by Carole Epp | Aug 21, 2010 | Uncategorized
The Northerners:
Does Canadian ceramics have a unified identity, or does the immense physical and cultural geographies make the question of identity much more intricate and diverse? This current show is an endeavor to find common threads if any by exploring works of six Canadian artists, unified by their excellence in craft and individuality in art. There are nuances of calmness and serenity; simplicity and under-stated references to nature in the collected works. Is that the collective Canadian approach? This show is designed, not to offer conclusive answers but to stir up the original question. Robert Archambeau, Manitoba
Sheila Clennell, Ontario
Tony Clennell, Ontario
Bruce Cochrane, Ontario
Harlan House, Ontario
Cathi Jefferson, British ColumbiaShow runs August 20th to September 10th
Via AKAR DESIGN
So it would be much easier for me to simply post this exhibition information and remain quiet…maybe I should. I have an enormous respect for the work of AKAR and it’s staff. I truly believe that they show amazing ceramic art and are a force within the art community and the maker community which is creating value and presence for handmade craft in contemporary culture and marketplace. I also have a large amount of respect for the artists represented in this Northerners exhibition. That being said, I feel that there is a conversation presented by AKAR within this exhibition that should be addressed and discussed by Canadian ceramic artists and international artists as well. What is our identity? Do we have one? Do we need one? Do other countries have one? Did we not get the memo that we needed one?
Personally I feel that this is a question/comment that has been put forth in the past regarding the Canadian scene as a manner in which to attempt at understanding Canadian ceramics, which have potentially been neglected a bit due to their proximity to America. Even a shallow look at the contemporary Canadian ceramic scene shows a wealth of skill, approach and perspectives towards craft. So much so that could never be summed up simply. Could any other country’s ceramic craft production be summed up similarly?
I do not even begin to suggest that AKAR is attempting to find a conclusion to this question, nor do I believe that they should. Great in fact that they asked the question, i guess. But I do have to wonder about an exhibition which posses the question while exhibiting solely functional based works by a limited geographical region, (4 out of 6 from Ontario? We do have 10 provinces and 3 territories), and without much variety in generational perspectives. While there are many Canadian ceramic artists engaging with what makes Canada, well Canada, gorgeous nature, diversity, tradition, etc. There are also many who engage critically and conceptually with other diverse and more universal subject matter. I’m not trying to upset with these comments, and admittedly i’m likely coming across defensively. I guess I just wanted to put my 2 cents out there, even if they are late at night 2 cents, and therefore maybe only worth a penny (a canadian penny no less) in an attempt to get some discussion happening, here on the blog or elsewhere about exactly what AKAR is questioning with this exhibition – What is Canadian Ceramics? Thoughts?
by Carole Epp | Aug 21, 2010 | call for entry, emerging artist, job posting, monday morning eye candy, movie day, residency opportunity, show us your influences, technical tuesday
Since 1999 the Crafts Lives oral history project has been recording in-depth life stories with Britain’s craftspeople, exploring both their personal and their working lives. The project has encompassed British studio crafts such as pottery, glass, metalwork, jewellery, furniture, textiles and book arts (excluding rural crafts), which have traditionally suffered from a paucity of documentation and research.
National Life Stories (NLS) is now seeking to recruit a full-time oral history interviewer to add more recordings to this important collection. The oral history interviewer will co-ordinate, initiate, research and carry out a series of digital oral history interviews averaging 8-10 hours each, for deposit with the British Library. The postholder will be expected to carry out between 12 and 18 complete interviewers in a 12 month period.
This is a freelance fee-paid consultancy involving a package of 250 days’ work at a daily rate of £98, working on a flexible basis for a period up to 18 months. All travel and other out-of-pocket expenses will be met by NLS. Hot desk office space is available at NLS’s offices at the BL’s St Pancras building but home-based access to a PC with internet access is required. The post will be an integral part of the BL’s oral history team.
For more information about this position and job specification, please view the full advert at http://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/ABO252/oral-history-interviewer and click on the link to ‘Further Particulars’.
Applications
To apply you should send a CV and a covering statement explaining how your experience and skills meet the requirements specified in the job profile to:
Crafts Lives, National Life Stories, British Library, 96 Euston Road, London NW1 2DB or email this information to [email protected]
Please indicate where you found this position advertised.
All applications must be received by 5.00pm on Monday 27 September 2010.
Interviews will take place at the British Library on Thursday 21st and Friday 22nd October 2010.
