Seems somehow fitting…

by | Jul 10, 2009 | Uncategorized

Well I’ve been procrastinating lately. I’ve been even downright avoiding my blog this week as I was stuck trying to figure out exactly what would or could be fitting for posting as my 500th post…and well as procrastination often does, it gets the best of you and now this morning as I finally sat down to write I found that 2 posts that I had postdated a while back had actually gone up and thus the 500th post went through without celebration. You know in someways that’s likely the best, I’m not much of a person for birthday parties or holiday celebrations. They can seem forced. And I guess in the end the 500th post might have been a forced attempt at something as well…but it should be noted that I’ve had a blast writing the blog over the last few years, and the main reason is because of everyone that reads it. I set out to write this blog as I was in need of a larger community of practitioners and like minded craft enthusiasts and that is precisely what I found. So thanks so much for reading, for sharing your amazing work with me, and for writing me such amazing emails. It’s been a pleasure to get to know you all. So I raise my glass (of tea…it’s early morning here) to the next 500 posts!

Cheers!

Making Futures Conference, United Kingdom

by | Jul 7, 2009 | Uncategorized


September 17 – 18

Conference: Making Futures, the crafts in the context of emerging global sustainability agendas Now open for registrations, ‘Making Futures’ will be held on Thursday 17th and Friday 18th September 2009 within the magnificently sited Mount Edgcumbe estate on the River Tamar opposite the city of Plymouth, Devon, UK. CONFIRMED KEYNOTE SPEAKER: PROFESSOR RICHARD SENNETT (USA) The aims of the ‘Making Futures’ research conference are to improve understanding of the ways in which the contemporary crafts are responding to ideas and agendas connected with global environmental and sustainability issues. Also, to try to discern whether these new imperatives present opportunities for the crafts to redefine and reconstitute themselves as less marginalised, more centrally productive forces in society.

FOR FULL DETAILS PLEASE VISIT THE CONFERENCE WEBSITE
For further information, contact [email protected]

Residency Opportunity @ the Living Arts Centre

by | Jul 2, 2009 | Uncategorized

The Resident Artist Program has been created to provide opportunities for a blend of recent graduates of arts and design institutions, as well as mid-career artists, to create, explore, learn and exchange ideas and insights within a multi-disciplinary environment. They have eight professional studios in Wood, Flameworking, Glass, Sculpture, Textiles & Fibre Arts, Photography, Painting & Drawing, and Ceramics.

Short and long-term residencies are available. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

Operating within a facility that offers a diverse choice of performing and visual arts programs, patrons of all ages enjoy a line-up of musicians and artists, and opportunities for hands-on creative expression in a professional arts environment. This marriage between visual and performing arts, community education and professional art practice provides a valued and unique atmosphere for emerging artists.

Resident Artist Benefits:

* Resident Artist office – computer, printer, slide scanner, fax machine, telephone, Internet
* Teaching and assisting opportunities
* Opportunity for inter-disciplinary activities
* Representation on the Centre’s website
* Annual Resident Artist Exhibition
* Opportunity for corporate commissions and to sell work in the Centre’s Gift Shop
* On-site Studio Technician
* All utilities provided
* Free parking

The Living Arts Centre, 4141 Living Arts Drive, Mississauga, Ontario L5B 4B8

For more information about the selection criteria and the application form, please visit our website at www.livingartscentre.ca or contact Cole Swanson, Exhibitions and Residency Coordinator, at 905.306.6161 or via email at [email protected]

European Ceramic Context 2010

by | Jun 27, 2009 | Uncategorized


Well the website doesn’t have all the info yet, but I could wait to share the news of an amazing ceramic opportunity in 2010. Three extensive exhibitions with the best of European contemporary ceramics, workshops, lectures, masterclasses and artist residencies will take place on the island of Bornholm September 2010! Could it get much better?
From their website:
European Ceramic Context 2010 forms part of a biennial symposium for European contemporary glass and ceramics on the island of Bornholm in Denmark. Through comprehensive exhibitions, workshops, master classes, lectures and an artist in residence program, an opportunity will arise to discuss and present the best of contemporary European ceramics today. All 27 members of the European Union as well as Iceland, Norway and Switzerland will be participating.European Ceramic Context 2010 is organizing a conference that will spotlight and discuss current themes in contemporary European ceramics. Lecturers and speakers will be among the leading theorists, curators and artists within the field of ceramics. The conference will take place at the Glass and Ceramic School on Bornholm.European Ceramic Context 2010 is organizing a number of Master Classes, that will be open for enrollment to all professional ceramic artists who wishes to extend their knowledge or seek inspiration and challenge for their daily studio-practice. Master classes will be taught by accomplished instructors and professional artists.
European Ceramic Context is organizing a series of artist residencies in collaboration with Res Artis, a world wide network of artist-residencies and residential art centers. Selected artists will be given the time and space to develop a new project or body of work in ceramics. Artists will be working at Svaneke Gaarden, Møbelfabrikken and The Glass and Ceramic School for a period of approx. 6 weeks. During the residency artist will be asked to work on a given theme, to be presented at the ECC2010 conference at the end of their AiR session.
More details will be forth coming so bookmark the site and start booking your time off and flights!

Margaret Matsuyama

by | Jun 27, 2009 | Uncategorized

Nothing makes my day like when readers send lovely emails which end with links to their websites and blogs. There are only so many hours in the day to get things accomplished and hours it seems get eaten up in front of the computer, either productively or otherwise…so when people can help to direct me to gorgeous art to share with you guys it completely makes my day.

When Margaret Matsuyama contacted me I was immediately drawn to her work. (You likely get a sense by now that I’m a bit partial to figurative work, it’s my weakness.) But seriously how sweet are these?


Not only are they charming, they pack a good punch in terms of subject matter. Here’s a bit from Margaret’s artist statement:

“Art acts as a crossroads between my varied interests, and the different sides of my identity. I am drawn to work evoking childhood experience and the repression of identity when it does not conform to social norms. I am also interested in exploring the subtle differences of identity, and its fragility or impermanence.”


For more insight into her work and more images of other pieces check out her website, and of course you should become a follower of her blog as well! (Oh and make sure you make the little guys dance on the home page of her website, hours of entertainment!)

Studio Open House

by | Jun 26, 2009 | Uncategorized


URBAN FOREST DESIGN STUDIO
WILDWOOD POTTERY
Christian D. Barr & Enzien Kufeld
June 26 – July 6
10am – 9pm
(For those willing to make the trip out we will help you by covering your GST.)
Approx. 115 km west of Edmonton on Hwy16(9km west of Wildwood)turn South on RR102, 250m

Urban Forest Design Studio
Box 636 – Wildwood,
AB T0E 2M0 – Canada
Ph: (780) 325-2360
Email: [email protected]