Inspirations Studio, Art Auction & Fundraiser!

Please join us to celebrate 30 years of YWCA Toronto’s Inspirations Studio, a unique ceramics arts program that empowers women experiencing poverty, mental health or disability, while improving their lives through the making and selling of pottery.

Thursday March 21, 2024, from 6 to 9pm at OCAD University’s Great Hall, Level 2, 100 McCaul St., Toronto.

 

Hosted by Carolyn Taylor of Baroness Von Sketch and I Have Nothing on Crave, the event features:

LIVE Auction at 7pm featuring work by 10 amazing contemporary artists:

Mel Arsenault, Marissa Y Alexander, Shary Boyle,
Maggie Boyd, Lisa Creskey, Heather Goodchild, Lindsay
Montgomery, Julie Moon, Rajni Perera and Kendra Yee

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Silent Auction with work by studio members and response paintings
by OCADU students, plate settings from Toronto Potters and
gifts from local businesses.

Complimentary refreshments and drink.

Music and mingling.

DIY Pottery painting, wheel demos, raffles & more!

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Come be inspired by beautiful work and stories of the transformative power of art! And know that 100% of the proceeds will go to YWCA Toronto’s Inspirations Studio to offer low barrier access and opportunities.

Help keep this small but mighty program going strong!

Please share and we will see you there!

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Inspirations Studio

389 Church Street

Toronto, ON M5B 2E5

416-367-2728

www.inspirationsstudio.org

Please follow us!
@inspiredpottery

Akin Community Highlights: Hands of Fire at Akin Waterfront

Every Saturday afternoon in the Akin Waterfront Flex Room, Hands of Fire busts out the clay to create beautiful, original artwork. 

Hands of Fire is a sculpture group working out of our Akin Waterfront location. They offer creative services for blind and visually impaired individuals. Founded in 2013, and an official chapter of the Canadian Council of the Blind (CCB) since 2016, they provide opportunities for folks to express their creativity through sculpting in a safe and welcoming environment. 

“We pride ourselves on our thriving sense of community, encouraging confidence in our members’ artistic abilities and social lives.”

— Hands of Fire

Organised by Chapter President Alicia Modeste and secretary/treasurer Noora Mahmoud,  Hands of Fire is a vibrant group, filled with laughter and kindness. We’re so glad Hands of Fire decided to join us at Akin Waterfront this past year! We were able to drop by and visit the group recently, and met with Hands of Fire artists’ Rohan, Karen and Michael, as they worked on their creations. 

Image Description: Karen, a sculptor with gray hair and a purple sweater sits at a table, working on a clay sculpture of a key. They are facing Noora, standing in a white shirt and blue jeans, standing beside them, laughing. On the table in front of them sits sculpting equipment, a spray bottle, a block of clay and wooden sculpting tools

Image Description: Rohan, a sculptor wearing a black and gray sweater, with short brown hair sits at a bright teal table, rolling a tube of clay in their hands. On the table in front of them sits several other pieces of clay, a spray bottle, and a rolling pin.

“Hands of Fire is a great way to meet new people, express yourself creatively, build confidence, and most importantly - have fun! As part of our sculpture group, you will receive hands-on instruction from our talented instructors and you can enjoy a great social environment with our diverse and dynamic members. We focus not only on artistic excellence and skill building but community wellbeing and ensuring members cultivate a sense of confidence in themselves and their creative spirits.” 

People with any level of vision loss are welcome to join, no sculpting experience is necessary!

Find more information about Hands of Fire here 

#AkinCommunityHighlights

Call for Ceramic Artist and Organizations Input - Deadline July 15, 2021

Just a reminder to the ceramics lovers out there that Akin's Ceramic Studio Survey is due on July 15th 2021.

Akin is inviting artists in the GTA to help us improve our ceramics services by filling out a short survey. This survey is intended for groups or individuals of all experience levels who work with ceramics, including creatives who do not currently work with ceramics but want or plan to.

The survey can be found on our website at: www.akin.art/survey

Please share widely!

