Kitchen Makeover

I wanted to enter a kitchen makeover contest but I seemed to be in the wrong time zone.  Leaving things to the last minute!!!  Here's my pitch:

When I purchased my house it didn't have a kitchen! No sink, stove, fridge, counters or cupboards. The kitchen had been taken out by the previous owner when the maple flooring was installed.  It was difficult to figure out how to proceed since what I wanted was over budget.

The kitchen space is 2.8 meters from the windows to the wall (where the stove, fridge, cart and small metal unit are) and 3 meters long.  There are a few design challenges, one being the slope of the stairs to the basement (seen under the table at the far end of the photo).

My goal is to create an efficient, simple, pleasant working space with places to display china inherited from my ancestors and my collection of contemporary pottery made by myself and other ceramic artists.

Comfortable work space is limited to 8.32 square feet of counter height on three different surfaces, which because of lack of storage also have a kettle, dirty dishes (the dishwasher pictured is nonfunctional), etc.  Many items are stored in the basement and in a purchased pantry presently beside the metal stand.

Being able to have pull out shelves to store pots, pans, appliances, etc. will help me prepare food to daily meals along with processing the harvest from my home and community gardens.  

Easy to use storage for recyclables, a pantry, cupboards, a quiet energy efficient dishwasher, and better lighting will help me be organized, productive and enjoy working in my new kitchen.  

Children's Pottery Classes

Nancy Gallagher's pottery blog

I've been enjoying Nancy Gallagher's blog.  It's very informative and I like her pottery. This is an image of Nancy's engobe and sgrafitto decorated teapot.  I'm looking forward to seeing a picture of the glazed piece. 

Squared Lasagna Dish

Bill Van Gilder gives excellent instructions for this project. The idea of making lines to indicate where handles will be placed was an "ah ha" moment for me.

Multi-Sectional Vases

Another great video from John Britt

Winterfestival Juried Art Show, Mann Gallery, Prince Albert

Each February the Mann Art Gallery, formerly the Art Gallery of Prince Albert, gives local and regional artists the opportunity to exhibit their work in an exhibition during Winter Festival.  All the work is shown; the juried pieces are exhibited in the main gallery and the rest are displayed in the Fringe and Studio Galleries. The juried art is up until March 27.

The juror this year was Sandra Fraser,  Associate Curator, Extension Coordinator at the Mendel Art Gallery

Since the mid '90s when I was an Applied Art, Ceramics student at Woodland Campus I've entered work in the exhibition.  Bonnie Bailey was also in the program.  She started before me and was warm and welcoming.  I was thrilled when she was awarded the ceramics prize for the second year in a row.  Here she is with her winning pit fired piece. While I no longer live in Prince Albert I enjoy taking part and reconnecting with the vibrant arts community there. 

Mel Bolen received second prize for his beautiful salt fired vessel. Mel is also known for his decorative gas fired ceramics. Some day I will acquire one of his art pieces, but for now, I'll have to be content with the mug and plate in my "collection".

Both my pieces are in the juried show.  "Refuge", shown on the left, was purchased by someone I knew from my days in P.A.  I know she will give it a good home.  The other piece is a soda fired drum.

Prairie Excellence Exhibition -- June Jacobs featured artist

The exhibition,  Prairie Excellence, at the Affinity Gallery, 813 Broadway Avenue, Saskatoon, will be closing on February 27th.  If you haven't already seen it, it's an incredible show.  I'll be back at least once more before it closes to spend more time enjoying all the pieces. 

Above is June Jacobs' sculptural hand felted piece "About the Process" which was selected for Prairie Excellence.

June Jacobs has been active in Saskatchewan crafts for more than thirty years in a variety of capacities, including fibre artist and exhibitor.  She has owned and operated The Handwave Gallery in Meacham, Sk for 28 years.  As well, she is an educator, mentor, workshop participant, adjucator and juror, an active Saskatchewan Craft Council and CARFAC Saskatchewan member, president and member of the Saskatchewan Professional Art Gallery Association, as well as a member of fibre guilds.  She also coordinates many arts related activities and is dedicated to her art practice.

June has recently completed 3 art residencies: Banff, Vallauris, France and Quebec City.

Recent exhibitions include Body Skins, A.I.R.Vallauris, France 2008; The Eye of the Hurricane, Convergence 2008 Tampa Bay, Florida,: Interface 2009, Mysteria Gallery, Regina; Unity and Diversity, Cheongju International Craft Biennalel 2009, South Korea; Plein des Bras, Contemporary Textile Museum, Montreal, Quebec Dec’09 and  Jan ‘10