Potter mixes music with clay

Dan Levitan’s book This is Your Brain on Music states that mastery occurs after 10,000 hours of practise. Stephen Plant has achieved this landmark in two areas: pottery and singing.

Plant originally began potting in 1969 but several times financial and logistical circumstances overruled his ability to support his lifestyle.

Fortunately, Plant has a background in engineering to fall back on. Finally, in 2001, he created Heaven in Earth Pottery in his home near Gardom Lake, and his passion for art and music won out.

Plant has also been singing all his life, took classical voice lessons for 10 years and sang with the Pacific Opera in Victoria. Plant considers it a luxury to be able to work and sing loudly and listen to music at the same time.

Great music stimulates Plant’s higher thought processes and influences what comes off the wheel.

He is inspired by beauty and melody in music, and by wit and poetry in lyrics.

“Making pottery has a grounding effect and gives order and process to my life, while singing brings more immediate, airy results. I work with earth, air, fire, water and imagination and some technical knowledge to create functional pottery. My aim is to marry form, function and decoration into a harmonious and beautifully useful whole.

“Singing words naturally and allowing thought and emotion to decorate the voice is to create something beautifully useful in a different way,” said Plant, whose work will be included in the upcoming Okanagan Potters Association show, being held June 6 to 8 at the Vernon Best Western Lodge.

Plant said he couldn’t count the number of hours he’s put into his pottery, but hopes he’s on his way to mastery someday.

“Everyone has artistic potential, but not everyone is obsessed enough to put in the time. I’m getting pretty good as a short-order cook too,” said Plant, who sells his work at home and in galleries.

Plant, along with dozens of local potters and artisans, will be on hand at the Okanagan Potters Association show.

The Vernon Spring Show 2008 Juried Artisans and Pottery Sale is open June 6 from 10 a.m. to 8pm, June 7 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and June 8 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information on the show, visit www.okanaganpotters.ca.