Victoria and Fired-Up! Axis of Art

Time is starting to accelerate. Only a few more days before Brian and I head off to Victoria for the opening of the Fired-Up! 27th anniversary exhibition at the Metchoisin Community Centre at 4401 William Head Road. I am really looking forward to this event. It has been in the works for a year now and all the hard work of the Fired-Up! members is about to bear fruit. This is a first as not only will there be incredible work by the eleven core members but for the first time there will be work by other leading ceramic artists. Brian and I have sent work by Reed Weir (NL), Judy Blake (NB), Goyer-Bonneau RCA (PQ), Zsuzsa Monostory (ON), as well as a number of other artists.

Another reason for excitement is the soft launch of "Walter Dexter - Studio Artist" the first in a series of books on Canadian ceramic artists authored by myself. Using Walter's incredible torso vases as a catalyst for the story the book will trace his career from its beginnings in Alberta up to now. A remarkable artist this lavishly illustrated book is a must-have for anyone interested in the rich history of ceramic art in Canada.

Join us opening night, Thursday May 26th,  starting at 6PM>

Goyer Bonneau Tureen - A Canadian Classic

Goyer Bonneau designed, in 1979, a tureen titled "French Pea Soup". It is an incredible design and was juried into a travelling exhibition hosted by Campbell Soup titled "Soup, Soup, Beautiful Soup!" that toured for two years in the early eighties. Brian and I have been bugging them for almost ten years to reintroduce the tureen as we both love the design. Finally May 2nd, 2011 we received an email and a photo telling us that the first tureen was ready. Alain and Denise decided that the edition would be limited to 40, the number of  unused handles left from 1979. The price? #'s 1 to 10 $450 (sold out in hours) #'s 11 to 20 $550 (sold out by May 14th) #'s 21 to 30 $650 (only seven left at this price). The final ten will be $2,000 each. This is truly a Canadian Classic created with cultural content as many of their designs are. The name referenced the slang term used to describe Frenchmen.

It is with great pleasure that we present the reintroduction of "French Pea Soup" in black porcelain.

Fired Up Exhibition Opens May 26th

We are now ten days away from opening night of Fired-Up! Axis of Art in Victoria BC. Brian and I are excited to be the first ceramic art gallery asked to participating their annual exhibition now in its 27th year! Not only is this an opportunity to see the latest work from the core members of Fired Up it will also be an opportunity for people to see work by artists from other provinces. We have shipped out work from:

Bruce Cochrane RCA Ontario, Astrid Kruse NWT. Reed Weir NL, Ann Mortimer RCA Ontario, Jane Wilson Ontario, Zsuzsa Monostory Ontario, Judy Blake New Brunswick, Goyer Bonneau  RCA Quebec, Ann Beam Ontario, Renee Gagnon Quebec, Mimi Cabri  RCA Ontario, Sarah Link RCA Ontario, Judy Donaldson Ontario, Audrey Killoran Quebec, Roger Kerslake Ontario, Harlan House RCA Ontario, Liz Willoughby Ontario, Sean Kuntz Alberta

This will provide an incredible opportunity for the public to see not only ceramics created by the talented Fired Up! Members but also by other leading ceramic artists from across the country.

Opening night this year is on Thursday night and many of our clients and friends from Ontario and Michigan are flying out to attend. 

The theme this year is the "Axis of Art", the relationship between Creator-Connector-Collector. Take advantage of a wonderful opportunity to meet the creators, get involved with the connector and meet other collectors. Opportunities like this are few and far between so take advantage and go!

"Still On Track"

James Kirkpatrick has established himself as one of Canada’s leading outer-edge artists with a recognizable style that has earned him a devoted following across North America, in Japan and in Europe. He has participated in numerous groups shows including the critically acclaimed ‘Pulp Fiction” that toured eastern Canada from our own Museum London to Toronto’s MOCCA closing at St Mary’s Gallery in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

“STILL ON TRACK” features new work by James as well as introducing James’ sound sculptures based on his most recent paintings. Included in the exhibition is the largest of the sound sculptures recently featured during the LOLA festival where it was displayed in Victoria Park.

Guest artist Jamie Q will present examples of her most recent work and additional works created in collaboration with feature artist James Kirkpatrick.

