Vessels for Flowers @ Blacksmith Country General

Vase above by:Filipa Pimentel

May 4 – 24, 2018
Opening Reception: May 5 at 7pm

We’re celebrating the beauty of Spring (right in time for Mother’s Day) with a special showcase of our favourite Canadian ceramic artists.

Vessels For Flowers will feature the work of 12 artists working in clay, making and designing vessels to display nature’s beauty. This broad range of clay vessels will show the very best that this medium can offer. From highly decorated narratives, to quiet focus on form,  the variety of work is incredible.

Invited artists include:
Annemarie Row, Bruce Cochrane, Carole Epp, Cathi Jefferson, Emma Smith, Filipa Pimentel, Jennifer Drysdale, Kate Hyde, Michelle Mendlowitz, Sarah Pike, Thomas Aitken, Tony Clennell

Local floral artist Jessica Payne of A Fine Medley will be making arrangements to accompany the flower vessels for the opening event – be sure to make it to the opening to experience this wonderful marriage of clay and florals.

Find the full details at www.blacksmithcountrygeneral.com

Works will be available in our online shop starting May 6.

Bruce Cochrane

Thomas Aitken and Kate Hyde       Emma Smith

Placemaking: The Unique Connection Between Craft, Community and Tourism

Mark your calendars! The CCF/FCMA’s 13th national contemporary craft conference will take place in Nova Scotia from October 10th – 15th, 2018.

Titled Placemaking: The Unique Connection Between Craft, Community and Tourism, this national event will highlight the role of contemporary craft culture in strengthening and encouraging community development. By exploring the positive impact of craft practice on both physical and virtual communities, the conference will share information on craft culture’s role in enhancing the sense of belonging, understanding, and appreciation of community members, leading to happier, healthier, more positive social interactions. Through the presentations, workshops, networking sessions and cultural events of Placemaking, the use of culture as an impetus for positive change will drive conversation through creation, expression, sharing and celebration.

In partnership with Craft Nova Scotia, Craft Alliance, NSCAD University, Cape Breton Centre for Craft and Design, Lunenburg School of Art and the Aboriginal Curatorial Collective, this year’s event includes more collaboration than ever before. We are particularly excited that Placemaking will align with the Aboriginal Curatorial Collective’s national conference, also taking place in Halifax this fall. Working closely with the ACC to bring these delegations together, we are exploring the potential for a joint keynote speaker presentation, integrated social events, and a specially designed tour of the craft-specific and Indigenous arts specific events of Halifax’s Nocturne festival.

Placemaking will cover a lot of ground – in theory, and in practice. With three locations across Nova Scotia, delegates can take in a pre-conference tour in Cape Breton, the main conference events in Halifax, and an extended conference and tour in Lunenburg. All three locations will highlight unique cultural experiences and explorations, exposing you to new ideas and new adventures in craft.

Don’t miss out. There will be a limited number of seats available at all these events. Stay tuned for more details – coming soon.