Our Prairie in Fibre Exhibition

Included in the exhibition is a silk dress that I dyed with flowers and leaves from plants that provide beauty, nourishment and healing. These were gathered primarily from my garden and the person's who commissioned the dress. Eleven yards of silk were dyed with comfrey, peonies, crab apple leaves and hollyhocks. If you come across an old homestead, these plants will be probably still be growing.

The curator, Monika Kinner-Whalen sent participants this message: 
"My goal was to walk into a room full of prairie inspired art and pride in our homeland.  My secondary goal was to provide the wide array that fibre art has to offer. I was humbled to see an unexpected third theme emerge.  I overlooked the influence of the fact that all the pieces happen to be created by women.  There is an undeniable thread that runs through the collection - of woman's connection to her prairie.  (*As an artist, I am struggling to find the right words to describe how I feel about this show.)  Thank you so much for providing your stories.  They help to shed light on personal meanings that I feel enable the viewer to connect deeper to each piece, and ultimately to our beautiful prairie".

"I am happy to say that all seasons are represented, as well as the elements of fire, earth, air, water and spirit.  With nearly 40 pieces chosen, I think I have every major type of fibre art represented.  It is a very well rounded exhibition".

Here's an in situ photo of Cindy Hoppe's poncho.

Thrift Store Find ~ Robin DuPont

Today I just missed out on buying a mug made by Robin DuPont.  As I was about the enter the store, Robin's and my friend, Jeff Stewart (pictured) was leaving with this mug in his hand.  I'm glad he was able to add it to his collection, which includes pots made by Luke Lindoe. 

I first met Robin when I visited Jeff in Banff; Jeff had studio space at The Banff Centre's ceramics area.  Robin stopped by Jeff's apartment with a book he had just purchased on wood fired kilns. He was oohing and awing about the kilns while I was more interested in the pots. Robinhad some very good stories about building kilns and firing with road kill.

One thing I know for sure, Jeff definitely got a bargain. He wanted Robin to know that his mugs are "going for a lot of money". I think the price was so low since there was wax in the mug. Not sure what era this mug is but it's not recent.

Here's a mug of Robin's that resides in my cupboard when I'm not using it. It is perfect for me since I use one finger to hold mugs. Robin is one of the best soda firers around.

Hitomi Hosono's Coloured Porcelain Sculptures

Today I was introduced to Hitomi Hosono's incredible carved porcelain sculptures on Carole Epp's blog Musing About Mud. Hitomi use gold leaf on the interior of some of her vessels. Anyone who has used gold leaf knows that it takes a lot of practice and persistence to do a good job. 

This piece reminds me of hoar frost. It's been extremely cold here in Saskatoon (the magical -39 C where it meets -39F) so seeing images of work inspired by coral and tropical flowers is just what I wanted to see. 

Hitomi and I share a fascination for testing though I'm sure she is more organized that I am about keeping records. 

Canadian Ceramic History

I found these articles fascinating and informative. Canadian Ceramic History tells of the first pots made in Canada and there are good images of decorative techniques and forming methods at http://www.creeculture.ca/content/pottery.  

Here's a photo from a website featuring good images of Iroquois pots . The image above is from this site. 

Pottery Makes You Smarter

The ceramics world has lost another artist. Yoshiro Ikeda has passed away.  

Here's a link to an article in Ceramics Arts Daily about his use of building up the surface with multiple firings. I agree that the method is more important than recipes. Experiment, have fun and keep records. 

Students' Pots

Yesterday the students from the Beginner's Throwing Class I taught at the Saskatoon Potters Guild picked up their pots. Here are some pots made by people who have never thrown before. I'm impressed and glad that they persevered. Learning to throw isn't easy. Thanks to the returning students who offered encouragement.

I derive a great deal of satisfaction from sharing my skills and helping people learn. Of course I always think I have the best students. Kudos to the class coordinators and technicians. 

The pots on top were glazed with a white glaze and then dots where applied using raspberry (a chrome-tin) glaze and spearmint from Mastering Cone Six Glazes.  Floating Blue, an old standby and very popular with the students, was applied to the pouring bowls.

Rhonda, whose plate is picture above has been taken a few classes before, has attained her goal of making plates. She made a sprig mold from a metal dragonfly magnet. Glazes on the plate are spearmint and shino.

Donation to The Gardiner Museum

What a wonderful gift!  Mr. Yu donated his collection of contemporary Canadian ceramics to The Gardiner Museum. 

I enjoyed hearing Raphael Yu speak about collecting ceramics. Take a listen to this video.

