A HUGE 'THANK YOU' to RAJATON!

There is an amazing group from Finland called 'RAJATON'. I have had the great fortune to meet them on a few occasions, and attend a couple of their concerts. From the first day I heard their music, it inspired me, and I often listen to their music while painting or throwing on the potter's wheel.

On October 6th of this year, Rajaton released a new album, and guess whose painting is on the album cover?....This is amazing for me, as their music has influenced a lot of my work (If you know their music, I am sure you will recognize the influence.)

A bit about Rajaton from their website:
'In their native Finland, Rajaton is a bona fide pop phenomenon, successfully bridging the gap that often exists between classical and mainstream convention. The group has released 11 different albums. In 2003, Rajaton rose to n:o 2 on the charts with their album Joulu ("Christmas") which has to date sold double platinum in Finland. Building on the momentum of this mainstream success, in 2006, the group recorded Rajaton sings ABBA with Lahti Symphony Orchestra, an album which topped the charts in Finland and sold platinum in a month.

In 2010 Rajaton celebrates 13 years of music-making with one double platinum, three platinum and eight gold records in Finland to their credit. Their latest album, Tarinoita, is yet another significant milestone in Rajaton's story, as it is their first fully self-produced album, released in October, 2010, by their own label Boundless Records.'


Be sure to visit their website: http://www.rajaton.net/en/frontpage/ to learn more about them. Also, join their facebook page! http://www.facebook.com/rajaton

On October 15th, 2010, Rajaton will make their New York City debut at 8:00PM - singing the music of ABBA with The New York Pops at Carnegie Hall! If you happen to be in New York...you will not want to miss this!

Once again, a huge and sincere "THANK YOU" to Rajaton.... I know that when I am older and looking back on my career, this will be one of those moments that I will always remember!

Upcoming Exhibition - Art Gallery of Ontario

Hope to see you there!
Shane
( Please click on image to enlarge )

"Here In" Ingersoll Article....Thank you!

A big thank you to Katheryn Stewart-Bruni from Oxford Media Group for the great article that she wrote for "Here In" Ingersoll magazine. The support that I receive from the local community is always very much appreciated. It's great to live in a town that is full of such creative individuals and supporters of the arts.
Click on the images to enlarge them.
Visit the online version of the publication at www.oxfordmediagroup.com

A big thank you & nice surprise!

After a terrific weekend at the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition (despite the rain on Friday during set-up!) I was very pleased to receive an Honourable Mention Award in Ceramics!
A big thank you to Tucker's Pottery Supplies for their very generous award!
Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition
Tucker's Pottery Supplies
Photos Courtesy: Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition

BURLINGTON ART CENTRE EXHIBITION

I was very pleased to be asked to exhibit at the Burlington Art Centre, from May 8, until August 1, 2010 alongside my good friend Shirley Clifford, who is also from Ingersoll. The exhibition was organized by Curator of the Collection; Jonathan Smith, M.F.A., who is one of Canada's foremost authorities on ceramics. Although the show is now open, the official opening and artists' tour and talk is on June 6th, from 2-4pm. I have posted a couple of images of the exhibition installation, but this is only a small portion of the work.

About the Burlington Art Centre: A multi-faceted facility nestled next to Lake Ontario in the heart of Burlington, Ontario. It is truly a centre for art, supporting artists, staging exhibitions, nurturing a nationally and internationally recognized ceramic collection, and serving the community.

Permanent Collection: From its early foundation, the BAC also expanded to become home to a permanent collection of ceramics, vigorously acquired since 1983. The BAC Permanent Collection of Contemporary Canadian Ceramics has achieved international recognition and is the largest such collection in Canada. It continues to grow in size and artistic depth. ( I was very pleased to find out that I have a few pieces included in this terrific collection!)

www.burlingtonartcentre.on.ca for more information

Tom Thompson Art Gallery-Owen Sound

Here are some great shots of the Masterworks Southwest touring exhibition that I was fortunate to have my work included in.
If you are in Owen Sound, be sure to drop into the gallery. It is a terrific exhibition. If you can't make it to Owen Sound, check out the Ontario Crafts Council website for the other galleries that this exhibition will be travelling to, until December 17, 2010!

Masterworks Southwest - Organized by the Ontario Crafts Council
Photo Images by: Kris Rosar

www.tomthomson.org

www.craft.on.ca

A great shot of some of my paintings

I thought I'd share a great photo, taken by photographer Kim Jeffery, of some of my paintings.
Interior designer Cameron MacNeil used them in a space that he was working on for a client. I love how he hung them as a vertical diptych, as opposed to the standard horizontal.
Be sure to Check out his website and blog:
www.cameronmacneil.com
www.cameronmacneil.blogspot.com

Masterworks Southwest-Touring Exhibition

I was pleased to be included in a travelling Exhibition organized by the Ontario Crafts Council.

About the exhibition...
Masterworks Southwest is a juried travelling exhibition of contemporary craft that will visit five galleries between March – December, 2010. This exhibit will showcase 39 pieces of contemporary craft from makers across Southwestern Ontario. The exhibition will be shown at the following locations:

Tom Thomson Art Gallery (Owen Sound)
Burdette Gallery (Orton)
Art Gallery of Windsor
Greenwood Quiltery & Gallery (Guelph)
Station Arts Centre (Tillsonburg)
Please join us for the opening reception on Sunday, March 28 at the Tom Thomson Art Gallery between 2-4pm.

visit: www.craft.on.ca for more information
To view an online version of the publication for the exhibition, visit:
http://www.craft.on.ca/OCC_News/Southwest_Update#Masterworks_Southwest

While surfing design blogs for inspiration...

While surfing design blogs for inspiration, I came across 'Poppyseed Creative Living', a blog by Jelena Pticek of Toronto. Jelena does a great job of reviving tired furniture into one-of-a-kind statement pieces.
The black and white vase used in one of the vignette shots caught my eye... it was a piece I made some time ago while I was living in Toronto. Seeing it again makes me want to revisit the specialized firing process.
The photos were taken by Toronto photographer Brian Reiser. Be sure to check out his website and blog as well...it's very cool. www.brianreiser.com
Photo by: Brian Reiser

Those paintings look familiar...

Last Monday evening, I was watching 'INCOME PROPERTY', one of my favourite HGTV programs ( I think I have about 10 favourites! ) when something caught my eye. I noticed two paintings hanging in the makeover space, and thought, " those paintings look very familiar...could it be?!? " After some investigating, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that they were indeed my paintings...what a treat & terrific surprise!

Be sure to visit HGTV's website at: http://www.hgtv.ca/
http://www.canvasgallery.ca/