Friday, February 25, 2011

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.

Thursday, February 24, 2011

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.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

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

Saskatchewan Craft Council, Puck Janes, ceramic artist

The Saskatchewan Craft Council has a new website. http://www.saskcraftcouncil.org/

There is lots of good information in the easy to navigate website.  Enjoy the  eye candy in the Membership Directory.  Here's an example of what you'll find there: 

Puck Janes is a ceramic artist who I went to school with.  We both spent a lot of time testing glazes and Puck has developed a wide palette of surface decoration.  She celebrates the Prairies with her stunning landscape pieces.  



Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Greenlandish/Danish Ceramics by Gukki Møller

Over the past 15 years since we were students together Gukki Møller has really developed his large ceramic pieces.


Back then Gukki was working on double walled vessels and employed precise, interesting surface decoration.  I'm thrilled with what how the seed of his ideas has grown.





His heritage is very

important to him. It's

wonderful to see it

celebrated in his work.







Sunday, February 13, 2011

John Britt throws a bowl



If you ever have a change to take a workshop with John Britt DO.  Last year at MISSA John really added to my experience there even though I wasn't in his class.  He's fun, creative and freely shares his vast knowledge of ceramics.SS

Thursday, February 10, 2011