by Carole Epp | Sep 28, 2011 | Uncategorized
Runs from September 30th to November 13th @ Stoke-On-Trent
BCB showcases excellence and the best of contemporary practice by makers and artists across the UK, building significant partnerships with other major festivals and centres for ceramic research, and making significant European partnerships. At the heart of the British Ceramics Biennial is AWARD at the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, a major exhibition of work by artists, potters and designers working at the creative leading edge of contemporary ceramics practice. From the 28 finalists exhibited, one winner will be awarded a £10,000 prize. We’re delighted to welcome Spode, part of the Portmeirion Group, as the sponsor of this Award, and also the Spode Room, making them our leading sponsor partner in 2011. On the historic listed site of the original Spode Pottery factory in Stoke Town, FRESH will showcase the work of 40 recent UK graduates. FRESH will also highlight the Crafts Council’s “Firing Up” project to re-invigorate the learning of ceramics in secondary schools. ReFRESH will showcase examples of ground-breaking ceramic research. One of the largest shop floors at the original Spode site will be the home of A Great Wall. This large-scale installation will feature tableware to technical ceramics, highlighting the diversity, innovation and creativity of the UK ceramic industry. A new body of work by acclaimed ceramic artist Phil Eglin, Mould Store will see the artist re-use and reclaim the discarded ceramic moulds from the nine remaining stores at the original Spode site. Eglin joins five other artists who will create specific responses to the factory buildings to allow visitors to explore the ten-acre site. The work of ten international artists including Tony Cragg, Hella Jongerus, Betty Woodman and Anne Ausioos, produced during residencies at the European Ceramics Work Centre, will be brought to Stoke-on-Trent for Sunday Morning @EKWC. The exhibition is co-curated by Neil Brownsword, an internationally acclaimed artist from Stoke-on-Trent and winner of the overall 2009 BCB Award. OPEN will see the area’s museums, galleries and ceramic industries with their own programme across three weekends during the festival.Visit their website for all the details.
* Update – here‘s an article from the Guardian on the events.
by Carole Epp | Sep 21, 2011 | Uncategorized
The Breast Cancer Research Foundation is the only breast cancer organization to earn the highest rating from both non-profit watchdogs Charity Navigator and the American Institute of Philanthropy. Over 90% of their budget goes directly to research & awareness programs. We are proud to support their efforts and hopeful about meeting the goal of achieving prevention and a cure for breast cancer in our lifetime. Mugs for Jugs is a national invitational exhibit, with over 50 artists accepting our call to join arms in the battle against breast cancer. We are overwhelmed by the enthusiastic support of our artist friends from around the country. MudFire instructor Emily Downey conceived the event and is a key part of the effort to realize it. The show will present the largest and most significant collection of clay artists in a single exhibit in Atlanta this year. Each artist has chosen their contribution level to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, with MudFire matching their contribution. On average, over 40% of each sale will be donated. We are still adding to the roster of participating artists, which currently includes: Autumn Higgins, Beau Raymond, Becky Strickland, Brooke Noble, Chandra DeBuse, Debra Fritts, Dow Redcorn, Emily Downey, Emily Reason, Erik Haagensen, Gay Smith, Jennifer Graff, Jeremy Randall, John Britt, John Roberts, Joy Tanner, Julia Galloway, Julie Wiggins, Justin Rothshank, Kathy King, Kathy Phelps, Keith Phillips, Kristen Kieffer, Kyle Carpenter, Lana Wilson, Leah Leitson, Linda McFarling, Lisa Orr, Lora Rust, Lori Buff, Luba Sharapan, Maria Andrade Troya, Mark Issenberg, Mark Knott, Mary Briggs, Megan Daloz, Mike Yarnold, Niel Hora, Ron Philbeck, Ronan Peterson, Sarah Anne Marraffino, Shadow May, Stacey Stanhope, Vernon Smith, and William Baker.
Find out more here.
by Carole Epp | Sep 15, 2011 | Uncategorized
Opening reception : 8 -10pm September 16th
Exhibition duration: September 16-26th
Artist talk: PWS education centre 7pm September 16th
Address: 139 East Xinchang Rd. Jingdezhen, Jiangxi, China, Pottery Workshop 3330001
Artist website: www.yingyuehchuang.com
by Carole Epp | Aug 26, 2011 | Uncategorized
September 24, 2011 – January 2, 2012
Mackenzie Art Gallery – Regina Saskatchewan
http://www.mackenzieartgallery.ca/Exhibitions/Upcoming_Exhibitions/302/
September 23: Exhibition Opening
Join artist Jack Sures in celebration of this retrospective exhibition. Enjoy food, drinks and a live music performance by Ben and Nadine Sures. Feeling creative? Add your one-of-a-kind clay tile to our public art wall. 7:30pm, Free, Cash BarThis exhibition is the first retrospective of one of Canada’s most significant ceramists—a multi-faceted figure whose exuberant and sensuous work traverses the categories of craft, fine art and public monument. In addition to offering a comprehensive look at his work from the early 1960s to the present, this retrospective will address his important role and influence as an educator and mentor.
Over the past fifty years, Jack Sures has contributed significantly to the advancement of ceramic art in Canada, including his implementation of the printmaking and ceramics programs at the University of Regina in 1965, where from 1969 to 1971 he served as chairman for the Department of Visual Arts.
Sures trained as a painter and printmaker, honed his ceramics skills initially in London, England at Chelsea Pottery and studied the works of ceramic artists in the museums and galleries of Europe and the Middle East. In 1962, he returned to Canada and set up his own pottery studio in Winnipeg, eventually moving to Regina, where he continues to live and work today.
In 1969, Sures initiated the exhibition California Ceramics: Shaw, Frimkess, Gilhooly, Melchert at the MacKenzie Art Gallery, which introduced Regina to the California Funk movement. He is part of the group of maverick ceramists including Victor Cicansky, Joe Fafard, David Gilhooly and Marilyn Levine, who in the 1960s liberated ceramics from its traditional, functional role and instead utilized it as a sculptural material. The “Regina Clay” group, as they came to be known, rallied against anything that could be considered dogmatism within the constricts of visual arts and ceramics. However, Sures never rejected the fundamentals inherent in vessel-making continuing to incorporate them as part of his craft.September 24: One Day Symposium
Tactile Desires: The Work of Jack Sures
Join artists and academics for a glimpse into the practice and legacy of Jack Sures. Listen in on a conversation with the artist, Head Curator at the MacKenzie,Timothy Long and Director/Curator of the Tom Thompson Art Gallery, Virginia Eichhorn. Including discussion with Matthew Kangas, Sandra Alfoldy, Alan Elder, Julia Krueger, Susan Surette, Ruth Chambers, Mel Bolen and Sin-ying Ho and a film screening of The Murals of Jack Sures by Linda Corbett. 1:00-5:00pm, Free www.eyeris.ca/pages/JackSures – This 5 minute web trailer from the full length Jack Sures documentary features the intro sequence and a portion of the Canadian Museum of Civilization mural sequence.
The MacKenzie Art Gallery and Tom Thomson Art Gallery are pleased to be working together to premier this important exhibition, as well as a publication, video presentation, and related programming in Regina before touring it to galleries across Canada. Organized by the MacKenzie Art Gallery and the Tom Thomson Art Gallery. This project has been made possible in part through a contribution from the Museums Assistance Program, Department of Canadian Heritage.
Image: Jack Sures, The Answer, stoneware tiles. Collection of Jack Sures and Cara Gay Driscoll. Photo by Don Hall.
by Carole Epp | Aug 25, 2011 | Uncategorized
Part of an ongoing investigation of city and culture, this new body of work explores the streets, ruelles, and countryside of Quebec – a literal diary of time and place and document of the artists experience. All work had been produced at Gaia studios over the past few weeks, and features collaborative pieces with Catherine Auriol, recent recipient of the Prix France-Quebec.
Opening Thursday August 25, 5pm
Find out more about the gallery and the exhibition here.
Find out more about Laura here.
