Artist: Carole Epp
Carole Epp, CANADA
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Carole Epp is a Canadian ceramic artist living and working in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. She received her Masters Degree in Ceramics from the Australian National University in 2005 and has maintained a full-time studio practice since. Her ceramics branch off into two distinct bodies of work wherein she produces a line of figurative sculptural objects as well as domestic functional objects. Her work has been exhibited throughout Canada, Australia, Scotland and the United States. She has taught workshops in Canada, the United States and Australia on ceramics, social media and professional practice. Her artwork and writing have also been published in magazine publications, websites and books; most notably in 2017 in Ceramics Monthly when she was named the Ceramic Artist of the Year. A fierce advocate for the ceramics community, she is editor of Musing About Mud an online blog that showcases information, calls for entry, exhibitions and artist profiles related to the ceramic arts; and is the co-founder of Make and Do ceramics which is a Canadian collective focused on the promotion of Canadian ceramics internationally.
It's simple really, I like to make things that make people smile. I want to be a maker of objects that through their imagery, evoke nostalgia, innocence and love. Perhaps sometimes a greater narrative or story is lurking in the images sometimes not. Within the whirlwind of a busy life with two young children, my functional ceramics have evolved towards contemporary narrative representations and whimsy. From books and their elaborate illustrative art, to my children’s drawings and imaginations I find inspiration all around me. The reward of this work for me is that young and old find happiness though the work and its engagement with nostalgia, familiar imagery, and an ability to perhaps see themselves represented in the handmade objects that they use.
Beyond the simplicity of the work is lurking a desire to create sustainable objects in a world hell bent on disposability and consumerism. I hope to redefine for an audience how they engage with everyday objects and I wish to contribute to a dialogue of how even functional work can be political and socially minded.
Education
2005 Masters of Arts, Visual Arts, Ceramics, High Distinction, Canberra School of Art, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
2002 Financial Management for Art Organizations, Grant McEwan College, Edmonton Alberta
2001 Bachelor of Fine Arts, Distinction, University of Regina, Saskatchewan. Ceramics major, Art History minor
Residencies
2013 Ceramic Surface Forum (Invitational) Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, Gatlinburg TN
2010 Technology and Ceramics Residency (Invitational) Medalta AIR, Medicine Hat, AB
2004 Asia Pacific Ceramics Residency, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii
Current Gallery Representation
Charlie Cummings Gallery, Gainesville, FL
Akar Gallery, Iowa City, IA
Taos Clay, Taos, NM
Red Lodge Gallery, Red Lodge MT
Gardiner Museum Shop, Toronto, ON
Burlington Art Gallery Shop, Burlington, ON
Two Rivers Gallery, Prince George, BC
Exhibitions
Solo Exhibitions
2016 Ode to the unsung Gallery of BC Ceramics, Vancouver, BC
2011 The Politics of Innocent Dreams, Artist to Artist Program, Mendel Art Gallery, Saskatoon SK
2010 A Collection of Small Miseries Centre Materia, as part of MANIF D’ART 5, Quebec City, QC
2009 A Collection of Innocent Crimes The Canadian Clay and Glass Museum, Waterloo, ON
2007 Snow Series The Alberta Craft Council Gallery, Edmonton, AB
2006 Snow Series Red Deer College Library, Red Deer, AB
2005 A Collection of Small Miseries Harcourt House Art Gallery, Edmonton, AB
- A Collection of Small Miseries Foyer Gallery, Canberra School of Art, Canberra, ACT, Australia
2005 A Collection of Small Miseries Art Library Foyer, Australian National University, ACT, Australia
2000 Blanketed Fifth Parallel Gallery, Regina, SK
1999 Untitled Installation (Sculptures) the antechamber art gallery and cinemateque, Regina, SK
