Co-curated by Dr. Sandra Alfoldy, Shannon Parker, and Dr. Julie Hollenbach
Energy. Enthusiasm. Knowledge. Honesty. Inspired. Ardor for material. These are the terms that describe Walter Ostrom and his relationship with clay. They can also be summed up in one word: Passion.
Passion is a simple word and yet the immense complexity of it as a concept is at the core of Ostrom and from it flows the worldwide mosaic of his relationships, his incredible devotion as an educator, his drive for knowledge, and his love for creativity in all aspects of his life, but particularly for pottery.
Walter Ostrom is one of Canada’s foremost ceramic artists. He revolutionized clay from ethical brown earthenware to colourful, bright maiolica and inspired generations of ceramists who follow him to this day. This exhibition investigates Ostrom’s earliest work in stoneware and porcelain, his conceptual projects at NSCAD University, the many ways his love of gardening—and particularly rhododendrons—influenced his work, the huge impact China and its ceramic traditions and ceramists had on his life and practice, and his lifetime commitment to the exploration and reinvigoration of the ancient ceramic tradition of tin-glaze.
Good Earth examines Ostrom’s practice of altering form, surface treatments, and the rich elements of social commentary, geographic references, art history, and political statements he imbues in his work. An inspired instructor for over 40 years, Ostrom’s influence on a selection of his many celebrated students is also reflected in this exhibition.
Ostrom is celebrated internationally with galleries dedicated to the collection and presentation of his work in Canada, the United States, Europe and China. This bilingual touring exhibition is the first major retrospective to chronicle Ostrom’s career and impact on the field of global ceramics.
In Sept 2020 make and do ceramics visited the Edmonton community studios Viva Clayworks; run by KJ MacAlister, and The Shop Art and Ceramic Studio; run by Kaleb Romano. We toured their studios and chatted about art and life and running a craft-based business during a global pandemic. Find out about these incredible community-focused artists and how they provide opportunities for artists and give back to their community.
This video was produced for Clay Week 2020. Clay week is an annual international clay event bringing together artists, creatives, educators, galleries and arts organizations into a conversation about all things clay.
From September 10 to 30, 2020, and coinciding with the provincial Month of the Artist, the Alberta Craft Council is hosting Craft Collaborations, an online auction fundraiser in celebration of the province’s enormous creative talent and the organization’s 40th anniversary.
This year the arts sector was particularly hard hit by having many projects, venues, and sales vanish overnight. In support of our creative community, the Alberta Craft Council came up with a collaborative way to inspire, showcase, create connections, and ultimately create revenue for artists working on a very special project.
Craft Collaborations is a unique fundraising project bringing together artists over 45 artists from across the province and across disciplines to create one-of-a-kind and limited-edition work.
This unique fundraiser ensures that the artists receive 50% of the retail cost of their project. At the same time, funds raised from the auction go to the Alberta Craft Council’s continuation of advocacy and promotion of fine craft in the Alberta.
Members of the public, arts patrons and craft collectors in Alberta and from across Canada are invited to bid on artworks by visiting the Alberta Craft Council auction.
Craft Collaborations can also be seen in-person at the Alberta Craft Gallery-Edmonton and Calgary until September 30, 2020.