If possible, we would like the successful candidate to start work in November 2010.
Via Craft Research
by Carole Epp | Aug 20, 2010 | Uncategorized
From their website:
“About Us
Our Mission
The short-term goals of the coalition includes two specific asks to all parties:
- increase the annual budget of the Canada Council for the Arts to $300 million; and
- invest in a new market access and development fund – an investment measure aimed, in part, at replacing cut programs that supported international touring and dissemination.
The Canadian Arts Coalition is the largest consortium of arts, culture, and heritage supporters — business leaders and arts philanthropists, sponsors and volunteers, artists and cultural workers, and arts, culture and heritage organizations, — ever assembled in Canada.
We all believe that the future of our citizens, their towns and cities, and indeed, the nation itself depends on a rich, vibrant and diverse arts and heritage community. The viability of cities greatly depends on their cultural opportunities. Our artists are inventive and generous. But the arts can flourish only when they have adequate, stable, sustained investment.
History
The CAC was originally assembled to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Canada Council for the Arts and to advocate for the Government of Canada to further invest in stable, long term support that increases the Canada Council’s budget by an additional $100 million per annum. We believe the Canada Council is fundamental to the cultural infrastructure of Canada as the key public vehicle for supporting the promotion and development of the arts in Canada. In 2007, we applauded the federal government for a $30 million permanent increase to the Canada Council for the Arts.”Find out more and about ways to get involved here.
by Carole Epp | Aug 20, 2010 | Uncategorized
Saturday, August 21, 2010 10am to 4pmWhere – Kruger Pottery Supply
FREE! Bowie currently lives in Kansas City, MO. He received his BFA from
Kansas State University and recently finished a Special Student
Status program at the Kansas City Art Institute. He is currently an
artist in residence at Red Star Studios. His current body of work
incorporates functional concepts as subject matter in sculptural
explorations of geometric teapot forms. Inspirations for his designs
come from a love of geometry, modern architecture and farm
machinery. He constructs his sculptures intuitively while adopting
meditative problem solving approach to the contemporary
reinvention a historical form. http://bowiecroisant.wordpress.com/ 
by Carole Epp | Aug 19, 2010 | call for entry, emerging artist, job posting, monday morning eye candy, movie day, residency opportunity, show us your influences, technical tuesday
The selected works will be exhibited at the Archie Bray Foundation in Helena. MT, January 2011. This year’s exhibition will be juried by 2010 Voulkos Fellow Paul Mathieu.
Specifications
- The competition is open internationally to ceramic artists 18 years of age or older.
- Artists may submit up to 3 works for consideration, and up to 2 images of each piece (one complete photo plus one detail or alternate angle).
- All artwork must be available for sale and available during the time of exhibition.
- The artwork exhibited must be the same piece(s) submitted for consideration.
- Submitted artwork must not exceed 36” in any direction.
- The artwork entered should be prepared for professional display and not so fragile as to be potentially dangerous to the work or others when shipped/displayed/handled with reasonable care.
- Artists are responsible for cost of shipping selected work(s) to the Archie Bray Foundation (ABF). Artists are responsible for their own insurance for shipping to ABF and during the time that artwork resides there. ABF will assume cost and shipping insurance for the return of any unsold work.
- For good image quality and a fast upload, your image files should be sized no larger than 1800 x 1800 pixels at 72 dpi (approximately 6″ x 6″ at 300 dpi)
Applying
Submissions to Beyond the Brickyard will only be accepted online. By clicking on the link at the bottom of the page you will be taken to Slideroom.com which will allow you to register and upload your images. Submissions can be edited and are not officially submitted until you choose the “Complete Submission” tab and enter your payment method.
Submissions must be received online by midnight MST, September 15, 2010. Entry Fee
The cost of entering Beyond the Brickyard is $35 USD for up to 3 works.
All major credit cards are accepted.
Awards
From the successful entrants, two awards will be selected:
Juror’s Choice Award: $400
Director’s Choice Award: $400 Sales Commission
Artists will receive 55% commission of their work sold during exhibition, while ABF will retain 45%. Exhibition Schedule
By applying all applicants agree to the following schedule if selected to exhibit:
Applications due September 15, 2010
Entrants notified of jury results by email no later than October 31, 2010
Work to be received by Archie Bray Foundation by December 11, 2010
Work exhibited in Beyond the Brickyard, January 2011 Questions about your application?
For technical support please contact [email protected]
For questions about submission information please contact [email protected] Your completed application must be received on or before September 15, 2010. 
