In an interprovincial exchange with the Potters Guild of BC, Alberta in a Box: WIDE OPEN, an exhibit of ceramics by the Alberta Potters Association will be exhibited at the Comox Valley Art Gallery.
The Comox Valley is a community rich in ceramic art exploration and practice and many will find this show interesting and thought-provoking. The exhibit can be seen at CVAG from Oct. 1 to Nov. 5.
Concurrently, BC in a Box3: The Edge of Here will be shown in Alberta at Red Deer College's Visual Art Department until Sept. 30 and the Medicine Hat Cultural Centre from Oct. 5 to 26.
Once WIDE OPEN leaves Courtenay, it will travel to the Gallery of BC Ceramics in Vancouver for November. Since for you to travel to Alberta to visit the BC exhibit may not be realistic, the Potters Guild of BC has posted an online PDF catalogue of their exhibit on their website.
In Courtenay, Alberta in a Box: WIDE OPEN showcases 51 works of ceramics by 39 potters from Alberta. Each piece measures under 6x6 inches and is created from a vast array of clay types and processes.
Organizers Louise Cormier and Elaine Harrison shaped the idea of a travelling show back in 2010 and kept the size of the works small in consideration of shipping. The miniature size of these pieces is a significant factor in how the show is viewed.
Cormier quotes French philosopher Gaston Bachelard: “…the miniscule, a narrow gate, opens up an entire world,” referring to the “worlds” which these works evoke — diverse approaches to forms, surface treatment, colour, functionality, and subject matter. From this phenomena of diversity stemmed the apt title of the exhibition.
The works in this collection were juried by Aaron Nelson, artistic director of Medalta International Artists in Residence [MIAIR].
He stated, “...I have selected pieces for this exhibition that I felt resonated with the incredible diversity of [Alberta]. It is apparent in the work selected that many artists have not only a deep connection with the material, but also to the rich culture, heritage and the landscape of this region…”
The Alberta Potters Association functions as an umbrella for various Albertan ceramic communities and it seeks to communicate, educate and promote all aspects of ceramic arts. The association also provides opportunities for members to profile themselves and Albertan ceramics on a national and international level.
CVAG is located in downtown Courtenay at the corner of Duncan and Sixth. Regular gallery hours are Mondays to Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is by donation.
For more information, phone 250-338-6211.
— Comox Valley Art Gallery