Survey deadline: July 15, 2021

Thanks so much for your help and input! The survey is anonymous and voluntary and all the questions are optional; it’s about 5-10 minutes. The intention for this survey is not to compete with other ceramic studios, services and workspaces but to compliment them by assessing needs that may not be currently met in the city and surrounding area. As we hope you know, Akin is dedicated to serving artists and creative workers, and we strive to provide important and thoughtful programming and studio spaces. Your input helps make this happen! Thank you so much for your time and for helping Akin to learn and better serve our community.

Akin would also like to thank our advisors Janet Hinkle and Natalie Wadell for guiding our work in developing this survey. If you have any questions please let us know! You can email us at info@akincollective.com.

#torontoceramics #CraftOntario #akinstudios #CanadianCeramics #ArtToronto #CanadianArtists#CanadianArtists

Ceramics Community Needs Assessment Survey - deadline to reply is June 15

Calling ceramics artists and businesses in the GTA! Akin is inviting you to help us improve our services for ceramic artists in the city by filling out a short survey. This survey is intended for Toronto and GTA-based groups or individuals of all experience levels who work with ceramics. This includes creatives who do not currently work with ceramics but want/plan to, emerging artists, hobbyists and those who only use ceramics occasionally as a part of their practice as well as established artists and professional craftspeople. Please share widely! Click the link below to fill out the survey.

CLICK HERE TO FILL OUT THE SURVEY

The survey is anonymous and voluntary and all the questions are optional, so you can skip any questions that don't apply to you. It should only take you about 5-10 minutes to fill out the survey. We appreciate your time and ask that you consider sharing the survey link with other ceramic artists and groups in your network so that we may reach a diverse and broad range of practitioners at every stage to get comprehensive results. 

The intention for this survey is not to compete with other ceramic studios, services and workspaces that are operating in Toronto but to compliment them by serving needs that may not be currently met in the city and surrounding area. Currently, ceramic artists comprise approximately 15% of Akin’s new inquiries and that percentage seems to be increasing gradually over time. It has become clear to us that there is a need for ceramics workspace, ceramics community space, kiln firing services, and more in the GTA at this time. With this survey we endeavor to gather more specific data on that need. 

The deadline to fill out the survey is July 15, 2021.

Here is the link to the survey if you would like to share it with others: https://forms.gle/v2yxPcHJfvw98dzo7

• Here is a Twitter post is you would like to retweet

• Here is an Instagram post if you would like to repost

Thank you! If you have any questions please do not hesitate to get in touch! email ceramics@akincollective.com

Akin would like to thank our advisors Janet Hinkle and Natalie Waddell for guiding our work in developing this survey. 

Image description: photograph of Janet Hinkle

Janet Hinkle is a multidisciplinary artist with a practice rooted in both contemporary fine art and craft. Hinkle has a fondness for mixing juxtaposing materials to create work that frequently explores shared histories through visual narratives. She is driven to explore concepts around identity, pulling inspiration from both mid-century forms and futuristic design. In addition to her creative practice, Hinkle coordinates communications plans, art projects, and artist capacity-building programs. She is an arts administrator and creative facilitator passionate about placemaking and community building. 

Janet was an active Akin studio member from 2015-2020. Starting her ceramics practice at Akin Dufferin, she eventually moved onto Akin Ossington and Akin Richmond where she founded and managed a full-time ceramics brand for many years.

Image description: photograph of Natalie Waddell

Natalie Waddell is a Toronto based ceramic artist. A student of the Sheridan College Ceramic Craft and Design program (2003) she has continued her studies by attending workshops led by local and international ceramic artists and educators.

Since establishing her studio practice Natalie has continuously explored and developed new bodies of functional and sculptural work as well as teaches classes and workshops. She is an active member of the Toronto Potters Association, the Potters Guild of Hamilton and Region, FUSION: Ontario Clay and Glass Association and NCECA – the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts and Craft Ontario and former member of the Akin Artist Collective. 

INspirations Studio Fundraiser - June 20 from 6-9pm

On thursday June 20, please join us in celebrating 25 years of Inspirations Studio: Toronto's beloved and transformative ceramics program for women who have been impacted by poverty, mental health and/or addiction. The event, hosted by OCAD University, will include a Silent auction of contemporary ceramic sculpture by artists Shary Boyle, Lisa Cresky, Marc Egan, Heather Goodchild, Lindsay Montgomery and Julie Moon. 

