Summer Workshop with Robin DuPont

The 2011 North Mount Pleasant Arts Centre Summer Workshop- August 29th to the 2nd of September - will be featuring Robin DuPont. Robin completed his undergraduate degree at the Alberta College of Art and has just completed his Master’s Degree at Utah State University. He and his wife Eden have built a home and studio at Winlaw in British Columbia’s Slocan Valley. His pots (primarily wood fired ) deftly speak about form, process (wheel and flame), and material.

Registration begins May 16, for more information contact Laurie at 403-221-3682.

Primary Colours - The 24th Annual Exhibition of Children's Art!

Join us at the Triangle Gallery on Thursday, May 5th from 5:30 to 7pm for the opening of the annual Children's Art Exhibition! The show will be on display until Wednesday, May 18th. This is a unique opportunity to view some of the young talent from the past year from both Wildflower and North Mount Pleasant Arts Centres.

Jeffrey Oestrich Workshop

The North Mount Pleasant Arts Centre Studio Members and The North Mount Pleasant Arts Centre are partnering to bring Jeffrey Oestrich one of the most influential potters in North America to Calgary. Jeffrey will be sharing his wealth of wisdom over the weekend of May 28th and 29th with the studio members as well as students from the Alberta College of Art. Jeffrey will be throwing , dialoguing and interacting with the audience.

Artist Statement: "My early pottery training at the Leach Pottery in England in the late 1960's was heavily influenced by Japanese pottery, due to the fact that Bernard spent many years making work in Japan. Since that experience my work has slowly moved away from this direct influence. Although there are still the underpinnings of the pottery of Japan, China and Korea in my work, that being simplicity, directness of approach, I am currently doing salt glazing, which has its origins in Germany. I have one foot in Japan, one in Germany, and an interest in Art Deco architecture. All things considered, my approach is American, borrowing from as many sources that speak to me.

I work under the umbrella of utilitarian pottery, exploring and rearranging the boundaries I have set up for what I believe constitutes function. My current work is thrown and altered, either by faceting, stretching, or cutting and rejoining. Being fond of glaze and not willing to give up this surface altogether, I play with the ratio of glaze to clay surface. My consuming interest over the past dozen years has been the beaked pitcher. Each series provides an opportunity to refine older ideas as well as introduce new information."

ACAD Wood Firing

In mid April, the Alberta College of Art & Design students participated in their annual wood-firing at the North Mount Pleasant Arts Centre. We thoroughly enjoyed their energy and enthusiasm. Special thanks to Matthew Boyd for organizing (and chopping).