The Masterworks Southwest Exhibition

will be at

Tom Thomson Art Gallery

in Owen Sound

840 First Avenue West

from March 28 til April 25th

http://www.craft.on.ca/OCC_News/Southwest_Update#Masterworks_Southwest

If you click on this site, you can see the booklet catalogue for this show.

Extremely creative and ingenius items to dazzle you.

Here are some Thoughts from the Jurors:

Rhona Wenger

Lois Etherington Betteridge

Christian Bernard Singer

We considered each piece according to the criteria established by the Ontario Crafts Council: craftsmanship, expression, innovation, and excellence. What we found was genuinely impressive. The overall quality of the works submitted was high, which is a pleasure to see, for it indicates a community of artisans who are not afraid to push their media technically, emotionally and experimentally. All of the works that were accepted into the show stretch the expected boundaries of the chosen medium in some way. We included some pieces that are elegant and sophisticated, where the maker has exhibited extraordinary technical virtuosity. Other pieces combined unusual or unexpected materials, at times even understating their mastery of technique to achieve effect and meaning. The quirkiness that comes from an underlying sense of humour is also much in evidence.

Today was the first day of our exhibition in Ingersoll.

Shane's paintings which echo the feel of his ceramics, have seen much success and are included in collections in Ontario, Nova Scotia, Manitoba, Alberta, British Columbia, Utah, and New York. They are also included in the RBC Corporate Collection, County of Oxford Collection, as well as HSBC Executive Collection, New York, N.Y.

There will be a reception on the last Sunday of the show, April 18th, from 2-4 pm at the Ingersoll Creative Arts Centre.

This vase is one of a series in an exhibition called "Reaching Up".

This porcelain vase is functional and has a celadon glaze similar to those used
by the Chinese potters in the Tang Dynasty.

Then surprisingly low-firing Raku glazes are poured over the celadon to give a fluid melt of
reds and blues and greens.

They were all fired in a high-fire gas kiln.

The bases by contrast add a substantial grounding to the vessels

and are fired with a black lava glaze.

Today I shipped this Raku vase to Tom Thomson Art Gallery in Owen Sound. This is the first venue for a new exhibit called "Masterworks Southwest".

This is a porcelain vase with a clear glaze fired in a Raku kiln.

As soon as it comes out of the kiln, it is oversprayed with ferric chloride.

This chemical bonds onto the molten glaze and created

the gold/orange luster surface.

These ritual vessels mark special occasions. Celebrations and feasts which deservedly require a unique ceramic piece of art to commemorate and give us a lasting memory of togetherness and community.

The largeness of the emptiness says 'fill me with abundant harvest'. We want pour out an abundance of good times and good results from our hard work. The logical contrast is from our everyday ware used to facilitate our repetitive, sometimes mundane activities.

The large bowls are about special get togethers, sharing bread together, celebrating special events together. The tall legs elevate the offering to give a ritual blessing. The elegant curl of the foot is a reference from classical vessel bowls used to celebrate the Athenian games, the forerunner of our Olympic games.

The big bowls have been loaded into the kiln!

This will be an oxidation firing cone six in my gas kiln. My electric kiln is on the blink!