Select Two and Three Person Exhibitions
2013 Disquiet with Trace Nelson and Marcia Pitch, Two Rivers Gallery, Prince George BC
2010 Role Play with Robin Lambert and Jody Greenman-Barber, SK Craft Council, Saskatoon, SK
2010 A Collection of Tainted Virtues with Marsha Kennedy, Mysteria Gallery, Regina SK
2008 Small Stuff The Bilton Contemporary Art Gallery, Red Deer, AB
2005 The Edge of Function Watson Arts Centre, Canberra, ACT, Australia
2003 "...she ought to have wondered" Eastern Edge Gallery, St. John's, NFL
Select Group Exhibitions
2018 Feast of Pottery The Royal St. John’s Regatta Boathouse, St. Johns, NFD
2018 Crowns (touring) Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, PA), Cade Gallery (Arnold, MD), Foster Art Gallery (New Wilmington, PA), NOVA AL – Fine Arts Gallery (Alexandria, VA), New gallery for Contemporary Craft (Woodbridge, VA), Canton Museum of Art (Canton, OH)
2018 We Aren’t Invisible Braddock Carnegie Library, Pittsburgh, PA
2018 Growlerfest The Brewhouse Association, Pittsburgh, PA
2017 Art Now, Saskatchewan Fine Art Fair, Regina, SK
2017 Valentine Plate Invitational 2017 Clay Akar, Iowa City, Iowa
2017 Featured Artist Red Lodge Clay Center, Red Lodge, MN
2017 Florida Heat Morean Arts Center, St. Petersburg, FL
2016 Art Now, Saskatchewan Fine Art Fair, Saskatoon, SK
2016 Cup the Intimate Object XII, Charlie Cummings Gallery, Gainsville, FL
2016 make and do ceramics Void Gallery, Saskatoon SK
2016 Raconteurs Gulf Coast College Gallery, Panama City, FL
2016 CUPful, Cedar Creek Gallery, Creedmoor, NC
2016 The Cup Collab Melbourne Australia
2015 Americano Invitational, AKAR Gallery, Iowa City, Iowa
2015 Crafted 2015: Ceramic Tableware, Society for Contemporary Craft, Pittsburgh, PA
2015 Cup the Intimate Object XI, Charlie Cummings Gallery, Gainsville, FL
2015 The Narrative Dish Saskatchewan Craft Council, Saskatoon SK
2015 Yunomi Invitational 2015 AKAR Gallery, Iowa City, Iowa
2015 Drawn (part of the NCECA conference in Rhode Island), Anderson Gallery, Bridgewater, MA
2015 Scratching the Surface Red Lodge Clay Center, Red Lodge, MT
2014 souvenirs from the future A SURVEY OF CONTEMPORARY CERAMICS, Lawrence Arts Center, Lawrence, MS
2014 Masquerade Fuller Lodge Art Center, Los Alamos, NM
2014 Girl Parts Mudfire Gallery, Decatur, GA
2014 Yunomi Invitational 2014 AKAR Gallery, Iowa City, Iowa
2013 21st Century Sketchbook Red Lodge Clay Centre, Montana
2013 HOT MUD: Emerging Canadian Ceramics Burlington Art Center, Burlington, ON
2013 In the Mix: Contemporary Practices in Ceramics Crimson Laurel Gallery, Bakersville NC
2012 Ceramics Now Exhibition Galateea Gallery, Bucharest, Romania
2012 Figure/Figurine The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA, USA
2011/2012 The Low Down: Tales from the Margin, Kipp Gallery, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, (2011), Red Lodge Clay Centre, MN (2012)
2011 Breaking Boundaries: A Survey of Contemporary Ceramics, Ann Street Gallery, Newburgh, NY
2011 Matter of Clay III, Jonathon Bancroft Snell Gallery, London, ON
2010 Clay and Blogs, Campbell House Galleries, Southern Pines, NC, USA
2009 Subverted Utility Harris Waarke Gallery, Red Deer, AB
2008 Fins Furs and Feathers Cinema Gallery, Urbana, Illinois, USA
2008 On the Cusp II Prime Gallery, Toronto, ON
2008 BACKTALK NCECA 2008 Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
2007 Future Voices: Celebrating Diversity (To coincide with New Craft, Future Voices Conference) Cooper Gallery, Duncan Jordanstone College of Art & Design, Dundee, Scotland
2007 Contained: Objects of Function and Beauty The Craft Council of Newfoundland and Labrador
2007 Power of 10 Saskatchewan Craft Council, Saskatoon, SK
2007 Converge: A North/South Discourse NCECA, Louisville, Kentucky
2007 Celebrate Craft: A Contemporary Craft Mosaic, The Craft Council of Newfoundland and Labrador
2006 Telling Tales Dashwood Galleries, Calgary, AB
2006 On the Verge Brisbane Conference Centre, Brisbane, Australia
2005 Visions from the South – Ceramics and Textiles from ANU University of Southern Queensland Gallery, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia
