Mireille Perron cyanotype of glass birds with branches
Back at the studio, I’ve been busy building the large abstract paisley shape that I have had in my mind’s eye for years. It’s 30” tall – picture included and just started it’s slow drying process (which is no small feet in this unbelievably dry climate!). Starting today to research imagery for these pieces. We are amidst a shuffle of residents as the Portland sculptor and Calgary-based conceptual artist have left and we receive the head of the University of Manitoba Ceramics department, Grace Nickel tomorrow. I look forward to getting to know Grace, and have been following her career for years – she will be presenting in Tasmania with me in May! I also managed to connect with the new Executive Director of the Crafts Council here, Jenna Stanton, who will also be in Tasmania. It’s a global community – to be sure.
getting a little help with Paisley Uprooted
Nur Rodriguez making 1094 cups, underscoring the hoops New Canadians face in this country.
Two full weeks have flown by. I have just returned from a whirlwind 24-hour jam-packed, art-filled and networking intense trip to Calgary with fellow resident Rob Froes. We went for Mireille Perron’s opening and managed to squeeze in four other galleries, two curator meetings, the Alberta College of Art and Design’s renaming ceremony (now Alberta University of the Arts), and a whole bunch of great new friendships.
playing with engobes and Plainsman new dark clay
I’m just deciding to work with some of the locally sourced clay and push my dinnerware series a bit while I’m here on the “down cycles” when my large pieces are firing. I’ve just received my tally of 20 test kiln firings – I have been really busy sorting out glazes and surface decoration, and am still on the hunt for the definitive results. Such a treat to have a small test kiln to whip up a few tiles in.
I have had a chance to play anthropologist/ observer week before last when I attended several of the Tongue on the Post Folk Music festival events and concerts. The Medalta Potteries was the main site for the evening and weekend events, and there were free café concerts all day all over town (I managed to get to one with my Sheridan days bud, Annette Ten Cate). Preliminary conclusions – Medicine Hat continues to feel nostalgic and similar to growing up in Fredericton. I look forward to one or two more day trips, but am really buckling down and getting the work produced that I came here to make. I already have an idea for locally rooted work that I’d love to come back to realize some time in the next decade…we’ll see. Once you come to Medalta, it’s hard to ever really leave.
Tongue on the Post Folk Music Festival with Annette ten Cate
Warmest from the coldest – and it is REALLY cold here this week, and waiting for the next chinook.
Heidi