A collaboration between Inspirations Studio members of the Studio and OCADU students. Inspirations Studio members have made ceramic pieces and the student will create paintings in response. The results to be revealed at the event. There will also be a paint your own ceramics area; pottery wheel demos: a few speeches celebrating the history of the program; raffles; projections; and of course, Music, food, drink and good company.

100% of all proceeds go directly to the Studio's operating costs.

More about Inspirations Studio:
Since 1994 hundreds of Women have walked through the doors of Inspirations Studio to learn how to make pottery in a safe, supportive and transformational work environment. The members of the Inspirations Studio have been impacted by poverty, trauma, homelessness, mental and physical health and/or addictions.

The studio’s core mission is to facilitate improvements in members’ lives through the making and selling of pottery. Through creative, therapeutic and skill building work, women gain a sense of self-confidence, dignity and stability, a connection with community and a new way to engage with the world as makers.

Inspirations Studio is supported by the trustee and mentorship program of St. Stephen’s Community House. The Studio and Store is located at 2480 Dundas st West in Toronto.
www.inspirationsstudio.org

Ceramic Studio Sale at Akin Dupont this Saturday May 4!

Akin Dupont ceramicists Karolina-Anna Hanja, Laura DeGroot, Loren Kaplan, and Bettina Rouble (Awesome Fortress Goods) invite you to their studio sale this Saturday May 4th from 11am-5pm. Don't miss this chance to pick up some handmade ceramic art and objects by these talented artists!

Awesome Fortress Goods

Loren Kaplan

Laura DeGroot

Karolina-Anna Hanja

Toronto Potters Annual Winter Sale at the Botanical Gardens - Last day today!

Today is the last day to visit the 2018 Toronto Potters Annual Winter Show and Sale at the Toronto Botanical Gardens. The show runs until 4pm TODAY! Check it out while you can!

Bringing together a diverse and talented group of ceramic artists from across the city for this special annual event, there is a spectacular selection of one of a kind handmade pottery, sculpture, ceramic art and accessories for sale by local artists including Akin King studio members Natalie Waddell and Erin Candela.

Toronto Potters was founded in 1979 as a non- profit, volunteer-run association, with a member base that expands beyond the city of Toronto. For almost four decades the association has been committed to the organising and sponsorship of clay-related activities that contribute to the artistic growth of its members.

Membership is open to all ages, experience levels and ceramic styles. Click here for more info.

Community Arts Space Open Studio: Treaty Talk with Akin King artist Louis Esmé this Saturday at the Gardiner Museum

Sat May 26, 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm, Gardiner Museum, 111 Queen's Park, Toronto
Registration required. 

Part of the Community Arts Space: Recent Histories at the Gardiner Museum, Treaty Talk is Co-presented with Akin King artist Louis Esmé and Titiesg Wîcinímintôwak Bluejays Dancing Together Collective. 

Join knowledgeable community members Jodi Lynn Maracle (Kanien’kehá:ka) and Shane H. Camastro (anishinaabe) in this short, interactive workshop on Treaty relationships and responsibilities in Dish with One Spoon Territory. As practicing artists and educators from this place, they will facilitate activities and discussions to root community arts and museum practices in these original agreements.

About the Community Arts Space: Recent Histories:
Inspired by the transformative aspects of ceramics, both real and metaphorical, the Community Arts Space is the Gardiner’s incubator for arts-based community projects. In collaboration with local artists, designers, and collectives, the Museum will mount five public projects that examine how cultural knowledge is passed on or performed, and the role of the museum in cultivating the so-called lived and living memory.

About Louis Esmé:
Louis Esmé (Mi’kmaq-Acadian, Irish) is an artist, writer, and illustrator whose social art practice spans over 20 years working within grassroots, artist-run, and academic spaces. A co-founder of Titiesg Wîcinímintôwak // Bluejays Dancing Together Collective, which has gathered knowledge, stories, and desires for re-urbanized Two-Spirit people and their relations since 2012, Esmé’s work is granny craft/old media with social commentary akin to Statler & Waldorf from Sesame Street. For the Gardiner’s Intervention Project, which will evoke participation and educational potential within the expanded field of ceram­ics, Esmé will make seven clay districts representing the Mi’kmaq Seven Directions in the Gardiner’s Exhibition Hall, lobby, and permanent collection galleries. Vessels referencing Woodland pottery forms will reckon with ongoing colonialisms, while offering witness to Indigenous survivance on the Dish with One Spoon Territory.

