If you haven’t checked out the Gardiner Museum it’s definitely worth a look, either by web or in person.

They’ve got quite the collection of historic ceramics including:

Ancient Americas
Chinese Porcelain
English Delftware
English Porcelain
European Porcelain
Italian Renaissance Maiolica
Japanese Porcelain & Its Influence
Modern & Contemporary Ceramics

They also host artist talks, have an extensive research library, teach classes, you name it.

Here’s a listing of some upcoming lectures:

Lecture: Fantasy or Fact? Images of Chinese Domestic Life in Qing Dynasty Export Art
Sept 11, 2007, 6pm

Using examples from the Made in China exhibition, the Gardiner’s new Curator, Charles Mason, will explore the portrayal of Chinese domestic life in Qing-dynasty export art. Mason will look at ceramics, paintings, enamel wares and figural carvings made for western buyers who viewed life in China as exotic. The mix of fact and fantasy in these images make them both valuable and challenging for historians to use and are only now receiving the scholarly attention they deserve.

From the Ground Up: Nurturing the Art of Sustainable Living
Inaugural Annual Lecture
Tues Sept 25, 2007, 6 pm, doors open at 5:30pm

Don’t miss a lively discussion between urban chef Jamie Kennedy, innkeeper Sinclair Philip of the world-renowned Sooke Harbour House on Vancouver Island, and farmer-chef Michael Stadtlander of Ontario’s Eigensinn Farm on the issues affecting the safety and sustainability of our food supply. Pioneers in the food sustainability movement, Kennedy, Philip and Stadtlander have all successfully incorporated sustainable food practices into their businesses. This is a rare opportunity to hear about their experiences and perspectives and for you to talk with these experts. Moderated by Lori Stahlbrand, founder of Local Flavour Plus and author of the best-selling book Real Food for a Change.

The Archives of Ontario, the premier source of Ontario’s documentary heritage, has joined forces with the Gardiner Museum, Canada’s pre-eminent ceramic museum, for an innovative and exciting project.

Influenced and inspired by the holdings of the Archives of Ontario and archival collections across the province, this project will result in the creation of significant ceramic art that will promote and showcase Ontario’s ceramic artists and portray the culture and heritage of the province.

Eight original ceramic tiles will be purchased by the Government of Ontario Art Collection from eight individual Ontario artists. The tiles will be installed at an indoor location in the new Archives of Ontario Public Service Facility slated to open in 2009. Prior to their installation, the tiles will be launched and displayed at a reception held at the Gardiner Museum in Toronto on Tuesday, November 4, 2008.

JURY

Ann Mortimer
Bruce Cochrane
Gillian Reddyhoff
Diane Wolfe
Lisa Singer

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Ontario based professional artists are invited to submit:

* A concept statement that clearly indicates the relationship of the proposed artwork to the archival records on which it will be based. Artists may consult the web site of the Archives of Ontario or the myriad of local, heritage and other archival institutions throughout the province. To access the Archives of Ontario’s web site and for a listing of Ontario’s archival institutions visit here and here.
* Four recent examples of your work in either slide or digital format (on CD-ROM). Please submit all images on slides OR CD, not both.
* a self-addressed stamped envelope is required for the return of all graphic material.

* A copy your c.v., including all contact information.
* Please mail your entry to:
The Curator
Government of Ontario Art Collection
Archives of Ontario
77 Grenville Street, 3rd Floor
Toronto ON M5S 1B3
* Entries must be received by: Friday, November 30, 2007.

ACCEPTED WORKS

* A maximum of eight works will receive purchase awards of $2,000 (inclusive of CARFAC fees) and will become part of the Government of Ontario Art Collection.
* The Archives of Ontario and the Gardiner Museum reserve the right to reproduce all accepted work for educational and publicity purposes.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Please contact Gillian Reddyhoff at:

Telephone: (416) 327-2808
Email: [email protected]

While I’m personally rarely a fan of t-shirts with text on them, I was a sucker for these two craft related ones. The first I got from the Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery as a part of a fundraising project they put on a few years ago.

They still have them listed on their site and they’re only $15 and the proceeds go towards ongoing educational programs. I wore this shirt at the Portland NCECA conference and had heaps of people asking where to get one. Even had someone offer me $50 for it. Should have sold and bought a new one!

This “Craft to Live, Live to Craft” shirt is by Toronto Printmaker Daryl Vocat. You can check out his artwork here or find the t-shirt on his propaganda site here. At only $20 a pop (13 for the shirt and 7 for postage) It’s hard to pass up.

Call for Entry: en feu* Emerging Canadian Artists in Contemporary Fine Crafts
Deadline for Entry: September 18

The MAM Fine Crafts Collective, in association with the Conseil des métiers d’art du Québec, announces a call to artists for en feu* emerging canadian artists in contemporary fine crafts, a juried exhibition open to emerging fine crafts artists across Canada having no more than 5 years experience as a professional artisan. The exhibition (whose title means “on fire”) will be held December 7 – 22, 2007 at the Salon des Métiers d’art du Québec, at Place Bonaventure in downtown Montréal, as part of Craft Year 2007 and in celebration of the MAM collective’s 5th anniversary.

We are looking for audacious and innovative work in all fine crafts media – we want to show the excellence and savoir-faire of emerging Canadian fine crafts artists. Please submit a current cv, artist statement and up to 3 images (8×10” colour prints or 7×5” 300dpi jpg images on CD) of your work. For more detailed information, please see website

Here’s a call for any American craft artists out there. You can see past exhibition highlights and award winners on their website.

Deadline September 20 (Slides Postmarked Date)

Applications are sought for the 13th National Juried Exhibition of Contemporary Craft at the Wayne Art Centre in Pennsylvania. All fine craft media is accepted, and the exhibition will be on display at the art centre from November 30, 2007 – February 1, 2008. For more information check out the CraftForms website at www.craftforms.com