When I accidentally met a legend. — Diane Griffin Sculpture

Have you ever met one of your heros? One of the legends in your field? Or pondered interesting and intelligent questions you might ask if you were to ever meet them? Perhaps you have already had this opportunity and you aced it with calm and considered conversation. Not me…..

When I left Art College in the late 80’s, I had a part-time job working for Potterycrafts in Edmonton, North London.. It was a small shop selling pottery supplies on a little parade of shops within a largely residential area. It was here that one quiet afternoon Dame Lucie Rie came in to buy porcelain. Yes, Dame Lucie Rie!!! She was quiet and unassuming and in all honesty, at first, I didn’t realise who she was! I can recognise one of her pots at 50 paces but I haven’t studied her face in the same way - and who would expect her to pop in for her clay? I thought that she would have people to do that for her. She browsed a little in the shop and we chatted easily, mainly because the penny hadn’t dropped at this point.

After the slow realisation that I was sack-tucking 100kg of porcelain for one of the greatest potters in the world, I became all self conscious & tongue tied. I didn’t know whether it was rude to suddenly mention to her that she was indeed Dame Lucie Rie or not to. I am glad I didn’t, as of course, she was well aware of her own identity and I’d have looked like (more of) a pillock. What can I say? I was young and with little confidence in situations like this, so out of all of the wonderful things I could have said or asked her, nothing came out. My brain literally froze. I simply loaded her porcelain into the back of her car, we said our goodbyes and I waved her off. It was lovely to meet her and a pleasure to lift her clay but wow, what a missed opportunity! I internally roll my eyes at myself every time I think of it!

You’ll be pleased to know though, that I have improved (a bit) with age. I met Richard Slee at a show in London some years later and this time managed to ask some good questions about his inspiration for a particular installation and his experience working with a glass studio. We ended up having a lovely chat , so at least I had made the most of that occasion. Lucie Rie lessons learnt!

What would you have asked Lucie Rie?