Community Arts Space Open Studio Schedule: 

1 – 5 pm | Micro Comedies, Macro Tragedies
2 – 4 pm | Treaty Talk
2 – 5 pm | ‘Take a Future, Leave a Future’ All-Ages Game
3 – 4 pm | Invisible Footprints Panel
4 – 5 pm | Panic in the Labyrinth Open Mic

The Community Arts Space is the Gardiner Museum’s annual summer incubator program for arts-based community projects conceived by up-and-coming local creatives. Since 2015, we’ve partner with artists, curators, and cultural innovators to present free, accessible programming—from live musical performances and film screenings, to collaborative art workshops—all inspired by the transformative aspects of clay.

This year’s theme, Recent Histories, is inspired the Gardiner’s mission to be an active force in the community, and to truly reflect the histories, lived experiences, and traditions of its publics. Through five different project streams, our partners will transform the Museum according to this theme, activating our 307-square-metre third-floor Exhibition Hall as well as our Outdoor Plaza.

Akin Members at the 2018 One of a Kind Spring Show & Sale

On now through Sunday, the 2018 Spring One of a Kind Show and Sale, one of North America's largest craft shows, features hundreds of makers including Akin King member Erin Candela (booth P48) and Akin Ossington members Allie Croza (I03) and Leora Israel (I37). 

MARCH 28 - APRIL 1, 2018
Weekdays and Saturday: 10am - 9pm
Thursday: 10am - 11pm
Good Friday: 10am - 9pm
Easter Sunday: 10am - 6pm

From left to right: Erin Candela, Allie Croza, and Leora Israel

Supporting and promoting artists since 1975, the Spring One of a Kind Show and Sale now hosts over 500 artisans. The show features a wide range of medias including ceramics, concrete goods, clothing, jewelry, wood working and more.

Akin Welcomes New Studio Manager Janet Hinkle!

Akin is excited to announce that we have a new staff member! Janet Hinkle of Hinkleville Handmade is now a part of the Akin team and will be managing the Akin Ossington studios. Welcome Janet! 

Janet is a small batch ceramicist and has had a studio with Akin since 2015. Originally at Akin Dufferin, Janet moved to Akin Ossington when the location opened in July 2017.  She is very excited to expand her role within the Akin community and is looking forward to new opportunities to learn and collaborate with other creatives.

Janet's colourful, small-batch ceramic line Hinkleville Handmade has been charming people since it's inception in 2015 with delightful ceramic vessels, decorations, jewelry and more which are sold in stores, online and at events and markets around Ontario. Her work is heartwarming, whimsical and memorable.

You can view more of her work at www.hinklevillehandmade.com and contact her with inquiries about Akin Ossington by emailing janet@akincollective.com

Ceramics Show & Tell at the Gardiner Museum

Akin Projects is excited to present special ceramics edition of the ‘Show & Tell’ for artists at The Gardiner Museum led by artist and Akin Studio Manager, Erin Candela.

Informative, supportive and fun—this is a time for artists to show completed works or works in progress and get friendly feedback and answers from their peers in a casual (this time a museum!) setting. Feel free to bring art to share, bring a friend or two or just bring yourself. Come for the conversation about art, or just to meet other artists and makers.

Attendance is free, but please register to attend: 

This is a free program part of Ceramic Change: How to Make It, a one day workshop intensive for emerging artists and makers in the expanded field of ceramics in conjunction with the exhibition Steven Heinemann: Culture & Nature, This one-day workshop intensive will focus on the nuts and bolts of professional survival and enabling skilled connections. From building your own DIY wooden kiln to local clay harvesting, these presentations, workshops, and conversations will dig deep into what it means to pursue a sustainable maker practice in Toronto today.

