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Julia Krueger. Prairie Pots and Beyond

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Julia Krueger. Prairie Pots and Beyond PRAIRIE POTS AND BEYOND: AN EXAMINATION OF SASKATCHEWAN CERAMICS FROM THE 1960s TO PRESENT by Julia Krueger, BA (Honours) A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts In Canadian Art History VOLUME 1 Carleton University OTTAWA, Ontario September 1, 2006 2006, Julia Krueger Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Volume 1 Acknowledgements i Abstract This study of Saskatchewan ceramics fills a gap in the existing art historical research. It is a broad overview of some of the people and topics related to the development of ceramics in Saskatchewan from the early 1960s (with a few exceptions) to present. The first chapter focuses on functional ceramics, and outlines a methodology to use when examining functional wares. The second chapter addresses sculptural ceramics with particular attention given to ceramists involved with clay in Regina. The final chapter addresses how both public and erotic ceramics can be counter-hegemonic. The figures have been presented in a separate volume to facilitate cross- referencing between the text and the images. The third volume consists of 18 transcripts of people involved within the Saskatchewan ceramic community. They were conducted during the research phase of this project, and are included to provide an oral history that enriches the contents of this thesis. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Volume 1 Acknowledgements ii Acknowledgements I would like to thank a number of people for their generous help with this project. For their supervisory help, I would like to thank Dr. Roger Mesley and Alan C. Elder. I am also grateful to Amy Gogarty, Louise Krueger, Yolande Krueger, Carol Benesh and Wayne Tunison for their input and editorial expertise. This project would not have been possible without the generous support of the ceramic community. I would especially like to thank Lome Beug, Mel Bolen, Ruth Chambers, Donovan Chester, Victor Cicansky, Joe Fafard, Charley Farrero, Albert Gatin, Folmer Hansen, Timothy Long, Jeannie Mah, Wendy Parsons, Zach Dietrich, Anita Rocamora, Jack Severson, Richard Spafford, Jack Sures, David Thauberger, Judy Tryon and Susan Whitney for generously allotting me the time to interview them. I would also like to thank the following people and institutions for their participation and help with this project: Robert Billyard, Selina Coward & Elizabeth Seitz (University of Regina, Archives and Special Collections), Brenda Dupmier, JoAnne Dusel, Jim Ellemers, Amber Fife, Chris Frey, Rob Froese, David Gilhooly, Sandra Ledingham, Melvin Malkin, Maija Peeples-Bright, Wayne Pollock, Daniel Shapiro, St. Michael’s Retreat, Lorraine Sutter, Colleen Teague (University of Saskatchewan, Engineering Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Volume 1 Acknowledgements Department), Sean Whalley (City of Regina), Patricia Leigh Wiens, Peter Williamson (SaskTel employee) and Randy Woolsey. With a large project such as this, it is difficult to name everyone. Please forgive any omissions. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Volume 1 Table of Contents IV Table of Contents Volume 1 Abstract .....................................................................................................................................i Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................ii Table of Contents .................................................................................................................. iv Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 1 Chapter One: A Methodological Approach to Function: Some Steps to Take When Examining the Functional Object .............................................................. 9 Chapter Two: The Radical/Rebellious Makers with Mud ............................................... 77 Chapter Three: The Public and Private Side of Saskatchewan Ceramics ........................156 Conclusion .............................................................................................................................. 229 Bibliography ............................................................................................................................. 232 Volume 2 Introduction Images .............................................................................................................. 1 Chapter One Images ............................................................................................................. 5 Chapter Two Images .............................................................................................................32 Chapter Three Images ...........................................................................................................61 Volume 3 (found on attached cd) An Introduction .................................................................................................. An_intro.pdf Transcript: Lorne Beug .................................................................................... Beug. pdf Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Volume 1 Table of Contents v Transcript: Mel Bolen ...................................................................................... Bolen.pdf Transcript: Ruth Chambers ............................................................................ Chambers.pdf Transcript: Donovan Chester .......................................................................... Chester.pdf Transcript: Joe Fafard ...................................................................................... Fafard.pdf Transcript: Charley Farrero ............................................................................. Farrero.pdf Transcript: Albert Gatin ................................................................................. Gatin.pdf Transcript: Folmer Hansen ............................................................................. Hansen.pdf Transcript: Timothy Long .............................................................................. Long.pdf Transcript: Jeannie Mah ................................................................................. Mah.pdf Transcript: Wendy Parsons and Zach Dietrich ................................Parsons_Dietrich.pdf Transcript: Anita Rocamora ........................................................................... Rocamora.pdf Transcript: Jack Severson ............................................................................... Severson.pdf Transcript: Richard Spafford ......................................................................... Spafford.pdf Transcript: Jack Sures ..................................................................................... Sures.pdf Transcript: David Thauberger ......................................................................Thauberger.pdf Transcript: Judy Tryon .................................................................................. Tryon.pdf Transcript: Susan Whitney ............................................................................ Whitney.pdf Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Volume 1 Introduction 1 Introduction Prairie Pots and Beyond: An Examination of Saskatchewan Ceramics from the 1960s to Present is an examination of Saskatchewan ceramics, ceramists, ceramic history and art history. I wanted to undertake this project for a number of reasons. I was born and raised in Regina, Saskatchewan and have vivid memories of some of the works discussed in this chapter (fig. 0.2). As a child, I was fascinated with the sculptural ceramics coming out of the University of Regina. My parents would take me to the “Old Campus” on College Avenue, and we would wander through the studios. In addition, I remember seeing the works at the MacKenzie Art Gallery in Regina and learning about the ceramists in my high school ceramics courses. My siblings and I would spend hours at Richard Spafford’s bookstore on 13th Avenue in Regina trying to find all the nifty ceramics nestled into shelves while my father browsed for books. After leaving Saskatchewan to study art history, I became aware of just how special these works were. Not only were they special to me but they were also unique and rarely discussed in terms of Canadian art history. The decision to write about ceramics in Saskatchewan is not only an exploration of my past and where I come from but also a political action to insert part of Saskatchewan’s culture into Canadian art history. Research for this project led to travels around Saskatchewan. I visited the major cities as well as smaller communities such as Meacham. I formally interviewed seventeen Saskatchewan artists, a Regina collector, a private gallery owner and the head curator at the MacKenzie Art Gallery. In addition, I e-mailed and spoke with numerous Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Volume 1 Introduction 2 other people. The formal interviews were transcribed as closely as possible to the actual interview. These transcripts have been
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