Jun Kaneko (American, born Japan 1942) studied painting in his native Japan as a young man. In 1963, he moved to the United States where he studied ceramics with a number of influential artists from the California School, including Peter Voulkos and Paul Soldner. Although Kaneko is best known for creating large-scale ceramic sculptures and installations, painting has remained an important part of his artistic practice throughout his career. In recent years Kaneko has also branched out to design opera sets and costumes for several productions in Omaha, Atlanta, Philadelphia and Vancouver. This exhibition presents a survey of 39 works by Kaneko ranging in date from the early 1980s to the early 2000s. The works in the exhibition include a mix of large and small ceramic sculptures as well as a selection of paintings and drawings. The combination of works in different media emphasizes Kaneko’s strong command of form and colour, and his longstanding interest in optics and perception. Jun Kaneko is a traveling exhibition organized by Smith Kramer Fine Art Services for a tour of North America. The Gardiner Museum is the final stop on the tour and the only scheduled Canadian venue for the exhibition.Visit the gallery website for more info.
Robin DuPont is a contemporary ceramic artist working out of his home based studio in the Slocan Valley. Specializing in atmospheric fired pottery, Robin primarily uses wood as the fuel source to fire his work, and in doing so creates beautiful and functional art through purposing byproducts of the local forest industry. Robin makes a variety of forms including teapots, bowls, mugs, dinnerware sets, vases, jars and bottles, for domestic use in the home, kitchen, garden and decorative setting. Each piece of pottery is hand-crafted from stoneware or porcelain and is dishwasher and oven safe.
LOCATION:
4562 Hwy 6,
Winlaw, BC VOG 2JO
Directions: 20km North of the junction on hwy 6-7 km south of Winlaw.
Narwhal Art Projects is pleased to present Pretty, Strange, an exhibition of works by Julie Moon from August 11th to September 4th, 2011. Inspired by the tactility and anthropomorphic qualities of clay, Moon’s undulating, organic sculptures pay reference to the human form through their limb-like protuberances and rolling, fleshy surfaces. These indelicate figures contrast sharply with the dainty ornamentation with which they are applied: from their pastel palette to their intricate overlays, each piece deliberately juxtaposes effete flourishes with corpulent silhouettes. The result is an imbalance between elegance and awkwardness, forcing the viewer to confront their own preconceptions of beauty, femininity and alterity. Consisting exclusively of ceramic media, Pretty, Strange incorporates wall-mounted sculpture as well as freestanding forms. The addition of surface applications and glazes, fabric, frill and lace trim informs the unique identity of each piece: in Ballerina, a pointe slipper adorns the toes of an otherwise bloated and distended leg-like appendage, while Shoe farcically applies a delicate pattern to a bulbous-looking foot. The effect is reminiscent of the frivolous figurines of a china cabinet, albeit without the grace, delicacy and literal representation of such traditional ephemera. Pretty, Strange is the culmination of Moon’s thesis work at the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University as well as her current residency at the Center for Ceramics in Berlin. Moon has previously shown both locally and internationally, most notably through her solo exhibition Pretty Pleas at the Fosdick Nelson Gallery in New York State (2010). Opening reception:
Thurs August 11th
7-10pm
Artist will be in attendance.
Runs Aug 11 -Sept 4, 2011
For information, artwork availability or press preview:
LOCATION: Medalta Potteries – 713 Medalta Ave SE Koi Neng Liew (website) This exhibition is the culmination of Liew’s year-long ceramic arts residency at Medalta’s Shaw Centre. The exhibition, which is on display in one of Medalta’s Kiln Galleries, features a number of the artist’s striking large-scale sculptures. As an active part of Medicine Hat’s cultural community, you are invited to the opening reception, which will feature remarks by the artist. As members of Medicine Hat’s active cultural community, we hope you are able to show these visiting artists how much we appreciate the Arts.Visit the Medalta Website for more images from this amazing exhibition.
Well once again Jonathon and Brian proved that they are great at throwing parties. What an opening. Barely any space to squeeze past beautiful art and beautiful people and it didn’t let up for hours. It was a completely different world for me. Well educated collectors and so many ceramic greats in one room. I had Cinderella complex all night – what was I doing here? How did I get an invite to this party?
Forgive me but today is going to be mainly eye candy images from the show as I’m off to visit the London Potters Guild this morning and then the rest of the day there are a few collectors in town who are generously opening their homes so that we can all snoop through their collections. (awesome!)
Needless to say this poor pregnant girl is worn off her feet already, but regardless has the biggest smile on her face.
And for the cherry on top of the whole night: SOLD!!!
Who would have thought that Saskatoon SK and London ON were worlds apart? But on so many levels it feels like a different world to me. Maybe it’s the fancy hotel sheets, the lack of a toddler clamouring for attention, or the fact that London is home to Canada’s best Commercial Ceramic Gallery that sets it apart. Regardless there is something magical going on here.
Yesturday I arrived in London for the events surrounding Matter of Clay III which is being hosted by Jonathon Bancroft-Snell Gallery only to be completely floored upon entering the gallery; a gallery that goes on forever filled to the spilling over point with amazing ceramic art by artists, some of which I’ve only ever seen in print. My eyes didn’t know where to lay rest, I was overwhelmed by eye candy and my hands wanted to touch each and every piece.
To kick off the weeks’ events we crammed, I’m not sure how many national ceramic artists, into the cozy Scot’s Corner pub, filled them with drinks and had what I figure was likely the most entertaining evening the local Londoners have seen in a while. Mrs. Conception brought the crowd to their dancing feet, old friendships were renewed and I met more people than I could ever hope to keep their names straight. I was introduced to ceramic heros I’ve admired for years, amazing collectors who travel great lengths for exhibitions like this (a world I am just beginning to see, and am hardly close to understanding the weight of), and a gallery owner and manager (Jonathon and Brian) who work tirelessly to bring not only makers together with collectors, but also makers together with makers.
Canada is big and broad. We have heaps of amazing artists, but often one province is unaware of what the next is doing in terms of craft. Maybe we all just have our noses in the clay dust and are working away, so busy trying to maintain our various practices; but sometimes it feels like there needs to be a better unifying force in Canada to bring us all together. Nation wide ceramic publications don’t exist here, conferences tend to be more regional in their draw. So it is historical to see an event like this that brings so many of Canada’s ceramic artists together into one room. It’s a bit electric. And filled with possibility.
I can hardly wait to see what today will bring especially with the exhibition opening this evening. More to follow….
