NCECA

I went to the Eastern State Penitentiary, it was for a performance art piece by Rocky Lewycky. http://www.rocksart.com/It was a great experience and left me wanting more, however there was no time to explore the Penitentiary as I had a flight to catch. I would like to revisit this place. It exuded this strange energy that intrigued me somehow...

I took this picture while I waited in a queue to get in, I like how the bright yellow daffodils add this stark contrast of colour, life and vitality against the dark, still walls of the penitentiary.

NCECA organizes a cup sale, where potters donate cups that are sold and the funds raised go towards the support of NCECA. There were hundreds of beautiful cups! I clicked a picture of my cup, going out into the world... to enhance someones drinking experience :) see if you can spot it!

The National Conference for Education in the Ceramic Arts took place in Philadelphia, PA this year. They alternate between the east and west coasts every year.

It was overwhelming, in a good way. The city was filled with clay lovers as they jogged between lectures, demonstrations, workshops, debates, slide shows, and exhibitions that were located all over the city.

We were lucky to get good weather and it was blossom season! Which made walking around just perfect! We crossed some really quaint streets with pretty old buildings.

Publishings

I got published twice last year :)

Once in the Ontario Crafts Council publication 'Studio Magazine'. This is a great resource for craft artists. It's a fine way to familiarize oneself with other artists works.

The other one was the Lark books publication '500 Ceramic Sculpture' This is a wonderful series of books, for those of you who enjoy picture books! Its a fantastic way to gain inspiration when your mind doesnt need words.

Every now and then I get into production mode and I enjoy the feeling of an efficient process along with that brisk feeling of accomplishment with the shelves filling up so fast!

Somewhere in between that continuity, I remembered to take this picture of my table full of mugs and cups that look like a little army...heading to fill the world with caffeine!

Ontario Arts Council grant

I received an OAC grant a few weeks ago! I'm still pinching myself! It's the Access and Career development grant, my first!

As artists, we often go through phases where we question if what we're doing is the right thing, if the struggle is worth it at all...

This grant has given me so much encouragement to continue doing what I do and renewed the belief that it really 'IS' worth it!

Thank you OAC for your continued support of the arts and us artists!

Here's someone you might recognise from months ago! The Spark auction party is fast approaching and even though I loved this little guy I have to let him go...
I decided after much contemplation to create a home for him in a glass dome...as a ring! This is it in progress... I made the silver band ring with help from my fantastic jeweller friend Adriana McNeely, check out her work at http://www.adrianamcneely.com/

At the Gardiner Museum gift shop

I am absolutely thrilled that my functional work is now available at the Gardiner Museum gift shop! I remember my first time at the museum, I was in awe of the place. An entire building dedicated to clay! To have my work in that building is just wonderful :)

I was commissioned by Sarah Richarson Design to create two great big lampbases. They are wheel thrown and I was thrilled to take on the challenge of these pieces that stand almost 3 feet tall. The biggest lesson I learnt was to 'remember' to measure the height of the kiln before I started work on them!
After I loaded them into the kiln came the panic attack with the delivery deadline fast approaching, they were about 4mm too tall... I managed a little trick while the kiln God's laughed!