workshop/demonstration at the Arts Centre at Dockyard this weekend.

Based in Devon, Mr. Bayer, who was born in Uganda of Danish parents in 1946, has built a world-wide reputation for his large pots and as a wood firer. It was while he was studying geography at Exeter University that be first became interested in pottery and, although he has since travelled and worked in Asia and the USA, he returned to Devon where his pottery would be close to the North Devon ball clays and local sawmills -- the offcuts are used to fire his pottery kiln. As he says, "I make a comprehensive range of domestic ware and my work derives its warm, natural colours from the wood-firing process.'' A former pupil of Michael Cardew, Mr. Bayer, who was a recipient of the John Ruskin Award in 1982, has exhibited all over the world. As art critic Mark Hewitt wrote, "His big pots have a commanding and majestic presence, occupying space the way a lone oak in full leaf dominates a meadow. they have the same sense of volume and internal resonance as the nave of a Romanesque cathedral... Svend works alone, making all the pots himself, occasionally even firing the kiln himself. His capacity for hard work is almost self-destructive.'' Svend Bayer is also well known as a teacher who has held seminars throughout Europe, Australia and New Zealand and the USA. This will be his first visit to Bermuda.

Arts Centre curator Julie Hastings-Smith says, "We are fortunate that Svend, who is a good friend of Bermudian potter Jon Northcott, is tagging us on the end of his tour of universities and arts centres in the US and Canada.

Hopefully, the sharing of his skills will benefit Bermuda greatly.'' Anyone who is interested in attending the workshop (June 6 and 7) is asked to telephone the Arts Centre at Dockyard (234-2809) as soon as possible.