Handful of Dirt July 2024

It's been a while since I've written a newsletter so this may be a bit disjointed. Brian has been suggesting (nagging) I write one for quite a while.

It's hard to believe we're halfway through our 25th year! There are many events planned for our 25th anniversary next year. More of about that in our next newsletter. Brian is never going to relent now that he's got this one! To be fair though I used to write them regularly and people seemed to like them. 

The primary purpose of this one is to announce our upcoming August event (Thursday Aug 8th 2024).

Since we opened April 6th, 2000 I have not only sold contemporary Canadian ceramics I've also collected it. My collection has concentrated heavily on vintage works by iconic Canadian artists. 

August 8th "From the Collection of....." will open featuring pottery from the early days of Canadian Studio pottery. As my collection grew I became aware not only of the artists but the rarity of their work. The upcoming exhibition has work from Axel Ebring to the Deichmanns

(that translates as from West Coast to East Coast). 

The exhibition will also note the links artists and their major influences and influencers. Building the collection has been fun and exciting. I expect it will be equally fun and exciting finding new homes for pieces that have provided so much pleasure. 

The quest for work highlighted for me how difficult it is to source early work. Many pieces have been in exhibitions and it was sometimes years before I found the link. To anyone who hunts you know the thrill of finally finding a piece and how rare that thrill can be. Imagine walking into an exhibition with works spanning a century and…

it's your turn to become part of its historical provenance. 

There will be updates between now and August 8th on who the artists are and what the pieces will be. 

Stay tuned! 

Jonathon