The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Front the editor Watching the tide Creativity is a hot t o p i c these days a n d t h e subject of countless w o r k s h o p s a n d training sessions. I think myself that it's s o m e t h i n g innate, n o t s o m e t h i n g a c q u i r e d . W h i c h is not to say w e all have access t o it all the time. But s o m e t i m e s things suddenly glide into place like a well-oiled lock, a n d t h e d o o r s w i n g s o p e n o n t o a garden of possibilities, bright w i t h dew. Editing Arts Alive brings m e into contact direction is strong e n o u g h , then sooner or later a w a y w i l l present itself. In putting together this issue I w a s lucky e n o u g h to meet M a s Funo, three of w h o s e extraordinary raku containers y o u can see o n page 14. They are extraordinary because of their unique character, w h i c h is the character of their gentle, pensive, a n d s o m e t i m e s d e m o n i c a l l y creative maker. He w a s a psychologist w h e n a potter friend asked whether, since he h a d a chemistry degree, he c o u l d test s o m e glazes. He a n d p h o t o g r a p h airline staff in their n e w uniforms. So began his illustrious career. H o w d o y o u get t o be in t h e right place at t h e right t i m e ? H o w c a n y o u consciously direct your life so you're there w h e n w h a t y o u h a d t h o u g h t t o be t h e heaviest of doors s w i n g s open at the merest c a t s p a w of a breeze? The answer, of course, is that y o u can't. A t least, y o u can't consciously. But if the urge t o f o l l o w s o m e particular artistic agreed. A s s o o n as he t o u c h e d clay for the first time the door s w u n g open a n d he s a w w h a t he w a s destined t o do. There is, as Shakespeare s a i d , a tide in the affairs of m e n w h i c h taken at t h e f l o o d leads o n to fortune. For all o f us. W e just have t o be ready. w i t h p e o p l e w h o have h a d this d o o r o p e n for t h e m a n d have passed through it. W h e n I ask t h e m h o w it h a p p e n e d they usually g r o w reflective a n d find it hard t o give a precise answer. Often it seems t o have been a matter o f luck or coincidence. The p h o t o g rapher D a n n y Singer (see page 75) t o o k s o m e pictures of his colleagues at a C h r i s t m a s party a n d p u t t h e m up o n t h e w a l l . A c o u p l e of days later s o m e b o d y from the r e v a m p e d A i r C a n a d a s a w t h e m a n d asked if he'd like t o fly a r o u n d t h e w o r l d Michael Boxali Simply great Craft fun for kids! Lewiscraft Kids Crafts First S a t u r d a y o f e a c h m o n t h N o o n - 4 p m in t h e G r a n d C o u r t Learn a n e w craft a n d have f u n ! O n Sat M a r c h 2, C a p i l a n o M a l l a n d Lewiscraft are pleased t o offer t h e biggest FREE K i d s C r a f t s d a y y e t ! Create melted bead fridge magnets, beaded hair barrettes, key chains, a candle centre piece, d e c o u p a g e b o x & p u p p e t s ! J o i n us f o r simply great craft fun... t h e first Saturday o f 935 M a r i n e Drive, N o r t h V a n c o u v e r C u s t o m e r S e r v i c e : 604-980-8561 each m o n t h ! CapilailO Mall