Ceramic educator and woodfirer Robin DuPont is putting together an inventory of Canadian woodfirers and kilns across Canada. “In my travels, I am often asked about the contemporary Canadian wood firing scene. An inventory of kilns and ceramic artists firing with wood would be a great resource for ceramic students, institutions and the broader ceramics community.”
Please help us raise $180,000 needed to build a permanent space for this special school!
WHY THIS SCHOOL MATTERS
95% of my students are women.
Genuinely, I connect with and gently challenge every single student.
Even out of workshop hours, everyone knows the kettle is on and my ear is always open.
There has been hardly a day in the past eight years that my studio hasn’t had a student working on their pots, dropping off projects to fire, picking up clay or chatting and sharing creative resources.
When working with our hands our periphery opens, allowing us to discuss and share with vulnerability and abandon. It is pure magic to witness the lasting friendships, community-built and problems solved in my studio.
In my first workshops, many conversations exposed me to the many social and financial gaps in our communities for women needing creativity and companionship.
Rarely do we get to step out of our lives and afford ourselves creativity.
Shoving your hands into clay, plunging them into water… such direct and visceral experiences bring you into your body and out of your “head”.
Realizing that my workshops are a form of therapy, the mandate of my studio has always been:
To create equal and purposeful access to the healing and empowerment that clay offers
For twelve years I have successfully achieved this mandate by creating two studio programs:
Assistant Program
For lower income clay enthusiasts
Two students a year become my assistants under a work/trade set up.
Working next to me, they help me complete the studio’s student work from my workshops (about 4-8 hours a week on their schedule: set up, clean up, glazing, loading and unloading the kiln)
In exchange, they have free non-stop access to the studio, most supplies, equipment and mentorship.
If they so choose, I help them refine a finished body of work through to being retail ready. This includes skill based training, techniques, design competencies, glaze and kiln technology.
I have had over twenty assistants – All of whom are now extended family. Many of them now successfully sell their own work and have the skills to run their own studio practices.
How I choose: The assistant spots are given organically to students that show a desire to grow their skills, a committed attitude and a strong work ethic.
There has never been a problem finding these deserving people…they also always have a way of finding me. *Please see the “Assistant Program Contribution”
Women’s Legacy Program:
I purposefully and anonymously give ten or more workshops per year to women in need of creative time and its therapy. Each spot is worth min $325.
I quietly choose to support cancer fighters, women in grief, exhausted mothers, and women who have experienced violence from our island community.
This is the best part of my job!
Recently I have developed a student program alongside IWAV (Islanders Working Against Violence). With the new space I can extend free anonymous classes to women staying at the IWAV transition house and secondary housing or accessing IWAV counseling and outreach programs. *Please see the “Women’s Legacy Contribution”
These programs have led to many successful, healing stories.
From my hundreds of students to my beloved assistants, it is these creative experiences and connections that have turned this tiny clay studio into a school.
Please help me maintain, support and serve the beautiful community that has organically formed here.
Medalta to hire a full-time permanent Residency Coordinator for the Shaw International Centre for Contemporary Ceramics. Applications due to [email protected] by November 12th, 2021.
Located within the Historic Clay District and housed in the purpose-renovated 12,000 square foot SHAW International Centre for Contemporary Ceramics is a state-of-the-art facility attracting ceramic artists from all over the world to participate in self-directed residencies, short-term workshops, kiln rentals, and special events. Optional accommodation at the purpose-renovated, communal living space, BMO Artists’ Lodge, which enhances the participants’ sense of community.
Reporting directly to the Executive Director, the Residency Coordinator is responsible for the successful leadership and overall management of the SHAW Centre in a manner consistent with the strategic direction set by the Friends of Medalta Society (FOMS), a not-for-profit organization with charitable status. Responsible for all aspects of the SHAW Centre; from budgeting and planning, to scheduling and management of programming, to documentation and reporting, the Residency Coordinator will liaise with other areas of the organization to assist in the implementation of other programming initiated by the Board.