For additional information: 519-434-5443 or brian@jonathons.ca

UPSTARTS

Exhibition: “Upstarts” August 6, 2010 – September 3, 2010
An Exhibition of Canada’s Finest Living Ceramic Artists born pre-1940

Venue: Jonathon Bancroft-Snell Gallery

258 Dundas Street, London, Ontario

Contact person: Jonathon jonathon@jonathons.ca

519-434-5443 or toll-free 1-866-229-5244

The Group of Seven artists and Les Automatistes are the painters who changed how Canadians and the world looked at painting in Canada. Similarly a group of ceramic artists changed how we look at clay in Canada. The exhibition “Upstarts” at Jonathon Bancroft-Snell Gallery, London, Ontario (http://www.jonathons.ca/) is a tribute to these artists, their creativity and their tenacity in changing how we look at ceramic art.

Born prior to 1940 the participating artists are witnesses to an extraordinary period of huge social change. Their lives have been influenced and affected by a world depression, a world war, and the dramatic rise of the middle class. The traditional iconic role of clay as a medium for function was first acknowledged and then often ignored by many of the exhibiting artists. They chose instead, as did the artists in other mediums, to test and challenge both the material and the public’s perception of what constitutes ceramic art. They are the “Upstarts”. They are the artists who have worked in relative obscurity when compared to painters, often ignored by the arts elite. It is time to recognize their contribution to Canada’s art mosaic.

The evolution from functional wares to the avant-garde began primarily in the sixties and seventies, a time of enormous social and political change. Some of the pioneers, Ruth Gowdy-McKinley RCA (d.1981), Luke Lindoe RCA (d.2001), Walter Drohan (d.2007), Marilyn Levine (d.2005) are no longer with us. However many of these great Canadian artists, who participated in this new approach to ceramic art, are still alive.  The exhibition “Upstarts” is to honour and recognize these artists.  

The exhibition “Upstarts”, August 5 -September 2^, is a tribute to those artists who are still creating and enriching our lives through their art. Each of the participating artists is over seventy; some are in their eighties. They come from a variety of socio-economic backgrounds and from all over Canada. Their ranks include Saidye Bronfman Award winners, Royal Canadian Academy (RCA) members and Order of Canada recipients. They have exhibited and are represented in every museum in the world that houses contemporary Canadian ceramic art.  “Upstarts” is an exhibition showcasing Canada’s great artists who, working in clay, have forever changed the way we look at ceramics. These are the artists who have provided inspiration to generations of ceramic artists nationally and internationally. They have headed the ceramic departments of Canada’s leading art schools and universities. This exhibition is a tribute to them and an opportunity for novices and collectors alike to connect with the best in Canada, living national treasures who are the “Upstarts”. 

Lois Etherington-Betteridge, metal artist, is included in this exhibition of her peers in recognition of her contribution, in a like manner, to the art of metalsmithing.  

Please feel free to contact me for any additional information.

Regards,

Jonathon Bancroft-Snell

Pretty in Pink

Sunday May 9, 2010
12pm - 4pm

Click Here to view images from the event


The event featured fifty Barbie dolls dressed in pink, and sold on mothers day for the purposes of supporting Wellspring.

Wellspring is a network of cancer support centres providing programs, educational resources and training for cancer patients and their families.


“Pretty in Pink” Participants

1 Shaaron Neuman
2 Marnie McGarry
3 Team Trucks Canada
4 Attic Books
5 Investing in Children (Anita Gilvesy)
6 Good Life Fitness (Megan)
7 Fisher & Company (Lisa)
8 Lisa (Downtown London)
9 Downtown London (Jeanette)
10 Anne Flood –
11 Annette Heitzner
12 Drewlo Holdings
13 Jill’s Table
14 Roman’s Leather
15 Innuit Gallery
16 Coffee Culture Dundas
17 The Scot’s Corner
18 London Delta Armouries
19 Meyer’s Furrier
20 Jonathon Bancroft-Snell
21 Culture Salon and Spa
22 London Garden Club
23 Nancy Latchford
24 Cakewalkers
25 Kwik Kopy
26 Nicholas & Elizabeth Bridal
27 Station Park Hotel and Suites
28 College Boreal
29 Century 21 / Mark Mohan
30 Fortune Minerals
31 Allied Construction
32 Brian Cooke
33 Zena’s Bridal and Fashion
34 Novack’s
35 Junior Achievement
36 London Arts Council
37 The London Press / Paul Berton
38 Ed Holder
39 Art Fusion
40 Palace Theatre LCP
41 Frilly Lizard
42 Wellspring
43 Jacqueline Venus

10 Year Anniversary!!

The Gallery is turning 10 on April 8th, 2010.
We'd love to hear your comments, stories, and thoughts about the last 10 years,