About the Gardiner Museum:
The Gardiner Museum is Canada's national ceramics museum. It was founded by George and Helen Gardiner in 1984 to house their collection of ceramic art. Its permanent collection of over 2,900 pieces, includes works from the Ancient Americas, Italian Renaissance, English Delftware, Chinese and Japanese porcelain, European porcelain, and a contemporary gallery. In addition to the permanent collections, the museum mounts three temporary exhibitions per year as well as a variety of community programming. For more information visit www.gardinermuseum.on.ca

Getting There:
Subway/Bus: From Bloor-Danforth Line — St. George Station is the closest fully accessible stop to the Gardiner’s main entrance. Take elevators to street level at the Bloor Street and Bedford Road entrance. Go south on Bedford to Bloor. Then east along Bloor to Queen's Park. The Gardiner is just south of Bloor on the east side of Queen's Park. From Yonge-University Subway Line — Museum Station is the closest subway stop to the Gardiner's main entrance. This stop is not wheelchair accessible.

Accessibility: 
The Gardiner Museum is fully wheelchair accessible. The wheelchair ramp is located on the south side of the entrance. Click here for more accessibility information.  Please let us know of any other accessibility needs so that we can assist you. Email michael@akincollective.comat least one week before the event and we will do our best to accommodate you. Thank you.

Save Inspirations Studio!

Inspirations studio is a unique hybrid social enterprise/self-employment program for women who have been impacted by poverty, trauma, homelessness, mental and physical health or addiction issues. Through the making and selling of their pottery, members gain stability, a sense of community, supplemental income, a creative practice and a new way to see themselves.

We are heartbroken to share that Inspirations Studio is facing imminent closure.  For 23 years, the ceramics-based program has supported hundreds of low-income women who have been impacted by poverty, homelessness, addiction, trauma, and mental health issues. Please consider supporting Inspirations Studio on their CandaHelps fundraising page: 

The fundraising campaign will raise funds for rent and studio supplies so the members can continue to access a creative space, generate income and maintain a sense of meaning and purpose. Inspirations Studio is a one-of-a-kind program and has provided scores of women with a lifeline for 23 years. It would be a tragedy to let it come to an end in such a short time.  Thank you for your support and for spreading the word!

WINIFRED SHANTZ AWARD FOR CERAMICS & RBC AWARD FOR GLASS: 10K

$10,000 Awards for Emerging Ceramic and Glass Artists!
Are you an emerging artist? Do you want to develop your artistic practice? We have two opportunities for you!

The Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery is calling for submissions to the 2015 RBC Award for Glass and Winifred Shantz Award for Ceramics.

These prestigious national awards allow practising early career ceramic and glass artists to undertake a period of independent research, or other activities that advance their artistic and professional practice. The winner of each Award will receive $10,000. The selection is made by a jury comprised of respected contemporary glass and ceramic artists and other arts professionals. Winners will be celebrated and the awards presented at a gala event in Waterloo Ontario on November 14, 2015.

To be eligible for the Winifred Shantz Award for Ceramics or the RBC Award for Glass, artists must be Canadian citizens or have Permanent Resident status. They must have developed skills through training and/or practice in the field (not necessarily in academic institutions) and be recognized by other artists working in the same artistic tradition. Successful candidates seek payment for their work and actively practice their art. All applicants have maintained a professional practice for no more than 10 years prior to the date of application.


Application Guidelines:

To download the complete guidelines for the RBC Award for Glass or the Winifred Shantz Award for Ceramics, visit www.theclayandglass.ca/awards. In order to be considered, applications for either award must be received electronically by Monday, September 14, 2015.


About the Awards:

The RBC Award for Glass is supported by RBC as part of the RBC Emerging Artists Project. The Winifred Shantz Award for Ceramics is supported by the Keith and Winifred Shantz Fund for the Arts, held at The Kitchener and Waterloo Community Foundation.

Past recipients of both awards truly represent the best of the emerging ceramic and glass artists in Canada. Christopher Reid Flock of Hamilton, Ontario was the winner of the 2014 Winifred Shantz Award for Ceramics. Cheryl Wilson Smith of Red Lake, Ontario was the winner of the 2014 RBC Award for Glass.




Contact Information:

For additional information, please contact Sheila McMath, Curator at curator@canadianclayandglass.ca

Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery
Galerie canadienne de la Céramique et du Verre
25 Caroline Street North
Waterloo, Ontario N2L 2Y5
519-746-1882
www.theclayandglass.ca

Hours:
Monday to Friday 11 am to 6 pm  •  Saturday 10 am to 5 pm  •  Sunday 1 pm to 5 pm

Twitter: @CdnClayandGlass
Facebook: www.facebook.com/theclayandglass