Circle Craft Gallery 2003
This year, 2003, Circle Craft Co-operative is thirty years old. The Gallery Committee celebrates with shows of creative craftsmanship by members and non-members. The first three months feature Vancouver furniture designer/builders.
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November 7 Cynthia Lyman
Cynthia Lyman says, Birds have long enchanted me: their acuity and grace and wildness. I try to capture these qualities and details of colour and form in constructions. I make them life size, of metal and fabric, of wire and painted paper.
October 3 Spotlight on Quebec
Featuring the work of Five Quebec Craft artists: Marionnettes Diabolo Puppets, Morin Choiniere, Morin Tardif, Bidule and Simon Trudeau.
September 5 Brian Tyson
Brian Tyson had a boyhood fascination with wood that was frustrating until, on discovering the lathe, he found woodworking came naturally to him. Having an eye for classical lines and design he can express his passion, and has been a woodworker for 22 years.
August 8 Jeff Burnette
Jeff Burnette titles his hot glass show Ray Gunz and Space Lighting. He says, As a kid, I think I watched way too many B-space movies, and had toy guns to play with. The Ray Gunz were inspired by this and by my collection of about 275 toy Ray guns, some dating back to 1936. The Space Lighting is a take-off from the Gunz.
July 4 Hélène Bourget
Hélène Bourget says, My fascination with genstones, especially LARGE ones, led me to creating ten unique "Diva" rings. All have different names, stones and personalities for the inner Diva in all of us. Made of sterling silver and 18kt gold, with precious, and not so precious gems such as rose quartz and citrine, they are elegant, fabulous and slightly over the top!
June 6 Laura Burns, Patty Dowler
Laura Burns is a graduate of Emily Carr College, and has spent seven years as an assistant blower in hot glass. She says, The sea creatures I create challenge me to combine their endless range of colour, texture and form, while exploring my love of glass, and passion for the ocean and all that lives within.Patty Dowler says, I have learnt from living on the west coast of Vancouver Island that Mother Nature is the greatest artist of all. My role is to gather her special creations and weave them together.
May 2 Christiane Fortier
Christiane Fortier says My current work incorporates love of flowers, clay, and the natural world. The ceramic containers are multi-fired at various temperatures and combine layers of new glaze, slips and metallic oxides to enhance the surface. Each piece celebrates the beauty of the natural world we live in.
April 4 John Bird, Rudy Zator
John Bird began making contemporary furniture from fine old wood salvaged from torn down homes in Vancouver. In 1996, he was one of eleven international students accepted to study with European designers under John Makepeace at Parnham College in Dorset, England.Rudy Zator says, My furniture is naturally sculptural, and much inspired by architecture. I create unique pieces of functional art, balanced and simple, to last for generations. Artistic vision and fine craftsmanship are my hallmarks.
March 7 Doug Lane, Peter Pierbon
Doug Lane says, Central to the work I design and build is a clean, simple line with contrasting elements of material and colour.Peter Pierbon studied with the American furniture designer Wendell Castle and has maintained his own studio since 1985. Fine art and sculpture inspires him, and within the craft tradition he seeks to relate what is primitive and sophisticated, traditional and modern to satisfy function and challenge the precepts of design and concept.
February 7 James Esworthy, Brian Morita, Jeff Trigg
James Esworthy graduated in furniture design from Ontario's Sheridan College in 1995. He says, Currently my work uses simple geometric forms of circles, squares, rectangles and cones which I cover with veneers. I enjoy matching the colour, pattern, lustre and unusualness of grains, and for interest add inlays of ebony and metal. Craftsmanship is the key element of my work.Brian Morita apprenticed as a cabinet maker before he graduated in furniture design from Sheridan College. He says, It is a technical and aesthetic challenge to let the beauty of wood speak for itself while I try integrating its geometric shapes and organic forms in my furniture designs.Jeff Trigg founded his one person studio, Trigg Woodcraft, in 1999. He says, I create unique, contemporary furniture, using only the highest quality local and domestic woods to reflect the beauty of my surroundings. Traditional joinery, clean lines and subtle curves, my pride in craftsmanship and attention to detail result in furniture to be enjoyed for generations.
Gallery shows open the first Thursday of every month. Openings are either on
Thursday evenings or Sunday mornings.
(Note: changes may occur in the above schedule.)