Congrats to Deb Kuzyk and Ray Mackie who have some of their beautifully decorated pottery is in this collection. 

Here's an in situ photo taken by Ken Field of Deb and Ray's exhibition Urban Vermin, in the Perry Gallery, at the Art Gallery of Burlington, in Burlington, Ontario. The show runs until  Jan 18, 2015. A visit to the Art Gallery of Burlington is a highlight my trip when I visit Ontario. Their collection of ceramics is outstanding.

Karin Swildens

I came across an image of one of Karin Swilden's sculptures which resonated with me. Intrigued by the surface and form, I wanted to find out more. 

Karin uses a variety of media to make thought provoking work which includes doors, women, goddesses and erotica. 

Spoons

Spoons are functional and decorative objects that enhance daily life. We use them to sip and stir. Some are heirlooms and evoke memories. Souvenir spoons are collected and given as gifts.

"Emmaline" was named after my paternal grandmother who gave me a metal spoon that she used to make sure her gravy was lump-free. 

This spoon was made by dipping an armature made from kiln elements into paperclay slip, letting it dry and repeating the process over and over. It was then fired in an electric kiln. 

Emmaline is in the Spoon Me exhibition http://www.pinterest.com/medalta/spoon-me-medalta/ . Hope you enjoy checking all the spoons out. I managed to only purchase two at the reception...but there are more on my wish list.

This shrine to Medalta http://medalta.org/ features a souvenir Medicine Hat spoon along with images of kilns there, bricks, pots and more.

Shift Shaping Review

I couldn't agree more with Bart Gazzola. Here's his review on exhibition on June Jacob's show, Shift Shaping in Planet S.

Shift Shaping

 June Jacobs has really grown as an artist in the past few years. Her work touches my heart and soul.  And soon it will touch my head. For my next big birthday I intend to purchase one of her hats. High Bush Cranberry fits me perfectly but Green Curls would suit me as well.

Her show, Shift Shaping is currently at the Saskatchewan Craft Council.

I met June when I came to Saskatchewan in 1994 to see if I wanted to move here to take the ceramics program at SIAST. Over the years I have gotten to know her  as a friend and as owner of Hand Wave Gallery. Currently we are in the same CARFAC mentorship program and at meetings I value her critiques, suggestions and sense of fun.

How to Feel Miserable as an Artist

No thanks.

Old Pallets Never Die

Wow, there are some really good ideas in this video on how to reuse old wood pallets.

And here are some more from Kim Vallee.

I'll be moving beyond compost bins, etc.

Creating Cracked Texture

Watch how Hsin-Chuen Lin creates cracked texture using sodium silicate on his pots in this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Zb4AG3Hh20&feature=related 

Here's the link to his Esty shop.

He has been extremely generous sharing his skills and techniques on other videos.

Inspired? Time to get to the studio and try it.

Ceramics Now

Ceramics Now is available digitally or in paper. Consider subscribing.

I was introduced to Brian Kakas's work via Ceramics Now. Wow.

Yunomi/Chawan/Tea Bowls

Lots of great info and eye candy:  The D.A.G. Yunomi Collection

Above is an exquisite tea bowl by B.C. master potter Wayne Ngan. I can just feel it in my hands and on my lips.

The Art of Managing your Career

The Art of Managing your Career  is a resource guide for self-employed artists and cultural workers in live performing arts; writing and publishing; visual arts and craft; film, television and broadcasting; digital media; music and sound recording, and heritage.  It is put out by the Cultural Human Resources Council

Pit Firing at Coshise College

This is an incredible video of an Extreme Pit Firing  at Cochise College.  Stephani Stephenson, an amazing tile maker, is currently subbing at the College.  Lucky students.  Here's one of her fountains.

Get on your dancing shoes and enjoy the video.

Clint Neufeld and his Family Connections

I met Clint Neufeld at Lydia's Loft during a concert a year or so ago. He told me about his work and I was intrigued. Clint's multi-piece cast ceramic sculptures are amazing and have deep personal meaning to him. 

Bart Gazzola wrote "the works presented by Clint Neufeld in “Grandpa used to washed my hands in gasoline” are both beautiful objects, and very meaningful objects, and they speak to notions of art making, beauty, and identity politics on both a national – and very regional – level: and all very much situated from a masculine place."


Chris Buhler, from Floating Gardens, who sells beautiful, tasty heirloom veggies at the Saskatoon Farmers' Market, was my booth neighbour on Wednesday and we got talking pots, food and more. Chris is Clint's brother-in-law and we had a quick peek at Clint's work on my laptop.