Lilach Lotan has come a long way from her home in Jerusalem.
The 26-year-old potter came to Canada three years ago and now lives in Ladysmith where from a home studio she produces fun and functional pottery pieces, including vases with zipper and faucets sticking out of them, light fixtures shaped like coral and much more. Her work is currently on display at the Old School House Art Centre in Qualicum Beach until July 31. Her show, Form and Fire, explores differences in texture and colours.
"I always concentrate on the form when I make something, that's the most important thing for me," Lotan said. "So I made the same shape twice, one I glazed with white glaze that enhances the form and you can see all the aspects of the piece and the other one I took to the Tozan kiln. I had no control over what comes out. The form is still mine but all the colour and the texture comes from nature."
At the show the two pieces are side by side to show the contrasts. The pieces are simple cylinders taken in different directions with Lotan's imagination.
The young artist got into pottery by chance at Bezalel Art School in Israel, but as soon as she tried it, she knew it was for her.
Lotan was 20 at the time, fresh from her mandatory two years in Israel's army service, where she was Intelligence. All youth in Israel have to be in the service-- two years for girls and three for boys. She attended the art school for three years and then her and husband came to Canada. Lotan said she realized that in Israel it would be nearly impossible for her to make a living as an artist and the couple decided to come to Canada.
They settled first in Toronto, but quickly discovered the city wasn't for them and came West. They went to 91原创, which they liked and took a ferry to the Island, where she said Nanaimo felt like home. They finally decided on Ladysmith. Lotan's work is in galleries all over North America and she also does retail shows. Her husband, who's trained as a jeweller, handles the business so Lotan can be full time in the studio.