Medalta is an equal opportunity employer and employs personnel without regard to race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, language, creed, religion, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, visible or invisible disability, or financial ability. While remaining alert and sensitive to the issue of fair and equitable treatment for all, Friends of Medalta Society recognizes that, at this time not all positions within the organization are suitable for persons with severe mobility issues.
Medicine Hat is located along the South Saskatchewan River in southeast Alberta. It is approximately 169 km (105 mi) east of Lethbridge and 295 km (183 mi) southeast of Calgary. This city and the adjacent Town of Redcliff to the northwest are within Cypress County. Medicine Hat had a population 65,441 in 2019.
Key Responsibilities include:
Develop and maintain operational policies for SHAW Centre programs, and Artists’ Lodge.
Facilitate internal communication with staff and resident artists.
Provide day-to-day oversight to the SHAW Centre Studio Technician, class instructors, and SHAW Centre volunteers.
Convey information about programming and resident artists to the marketing department in a timely manner, including information for website, social media, and print media.
Program and manage the artist residencies, workshops, classes, and special events.
Facilitate and oversee preparations for special events.
Grant application writing and reporting for funding programming pertaining to the SHAW Centre, Artists’ Lodge, and special events (conferences, symposia, etc.).
Manage kiln rental bookings, and accommodations at the Artists’ Lodge.
Prepare invoicing for sales from within the SHAW Centre, including kiln rentals, decal printing, and ceramic material purchases in accordance with FOMS financial policies.
Prepare purchase orders for procurements to the SHAW Centre in accordance with the FOMS purchasing policies.
Liaise with curatorial and exhibition programming for the Yuill Family Gallery.
Maintain an active presence in the local and national arts communities, represent the organization to funding agencies, and act as a spokesperson through interactions and networking with the press, community groups, and other national and international arts organizations.
Undertake related tasks and projects consistent with these responsibilities, as assigned.
Maintain an active ceramics practice in the studio space provided at the SHAW Centre.
Work with the Executive Director to prepare and manage budgets for the SHAW Centre, Artists’ Lodge, and programming.
Provide regular updates to the Executive Director.
Necessary Training and Experience:
Minimum of three (3) years working in a co-operative studio environment.
Minimum of three (3) years independent studio practice.
A Master of Fine Arts (MFA) Degree in Ceramics.
An equivalent combination of training (BFA) and experience may be considered.
Necessary Skills:
Knowledge of:
Technical processes and procedures related to ceramic materials and techniques.
Proficiency with various firing techniques including electric and fuel-fired kilns (gas, wood-fired, raku, etc.).
Ability to:
Understand and follow general direction, and work on own initiative.
Demonstrate strong administrative and organizational skills as they relate to project management, and the ability to set ongoing goals and objectives, manage competing priorities, and work in a self-directed manner.
Develop and schedule complex procedures, and coordinate and oversee the work of others.
Be proficient in the use of computer software for: word processing, financial management, contact management, and Internet presence. Strong computer skills with superior knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite and MS Office are essential. Knowledge of Constant Contact, PayPal an asset.
Document and archive video and photo-imagery of the activities at the SHAW Centre with the tools provided.
Demonstrate a high level of written, oral, and presentation skills.
Communicate effectively, possess a high degree of interpersonal communication skills, and the ability to establish effective working relationships with staff and resident artists.
Demonstrate excellent organizational skills including; analysis, decision making, problem solving, record keeping, and time management.
Performance Criteria:
Successfully carrying out the prime functions of the job description.
Development of strong working relationships with the Executive Director, and all relevant individuals and organizations.
Taking advantage of opportunities for professional development.
Salary: $42,000
Hours: This is a full-time salaried position (4 days/week, 32 hours/week. Programming may require some evening or weekend hours), with access to shared studio space, clay and glaze materials, and firings.
Start Date: Immediately.
To Apply: Please apply by November 12th, 2021. Send Cover letter and resume to Laurie Switzer: [email protected].
A story about a ceramic artist, Cathy Terepocki, and her journey to find purpose within her work. When most artists are seeking to further put themselves at the forefront of their work Cathy made a conscious decision to actually remove her personal touch.