2005 MID II Canberra School of Art Gallery, Canberra, ACT, Australia
2005 Hobart Art Prize, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
2005 29th Alice Craft Acquisition, Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia
2005 Smoke Free Zone Dickson Art Gallery, Dickson, Australian National Territory, Australia
2004 Gold Coast International Ceramic Competition, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
2004 Ceramics for Use, A New Perspective University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii
2004 From Hands to Lips Canadian Clay and Glass Museum, Waterloo, ON
Select Professional Experience
2018 Guest Curator – Winter Festival Mann Art Gallery, Prince Albert, SK
2017 Editor, Marketing and Social Media for The Crafted Dish, (publication)
2017 Florida Heat Surface Workshop Morean Center for Clay, St. Petersburg, Florida
2017 Workshop Instructor (Social Media for Artists) Hues Art Supplies in Saskatoon; Mann Gallery in Prince Albert, SK, Library, Swift Current, SK, Art Gallery of Regina, Regina, SK
2017 Workshop Instructor (Pricing your work for Markets) Creative Commons, Saskatoon, SK, Art Gallery of Regina, Regina, SK
2017 Juror: Saskatoon Potters Guild Saskatoon SK
2016 Workshop Instructor (Social Media for Artists) Creative Commons YXE, Saskatoon SK
2016 - 2017 CARFAC Mentorship Program (mentor) Saskatchewan
2016 Workshop Instructor The Australian Ceramics Society, Sydney Australia
2016 Workshop Instructor Cone 11 Ceramics, Melbourne Australia
2016 Juror: International Cup Show Gulf Coast College, Panama City, FL
2016 Juror: Saskatoon Potters Guild Saskatoon SK
2016 - 2017 Co-Founder and Co-Director Make and Do Ceramics National Organization, Canada
2016 Workshop Instructor Australian Ceramics Association, Sydney Australia
2016 Workshop Instructor Cone 11 Ceramics, Melbourne Australia
2016 Workshop Instructor: Word and Object Gulf Coast College, Panama City, FL
2016 Juror Saskatoon Potters Guild Spring Exhibition, Saskatoon, SK
2015 Workshop Instructor Lethbridge Potters Guild, Lethbridge, AB,
2015 Workshop Instructor Fusions Clay and Glass Winter workshop, Toronto, ON
2014 Workshop Instructor Slip-casting Ceramics T&T Tree Pottery Supplies, Saskatoon, SK
2014 Juror for the Medalta International Spoon Exhibition Medicine Hat, AB
2014 Juror Manitoba Craft Council, Winnipeg, MB
2011/15 Founding member, Handmade Market Event Organizer, Social Media for Flock and Gather Craft Collective, Saskatoon SK
www.flockandgather.blogspot.com
2007/17 Editor, curator and writer for musingaboutmud.blogspot.ca
2013 Juror for the Medalta International Cup Show Medicine Hat, AB
2008/2009 Gallery Assistant Saskatchewan Craft Council, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
- Ceramics Instructor: Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced Wheel Throwing (part-time) Saskatoon Potters Guild, Saskatoon, SK
- Workshop Demonstrator: Functional and Decorative Teapots Saskatoon Potters Guild, Saskatoon, SK
- Workshop Instructor (Ceramics for youth at risk) Kilburn Hall, Saskatoon, SK
2007 Exhibition Juror Saskatoon Potters Guild, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
2006 Administrative Assistant Distance Ceramics Program, Red Deer College, Red Deer Alberta
2006 Visual Arts Instructor – Ceramics, 2D Design Visual Fundamentals Red Deer College, Red Deer Alberta
2006 Ceramics Instructor: Wheel Throwing Continuing Education, Red Deer College, Red Deer Alberta
2006 Workshop Demonstrator and Presenter 1000 Miles Apart Conference Red Deer College, Red Deer AB
2006 Workshop Instructor (Decorative Ceramic Techniques) Continuing Education, Red Deer College, Red Deer, AB
2006 Workshop Instructor (Glaze Technology) Continuing Education, Red Deer College, Red Deer, AB
2006 Visiting Artist in Residence Red Deer College, Red Deer Alberta
2005/2006 Community Programs Coordinator AKA Gallery, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Duties included administrative support, media design, developing community outreach initiatives.
