Up and Coming Exhibitions Winter/ Spring 2008

Toronto

Dawn Petticrew : Cozy Plate, part of viva voce - Voices from the Craft Studio

UPDATE;Harboufront Centre Artists-in-Residence Biennial Curated by Melanie Egan and Patrick Macaulay

Harbourfront Centre's artist-in-residency programme provides a unique environment for emerging artists to develop their skills and ideas, while benefiting from professional development programmes, mentorship, exhibitions, and other resources.

this exhibition features the work of: Norah Deacon, Thea Haines, Kate Jackson, Amanda McCavour, Sally McCubbin, Einav Mekori, Brad Turner, Carmen Schroeder, Annie Tung, Suzanne Carlsen

The biennial exhibition gives the artists an opportunity to work with curators, engage in dialogue about their oeuvre and practice and rise to the challenge of creating work that pushes their artistic boundaries and galvanizes them in new directions.

UPDATE will highlight the diverse nature of contemporary craft and present the work of ten artists-in-residence created in an atmosphere that advocates risk and experimentation.

Download Curators' Statement

viva voce - Voices from the Craft Studio happened on Saturday, January 19
at the Studio Theatre. It featured Suzanne Carlsen, OCAD Graduate in the metal shop, Einav Mekori, from the Glass Studio a graduate of Sheridan College, Dawn Petticrew from the Ceramic Studio a graduate of Sheridan College, and Kate Jackson from the Textile Studio a graduate of OCAD.

Each of these artist spoke of their influences, their work,and their experience in the Harbourfront Centre Studios. In her introduction Melanie Egan spoke of the fact that the work of all four shared a deep understanding and use of patterning and imagery that is typically found in the realm of textiles yet is strongly represented in the work of all four.

The influences of textiles is is seen throughout the work of the crafts persons in the exhibition. It is a strong show and needs more space then this to be examined as fully as it should be.

This exhibition along with Crafting New Traditions runs from January 19 - March 2, 2007 at the Harbourfront Centre Centre 235 Queens Quay West, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5J 2G8

Crafting New Traditions Located in the vitrines in the south hall features

GLASS: Jeff Goodman, Irene Frolic, JEWELLERY: Sandra Noble Goss + Andrew Goss
CERAMICS: Walter Ostrom, FURNITURE: Donald Lloyd McKinley, TEXTILE/FIBRE:
Dorothy Caldwell, Kai Chan, SILVERSMITHING: Lois Etherington Betteridge

Celebrating the accomplishments and influence of early and contemporary Canadian trailblazers. In celebration of the symposium, Crafting New Traditions: Canadian Innovators and Influences, February 22 & 23, 2008. ( details available soon)

This symposium following soon after the NeoCraft Conference last November in Halifax along with the publication last year of Paula Gustafson' last contribution to this growing discourse of Craft practice and history. Craft, Perception and Practice Volume 3 was edited by Paula Gustafson, Nisse Gustafson and Amy Gogarty is a joint publication of Artichoke and Ronsdale Press. All of this activity brings to a close Canada's Year of Craft during which Textile and Fibre Arts have been well represented in both exhibitions and research and continuing publications.

Watch for more information as it comes in:

meanwhile Opening Soon

Halifax
Nova Scotia Centre for Craft and Design presents Meta Incognita

All That Glitters is Not Gold – various textiles, 54 x 80”
Artist: Donna Clement

The Nova Scotia Centre for Craft and Design. The NSCCD is located in downtown Halifax. The Nova Scotia Centre for Craft and Design, now under the direction of the Nova Scotia Designer Crafts Council ,

Meta Incognita, February 22-April 6

11 fibre artists: Donna Clement (AB), Leann Clifford (SK), Gloria Daly (BC), Wendy Klotz (AB), Miriam Levi Birkenthal (MB), Ingrid Lincoln (MB), Linda MacKay (AB), Vickie Newington (AB), ReBecca Paterson (NS), Joan Saunders (AB), Lesley Anne Turner (AB) produce an exhibition to accompany the new opera "Frobisher" for the Calgary Opera Company.

Opening Thursday, February 21 at 6pm

Read Mackenzie Frère review of the Calgary presentation of this exhibition in fQ volume 3 Issue 2

Vancouver

FibreEssencewill open for 2008 on Wednesday, January 23rd

with the exhibition, "Under the Indian Sun" by Wendy Rao.

Aleka, 2006 Fibre and mixed media, quilted.
© Wendy Rao.

Purple orange saris trail gold brocade sails. Faded yellow prints tuck into waists. Pungent marigolds strung for marriages, sweet jasmine blossoms for hair.

From January 23 to March 8 Wendy Rao brings the sights and sounds of India to life at FibreEssence Gallery.

Through her poetry and her quilted portraits, the artist distills the essence of India and brings some of the sub-continent warmth and sunshine to brighten our grey Vancouver winter days.

Wendy is an accomplished artist who received her Certificate in Fine Arts from the University of Alberta, owns and operates the Blue Fusion Studio in White Rock, and is an author of 'The Portrait as Quilted Art' and 'Design Fundamentals'.

Please note that we are no longer open on Sundays (except special events), starting January 2008. Our new open hours are: Wednesday to Saturday, 11am to 5:30pm

Dundas, Ontario

Shadow: Textile work at the Carnegie Gallery, Dundas, Ontario

March 7-30, 2008. Opening Reception Friday March 7, 7-9:30 pm.

Through this series, Thiessen maps the spiritual and psychological terrain of difficulty through a topography of dyed and stitched textiles. Those situations that challenge disturb, that induce crisis, chaos, or change can be our greatest teachers. Difficulties disrupt our comfort zones and create openings for awareness, wisdom, and compassion to emerge and grow.

For info: www.carnegiegallery.org 905 627-4265;
visit Karen Thiessen's website to learn more about her work www.karenthiessen.com