Wayne Ngan, Island Potter: A Portrait by a Friend

Wayne Ngan, Island Potter: A Portrait by a Friend

When Ngan Gui Wang arrived in Canada at age thirteen to live with his unwelcoming grandfather, he was poor, illiterate, and bereft of his family in China. In school, he faced racist taunts and saw little hope for a future until his junior high art teacher recognized his hidden talent and Ngan’s life began to blossom. Wayne Ngan, Island Potter is an intriguing biography of a young immigrant who would become a master ceramicist and one of Canada’s most celebrated artists. Tate has written a rich, textured narrative that asks compelling questions about the solitude, discipline, and perseverance required to make art. She explores ways in which Ngan, through his innate resiliency, reframed early traumas through his immersion in the creative process. Unflinching, but never lacking in love and understanding, it’s a portrait worthy of its subject. Lois Eustis Tate was raised in Canada, married an American and moved to the US in 1984. After teaching high school English and art for many years, she retired in 2012. Tate loves spending time with her five grandchildren, honing her creative writing skills, and taking long retreats on the Oregon coast. She lives with her husband of forty-four years in Portland, Oregon.