2004 Administrative Assistant (casual), Distance Ceramics School, National Institute for the Arts, The Australian National University, Canberra Australia
2005/2006 Ceramic Instructor (part-time) Saskatoon Potters Guild, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Duties included: teaching beginner and advanced student classes, instruction on throwing, decorating techniques, glaze technology, kiln firing and occupational health and safety.
2004/2005 Ceramic Instructor (part-time) Hands on Studio, Canberra, Australia. Duties included: preparation of course ceramic and pottery projects and group activities, providing one-on-one assistance to mentally and physically disabled students, firing kilns.
2003 Artists' Mentor (part-time), Edmonton Alberta. Instructing and working with an artist with autism.
2001/2003 Administrative Coordinator Latitude 53 Society of Artists, Edmonton Alberta.
Duties included: reporting directly to the Executive Director; responsible for the day to day bookkeeping of the organization; membership services, volunteer recruitment, retainment and training; providing support to the Executive Director in all aspects of administration including, but not restricted to, financial, facility and general office administration, grant applications, fundraising development and implementation.
2001 Gallery Facilitator, Rosemont Art Gallery, Regina, Saskatchewan. Duties included: general administrative work and overseeing gallery activities, events and fundraisers.
Artist Talks / Papers
2017 Artist Talk, Hamilton Potters Guild, Hamilton, ON
2017 Artist Talk, Morean Center for Clay, St. Petersburg, Florida
2016 Social Media for Artists SASKTERRA AGM, Saskatoon, SK
2016 Artist Talk Australian National University School of Art Canberra, ACT, Australia
2015 Social Media and Marketing for Craft Artists Panel Discussion (With Ben Carter and Lia Tajcnar) The Australian Ceramics Triennale Canberra, ACT, Australia
2015 Artist Talk Fusions Clay and Glass, Toronto, ON
2014 Artist Talk Alberta College of Art and Design, Calgary, AB
2014 Artist Talk Manitoba Craft Council Winnipeg MB
2014 Virtual Clay Panel (with Adam Field, Ben Carter and Michael Kline), NCECA Milwaukee, WI
2013 Artist Talk Two Rivers Gallery Prince George, BC
2008 Blogging and writing: The impact on an artistic practice 1000 Miles Apart Conference University of Regina, Regina, SK
2008 Artist Talk 1000 Miles Apart Conference University of Regina, Regina, SK
2007 Panel Moderator Global Craft NEOCRAFT Conference NSCAD, Halifax, NS
- Jurors Talk Saskatoon Potters Guild, Saskatoon, SK
2006 Artist Talk 1000 Miles Apart Conference Red Deer College, Red Deer AB
2006 The Value of the Collective and the Community in the Continuation of a Successful Practice, Verge11th National Ceramics Conference Brisbane, Australia
2006 Artist Talk - The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
2006 Critical Thinking Saskatoon Potters Guild, Saskatoon, SK
2005 Objects and Ethics The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
2004 Artist Talk Asia Pacific Ceramics Workshop, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii
Select Articles, Publications and Reviews
2017 (Oct) The Crafted Dish; A Canadian Clay Cookbook, in partnership with National Clay Week.
2015 Graphic Clay: Ceramic Surfaces and Printed Image Transfer Techniques. Jason Bige Burnett, Lark, New York, NY, 2015, pg. 63.
