy, Deb, Alec, Keith and Barb are MISSA’s wonderful
techs and they keep all of the programs running smoothly.
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Peggy Elmes - teching is glamorous! |
Peggy Elmes
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Vessel - Peggy Elmes |
Peggy holds a degree in Art Education from the
University of British Columbia. She has produced art work in a variety of
media, including printmaking and textile design. Ceramics is her main form
of art. From her studio, River’s Edge Pottery in Sooke
B.C., she creates wheel thrown and hand built pieces which reflect the marine
and rain forest environment of B.C.‘s West Coast. Her involvement
with the Metchosin International Summer School of the Arts has allowed her
to continue her education through workshops taught by many of the most
outstanding international ceramic artists. This has been a constant source
of inspiration and motivation. Ceramics is good for you - have you had your
vitamin clay today?
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Carved Box - Deb Taylor |
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Deb |
Deb
Taylor
Generous,
talented people and a lot of fun are what this place is about. Deb's year
starts with MISSA – the gentle ease into the summer with the intimate
June session leading up to the fun and frenzy of two weeks in July. This
place is good for mind, body and soul.
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Alec |
Alec
Ramlow
Alec
pursues his ceramic business in Columbia, Missouri and assists with the
ceramics programs.
Keith
"Walla Walla" Bacus
Keith
is a longtime MISSA student who recently joined our tech team. He's also
responsible for bringing the Walla Walla sweet
onions that make the excellent onion rings at Bodacious Gumbo Night. In "real life", Keith is a BioMedical Electronics Technician, working for a hospital.
Barb Bergstrom
The tactile nature of pottery first attracted Barb to the world of clay. She spent fifteen years in Ontario where she taught all ages at the community recreation centre, participated in numerous shows, attended many classes and workshops while managing her studio business and raising two children. On returning to Vancouver Island in 2000, Barb took a four-year hiatus and is now in the process of establishing her West Coast studio. |
