Red Deer Residency

It's been a long time since I posted but I hope to improve as I embark on a new journey in clay... My Red Deer Residency.

I've moved across the country to Red Deer Alberta where I've taken a post as the Ceramics Technician at Red Deer College in the Visual Arts department.  I have a fantastic state-of-the-art facility to work in as well as my own dedicated studio space to call my own. 

Red Deer College Throwing Room

Ceramics is headed up by Trudy Golley (www.alluvium.ca).

Aurora
Trudy Golley

I am looking forward to being inspired by Trudy, her work, and the many lectures and demonstrations she will give over the course of the next 9 months. I plan to do most, if not all of the projects she gives her classes as a way of trying out new techniques and new forms. 

Let the creative journey begin....

New City Church Chalice Set

I am thrilled to have completed a very special commission for a wonderful local church in Hamilton - New City Church http://www.newcity-church.com/ - which is led by Pastor Connan Kublick. I designed and carved a custom stamp based on an illustration by a local artist and produced a set of 4 chalices and 2 lidded wine pitchers in white porcelain. These pieces had their debut this past weekend. It was a great honour to be asked to produce this lovely set.

A New Year, New Work

Here we are in January once again and I am wondering where the fall went. When I last blogged I was proudy writing about my Throwing Bootcampers. I then headed off to Medalta International Artists in Residence (see http://www.medalta.org/miair/index.html) for an 11-day Salt and Soda firing workshop with Cathi Jefferson of BC. This was an amazing experience. Here are a couple of pics from that workshop.

The fall progressed with Studio Tours and Fall sales, Fair November and the Art Gallery of Hamilton Art Sale as well as a very busy holiday season at AllSorts Gallery, the new artist cooperative I was part of starting (see www.allsortsgallery.com). The year culminated with my Annual Holiday Open House and Pottery Sale which was a great success. The introduction of colour into my functional work was well received over the past year and I will continue to incorporate new designs.

So it is January and I am working on some very special commissions including communion chalices for a local church. I finished up the year with a commission for a layer dip set for the mother of a friend from University. As with all commissions it is great to stretch one's creativity that little extra bit and do something a little different! Until next time ...dip anyone?????

Throwing Boot Campers

Today was the last day for my Throwing Boot Camp course at the Burlington Art Centre. I put 9 willing students through the paces this week with the intent of improving their throwing skills over the span of 5 days. I am pleased to say that the didn't disappoint! It was amazing comparing the pieces thrown on day 1 to the ones thrown on day 5. The week consisted of tons of tons of throwing, many exercises including throwing blindfolded, being timed, throwing to collapse, repeating forms and so on. Everyone was a great sport and went along with all the things I asked from them - even the hour+ of wedging practice on day 2! They were a great group to work with and I loved every minute of it! My last act of torture was to have them throw 5lbs of clay ... which for many was more than they have ever done before (or for a long time). But they did it, with some fantastic results. I have to say that I was a proud mama seeing how much everyone had progressed - so rewarding for a teacher!


Athanasia and her 5lb bowl


Penny and her 5lb bowl


Penny`s Copy and Repeat Bowls!


Darryl with his Super Plate


Ruth and her 5lb Tulip Bowl


Maggie trimming her Deep Bowl


The room just before clean up on Day 5 - Darryl and M.A.

Thanks for a great week guys!

Summer Showing

Well, its that time again for the summer show season. It seems like all the shows are squished together in back to back sequence. Someone asked me at a studio tour why this is ... I didn't have a great answer other than that spring is the time when people start looking for handmade work for wedding gifts and the summer is just a good time for outdoor shows. This does make it difficult as an artist as many of the shows overlap and you have to make a decision on where to go. This past weekend for example was the Beyond the Valley Studio Tour (www.beyondthevalley.ca) where I am a guest at one of the studios (and participated in) and the Guelph Potters Market (www.thepottersmarket.ca) which is a great all pottery event that many of my contemporaries participate in that has a great vibe that I had to take a pass on.

This weekend I am heading to Ottawa for the New Art Festival - www.artinfoboy.org for information and listing of artists. This outdoor art festival in the Glebe district has been running for a number of years organized by a grassroots group of artists from Ottawa to showcase both local artists and other from Ontario and Quebec. It is a great mix of work in all media. As soon as my kiln cools enough to unload the last batch of work, I'll be hitting the road.



Here are a few photos from this past weekend's tour of some of my new colour pots that I will bringing to Ottawa:

Cappuccino Cups



Dip Bowls