2015 Electric Kiln Ceramics. A Guide to Clays, Glazes and Electric Kilns (Fourth Edition). Richard Zakin and Frederick Bartolovic, The American Ceramic Society, Westervile, OH, 2015, pg. 107.
2015 McNutt, Sarah. “Souvenirs from the Future” Ceramics Monthly Vol 63, #10 (Dec 2015), pg. 54-57.
2014 Uniting the Digital and the Real The Studio Potter, Vol 42, #2, pg. 56-60.
2014 500 Figures in Clay published by Lark Books, pg. 123.
2013 Interpreting Ceramics: Selected Essays Edited by Jo Dahn and Jeffrey Jones, Wunderkammer Press, Bath BA, 2013
2011 Five Qs: Artist Carole Epp. Local Ceramicist. Mentor Collaborate on Project. Meagan Thomas, VERB, May 20-26, 2011, pg. 10.
2007 Utopic Impulses: Critical Research in Contemporary Ceramic Practices, Edited by Amy Gogarty, Ruth Chambers and Mireille Perron, Canada.
2007 Hare, Diana. “Conversations of Nine” Ceramics Art and Perception Issue 69 (Sept- Nov 2007): 75-79.
2007 The Value of the Collective in the Continuation of a Successful Practice Flying Arts Anthology, Queensland, Australia
2006 A Reflection on the International Conference Community. Saskterra Newsletter, November
2006 A Collection Of Small Miseries: Studio Philosophy and Project Research, Interpreting Ceramics (https://www.idearcomunicacion.com/ICRC/)
2006 Upfront Section Ceramics Monthly June/July 2006
2006 Canadian House and Home, August 2006
2005 National Education Pictorial Survey The Journal of Australian Ceramics, VOL 44#2, 2005 (Front and back cover)
2005 Art Notes Art Monthly Australia, August 2005 # 182, pg 43.
2005 500 Cups: Ceramic Explorations of Utility and Grace, Published by Lark Books, USA
2004 The Multiple Readings of Function The Journal of Australian Ceramics, VOL 43 #3, 2004
Select Board and Committee Work
2014/17 Curatorial Committee, Saskatchewan Craft Council, Saskatoon SK
2016/17 Programming Committee, Void Gallery, Saskatoon SK
2013/15 Curatorial Committee Saskatoon Public Library, Saskatoon SK
2013/14 Development Committee and Board Member The Studio Potter Magazine, USA
2008/10 Education Committee SASKTERRA, Saskatchewan
2007/08 Board of Directors, AKA Artist-run-centre, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
2007/08 Programming Committee, AKA Artist-run-centre, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
2005/11 Exhibition Committee, Saskatoon Potters Guild, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
2002/03 Board of Directors, Member at Large, CARFAC Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta
Select Grants, Awards and Scholarships
2018 Canada Council Arts on the Go Grant
2017 Artist of the Year Ceramics Monthly Magazine, USA Publication
2017 Business Capacity Grant Creative Saskatchewan
2016 Business Capacity Grant Creative Saskatchewan
2014 Independent Artist Grant Saskatchewan Arts Board
2013 Second Place Winifred Shantz Award Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery, Waterloo, ON
2013 Independent Artist Grant Saskatchewan Arts Board
2012 Second Place Winifred Shantz Award Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery, Waterloo, ON
2012 Travel Grant Saskatchewan Arts Board
2011 Travel Grant Saskatchewan Arts Board
2010 Travel Grant The Canada Council for the Arts, Canada
2009 Independent Artist Grant Saskatchewan Arts Board
2007 Independent Artist Grant Saskatchewan Arts Board
2007 Travel Grant The Canada Council for the Arts, Canada
2006 Travel Grant The Canada Council for the Arts, Canada
2006 First Prize (Open Competition) Speak for Yourself, Interpreting Ceramics, Cardiff, UK
2004 Alberta Foundation for the Arts Project Grant – Visual Arts, Alberta, Canada
2004 Feildwork and Research Funding, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia