by Carole Epp | Jun 17, 2015 | Uncategorized
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Mariko Paterson –
SHAKE & BAKE: Handbuilding Meets Surface Design
Monday to Friday, June 29 to July 3
Come spend a week making some hand-built wonders with Mariko
Paterson. You’ll explore both functional wares and sculptural wares.
Why, you might even merge the two if you so choose! Mid-week we’ll flip
to a focus on surface design using a plethora of techniques and
possibilities. Cone 6 will be our target temperature and Mariko’s got
just the right combo of underglazes, glazes, decals and china paints to
make your pieces sing. A sense of humour and willingness to tip toe to
the edge of ceramic sanity will be most welcome.
http://www.missa.ca/product/shake-bake-handbuilding-meets-surface-design/
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| Don Ellis |
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ALTERNATIVE FIRING TECHNIQUES: Chasing the Elusive Flame
Don Ellis will lead five intensive days of alternative firing sessions
where participants learn to take their pots to the next level. Over 34
years of firing experience have enabled Don to achieve a magic touch
with raku that is beyond the ordinary. Don will demonstrate a variety of
surface decorations and will share firing and post-firing techniques
for getting spectacular results. Students will enjoy a fiery week of
demonstrations, glazing, and of course … firing! The focus of the
sessions will be on copper mats, post-firing fuming and more.
http://www.missa.ca/product/alternative-firing-techniques-chasing-the-elusive-flame/
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| Sandra Dolph |
SLABS, NATURALLY!
This workshop is devoted to exploring slabs as 2-dimensional wall pieces
as well as 3-dimensional pots. Participants will take lunch to the
beach and walk in the forest to find nature-based decorative elements,
and then bring them back to the studio to explore how they can be
incorporated into organically made 3D slab pots. As well, students will
investigate how to design and execute 2D land/seascape wall tiles, using
those found natural elements from the beach and forest, integrating
them into colorful, textural wall pieces. All recipes used will be made
available.
http://www.missa.ca/product/slabs-naturally/
For a full list of workshops that MISSA offers please visit: http://www.missa.ca/product-category/clay-workshops/
In 1984 a group of dedicated artists formed and incorporated the
Metchosin International Summer School of the Arts (MISSA). That year,
five two-week courses were offered. Over the years we have expanded our
course selection. The school has developed an excellent reputation for
bringing in acclaimed practicing artists and our workshops have expanded
from five courses and 53 participants the first summer to over 40
workshops with more than 400 students each year from around North
America and as far away as Israel, Brazil and Mexico.
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by Carole Epp | Apr 22, 2015 | Uncategorized
The Narrative Dish
Selected by ceramic artist and musing about
mud blog editor, Carole Epp; the exhibition The
Narrative Dish brings together a group Canadian ceramic makers whose work
makes significant investigations into the use of narrative and imagery on
functional tableware. Specifically, this is a group of six female artists whose
awareness and understanding of each other’s professional practices makes for
the perfect storm, or maelstrom if you will, of storytellers.
Fundamentally, what makes a good story…how
does one weave a good narrative and what is the best way to get that story to
stand the test of time? Of course there is the tradition of passing down
stories through oral legacies and by means of pen and paper. Storytelling
formats include everything from audio and videotape, book and newspaper and
currently all sorts of technological and virtual formats as introduced via the
computer times we now live in. Let us add to the list the realm of art…and more
specifically ceramics that has a far-reaching history of serving as a narrative
conduit. An indelible and permanent material, clay materials long outlive its
makers, stand all sorts of tests of time and by virtue serves as the one of the
most perfect vehicles for story telling.
The predominance of narrative imagery that
graces the functional ware of virtually every ceramic-producing culture throughout history has
long since depicted the people, values and culture. In effect, the practice of
placing and impressing imagery upon a material of such permanence has served as
a record keeper of sorts that continues to this day. It is the longstanding
lineage of such a practice that served as an inspiration for bringing together
contemporary artists for an investigation into contemporary Canadian portrayals
of social narrative.
As core values in society shift slowly but
noticeably towards a reaffirmation of the value of the handmade, these artists
represent a new generation of clay artists who are using their chosen medium to
depict our times in the most intriguing of ways. Some of the artists embrace
and employ their narrative ceramic practice through au so courant illustrative means
that are currently trending through “indie” design aesthetics while others opt
for a more humble retelling of contemporary narratives. Some retell and record
their stories with a sense of refined grace that has rubbed off on us via the
world of graphic design while others employ a visceral meat-and-potato approach
to aesthetics more akin to the worlds of folk art, comics and cartoons. Using
the concept of the narrative as a vehicle for their artistic endeavors, each of
the selected artists in this exhibition is well versed, and ergo, serve as
prime examples of how specific technical and aesthetic choices make for the
retelling of their stories in the most unique ways. These artists I believe have captured a feel for the culture and
interests that comprise contemporary Canadian society today.
While a diverse and broad range of ceramic
practitioners currently work within the genre; thus affording a large breadth
of artists to select from, these particular makers were selected to represent a
certain subsection within the genre. Each of the artists help to identify
either a specific female narrative; a generational narrative, a design based
aesthetic and even narratives of a geographical nature.
Participating artists:
Elizabeth Burritt, Jenn Demke Lange, Cathy
Terepocki, Mariko Paterson, Carole Epp, Aura Carney
Please check out the exhibition online
here.
by Carole Epp | Nov 13, 2013 | Uncategorized
| 21st Century Sketchbook |
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Opening: |
12.06.2013 |
| Closing: |
12.31.2013 |
| Description: |
Artist’s Reception: Friday, December 6, 2013
Exhibition Posted Online: Monday, December 9, 2013 by 10 AM Mountain Time |
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21st Century Sketchbook is an exhibition showcasing a contemporary social networking tool-cum-research/inspirational device, a who’s watching who in contemporary ceramics. The idea for this exhibit came when we received a google alert after Birdie Boone pinned an image from the Red Lodge Clay Center website to her board.
Birdie Boone pins Peter Beasecker, Andrew Martin, and Joe Pintz; Mariko Paterson pins Michael Corney, Jen Allen, and Carole Epp; Emily Schroeder Willis pins Maren Kloppmann and Sam Chung; Ron Philbeck pins Diana Fayt and Sandy Simon; Grace Sheese pins Kelly King, Brian Jones, and Pattie Chalmers.
www.redlodgeclaycenter.com
