December 2 – 18, Mug Shots
On December 2, join us at AX as we welcome Mug Shots to the gallery. Mug Shots is a group show that supports our charitable organization and features eight New Brunswick ceramics artists and potters. From emerging artists to internationally-celebrated names, this show features works by:
- Peter Thomas
- Ghita Levin
- Darren Emenau
- Megan MacKinley
- Linda Homenick
- Maria Guevara
- Danika Vautour (inaugural participant in AX’s ceramics emerging artist program funded by RBC Foundation)
- Matt Cripps (AX’s ceramics centre coordinator)
There’s something for everyone – Mug Shots features small works that make the ideal gift for yourself or family and friends, while showcasing the top tier pottery and ceramic wares made right here in New Brunswick by professional artists and craftspeople.
A portion of all proceeds will go to supporting the AX charitable organization, and the gallery will be open extended hours—Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings until 8:00 p.m.
The eight participating New Brunswick artists are: Peter Thomas of Gagetown, Ghita Levin of Baie Verte, Darren Emenau of Saint John, Megan MacKinley of Fredericton, Linda Homenick of Sussex, Maria Guevara of New Maryland, Danika Vautour of Quispamsis, and Matt Cripps of Sussex.
About the Artists
Peter Thomas is an experienced potter who is internationally known as both an artist and a teacher. He has exhibited in many solo and group exhibitions in Canada, the United States, Scotland and England. Peter works as a consultant and teacher in the Design and Ceramics Department at the New Brunswick College of Craft and Design in Fredericton. A native of Montreal, he obtained his first art degree at the Edinburgh College of Art in Scotland and his Masters of Fine Art in ceramics and printmaking in California in 1967.
Driven by her creativity from an early age, Ghita Levin attended Cantebury High School in Ottawa, Ontario, to take advantage of their special arts program. Her love of pottery soon took her to Halifax and the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design. After 2 years in their pottery program, Ghita began her full-time career as a potter. Ghita’s strong affinity for nature and the living things around her is evident in all her creations. One only needs to visit her rural studio to get a sense of just how important nature is to her work.
Darren Emenau was raised in New Brunswick, Canada, and is a graduate of the New Brunswick College of Craft and Design. Rooted in contemporary art, his work pushes the traditional boundaries of ceramic sculpture through the exploration of surface treatment, form, abstraction and installation. Over his twenty-year career, Emenau’s work has been recognized through awards, grants and exhibitions. Shows include the International Craft Biennale in South Korea and the International Ceramic and Glass Exhibition in Turkey. His work has been featured in the book Wood-Fired Ceramics: 100 Contemporary Artists, as well as in periodicals such as Ceramics Monthly and Canadian Art.
Megan MacKinley is a studio potter living and working in Fredericton, New Brunswick. After completing the Ceramics and Graduate Studies programs at the New Brunswick College of Craft and Design she opened her own studio where she can be found making functional and decorative pottery as well as teaching.
Many years ago, Linda Homenick was gifted a perfectly handcrafted pottery mug that stirred her interest in ceramics. That interest has stayed with her and she now makes functional pottery in her studio “Pottery on the Pond,” located just a few minutes drive from the heart of downtown Sussex. Her formal training consists of a ceramics major in the Fine Arts program at the University of Saskatchewan, many courses at NBCCD, numerous workshops and online study. After many years of research and observation, she realizes how much there is to learn about clay and its endless possibilities, and how very little she knows.
Maria Guevara was born in Mexico City. She graduated as BA in Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage and later completed a MA studies in Archaeology in Mexico City at the National Autonomous University of Mexico. She graduated summer 2013 as a Ceramic artist in the Diploma of Advanced studies in Ceramics at the NBCCD in Fredericton NB. As a potter, she most enjoys two aspects of the creative process: the previous planning and the execution in clay. She can spend hours thinking of new designs to decorate her pieces and transmit different ideas to the public. She has a small studio in New Maryland, NB, where she has dedicated herself to creating Sgraffito on porcelain.
Danika Vautour is a Canadian visual artist, who returned from England last autumn. She specialises in ceramics and has been working with the material for over 5 years. In her studio practice, she uses a variety of mediums to create pieces that reflect the way she sees everyday life. Her work is profoundly influenced by minimalism and her ties to the sea. Over the years, she has been involved with numerous exhibitions and collaborations both nationally and internationally. In 2019, she was recognised for her work and awarded a Creation Grant from ArtsNB. She can usually be found teaching workshops while exploring creatively and developing her portfolio.
Matt Cripps was born and raised in Miramichi, NB. After completing highschool he moved to Fredericton where he completed a BA in fine arts at St.Thomas University. Following his undergrad, he began employment at Gallery 78 in Fredericton, NB. He then completed the Fine Craft: Ceramics Diploma Program and Advanced Studio Practice Program at the New Brunswick College of Craft of Design (NBCCD). He is currently the Ceramics Centre Coordinator at AX, the Arts and Culture Centre of Sussex.