Written in Clay: Featuring Mary Fox at the Vancouver Art Gallery
One never knows what a day will bring
Receiving emails like this put a big smile on my face.
“Dear Mary,
My name is Andrea Valentine-Lewis, Curatorial Assistant at Vancouver Art Gallery. I am assisting Diana Freundl, Senior Curator, with the exhibition Written in Clay: From the John David Lawrence Collection which will be on view from May 25 to November 9, 2025, with an opening celebration on May 24. We’re delighted to inform you that your work will be presented in the exhibition.“

Right around the time that I received this email I was treated to a visit with a piece I had made back in the 80’s. A collector had recently purchased a beautiful raku fired Treasure Jar and emailed about coming in for a studio visit. I asked if he would bring his find with him so that I could photograph it. As he lifted it carefully out of the box and placed it on my desk I was transported back to that time period.
I made quite a few of these “Treasure Jars” back in the 80’s and this was a particularly nice one. Great score! and a beautiful moment in my day for me.



I haven’t seen a picture yet of the piece being included in the exhibition yet but I imagine it is one of my early Treasure Jars, much like the one the gentleman brought to show me.