2020 Highlights
The 2019/2020 academic year was an exciting and, in many respects, an exceptional one full hard work, new adventures, and unanticipated surprises and tests of resiliency. Through it all our amazing students continued to impress and achieve high standards in their work; to embrace opportunities and challenges and to push their work to new and exciting levels.
The devastating arrival of Covid-19, the closure of the on-campus facilities in mid-March and the emergency “pivot” to online course delivery took a serious toll on everyone. We have to acknowledge that it was a heart-breaking way to finish out a 4-year adventure for our 2020 grads.
INTERNATIONAL FIELD STUDY
2020 saw the launch of an exciting new elective course option called International Field Study. This year, students interested in this option were able to choose one of two faculty initiated and organized courses centring around travel either to Guatemala or India.
Students working on their full scale mock ups in the studio. photo: @will_jack_kuhn
Students and Kirsten hiked to the Mayan sites and prove they take great selfies.
Faculty member Kirsten White traveled to Guatemala with 5 Sheridan Furniture students to work and collaborate with Guatemalan social enterprise Itza Wood. In February 2020, they worked hard and played hard too, taking time away from the studio to hike through the jungle, visit museums and explore the ancient Mayan sites in the region. The group successfully collaborated on Droplet Wall Hooks which are available for purchase.
Faculty member Rachel Miller traveled to India where students had the opportunity to explore traditional artisan culture, meet with local artisans & craftspeople, and collaborated with design students from an academic Indian institution. They documented their experiences, and created personal work based on their research from lectures, workshops, museums, and site visits.
Friendships last forever. Rachel and students sit for a second. photo: Elaine Brodie
Stephanie and Rheanna found a sliver of shade and are taking a break from being superstar students. photo: Elaine Brodie
It is hard not to be impressed with this photo! How is everyone looking towards the camera when the most beautiful view is right behind them? photo: Elaine Brodie
By all measures, the first International Field Study was a tremendous success and an enriching experience for participants, and while it was not possible to offer the course in 2021 because of the pandemic, we eagerly look forward to offering these opportunities again in the post-pandemic future.
BLOWN AWAY
The world of glassblowing has received a tremendous boost to its public profile thanks to the success of the award-winning reality glassblowing competition television series Blown Away that streams on Netflix. Sheridan faculty, staff, students and alumni have played a significant role in that success.
Blown Away season one winner Deborah Czeresko demonstrates her glass blowing techniques in the Sheridan Glass studio.
Students, alumni, glass technologist Jason Cornish and glass studio head Koen Vanderstukken were heavily involved in building equipment for the largest glass blowing studio in North America. Koen Vanderstukken served as series consultant, and Sheridan glass students assisted the competing glassblowers as they executed work during the competition.
In October 2019, Deborah Czeresko, the winner of the first season and Alex Rosenberg, the 3rd place contestant visited Sheridan for a public debate and demonstrations.
Building Equipment in Sheridan’s Glass studio for the Blow Away set.
Blown Away season one contestant Alex Rosenberg demonstrates his glass blowing techniques in the Glass Studio.
THUNDER BAY COMMUNITY PROJECT
Third Year furniture students began working on a collaborative design project with the Thunder Bay Library Indigenous Knowledge Centre. In January 2020 students and faculty travelled to Thunder Bay to engaged with the local indigenous community to collaboratively design furniture. After brainstorming sessions, they also strapped on snowshoes and explored the beautiful winter landscape, learning about their surroundings as they went.
Collaborative brainstorming sessions in the Thunder Bay Library were full of smiles.
Cold Hands and Warm Hearts – students experience place and time via snowshoes.
Big ideas and tiny models - the students and community discuss their plans together.
CREATIVE MATTERS COLLABORATION
During the Creative Matters Inc and Sheridan Textiles collaborative project, 3rd year Textiles students in Professor Rachel Miller’s Concept and Practice class worked in groups to design and execute a series of three textile pieces, inspired by the iconic rugs of Creative Matters Inc. The students’ designs were based on the information presented to them during an initial field trip and briefing led by Vice President, Ali McMurter and Design Development Director, Anna Panosyan at the Creative Matters Inc. headquarters in Toronto.
Floor Models. Students consider the materiality and surface designs of the rugs at Creative Matters Inc. headquarters. photo: Rachel Miller
The classic Textile handshake. Students touch all the samples at the Creative Matters Inc. headquarters. photo: Rachel Miller
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE GARDINER MUSEUM
Installation view of the Sheridan Ceramics Graduate Show at the Gardiner Museum
The ceramics studio continued its long partnership with the Gardiner Museum. The Museum champions emerging as well as established ceramic artists in Canada and shows it’s support for Sheridan students in many ways, notably by hosting an annual exhibition of work by the ceramic studio’s graduating class. This year’s exhibition, Lucid was held at the museum in the fall of 2020.
The Gardiner also created a series of videos of the graduating ceramic students as a supportive response to the museum closures and restrictions. The videos aimed to provide a virtual way for the public to engage the work and studio practice of the ceramic graduates. Micah Donavan, the Gardiner’s Curatorial Installations Manager and Sheridan ceramics student Emily Iseman were both instrumental in helping to make this happen.
Installation view of the Sheridan Ceramics Graduate Show at the Gardiner Museum
Installation view of the Sheridan Ceramics Graduate Show at the Gardiner Museum
VISIT TO JINGDEZHEN, CHINA
Ceramics students attend Breath From Afar. Lleft to right: Laura Kukkee, Emily Iseman, Kleios Maher, Erin Roundsky, Chloe Shen and Huen Tsui
In the fall of 2019 Laura Kukkee and five ceramic students travelled to Jingdezhen China – widely known as the porcelain capital of China. The group spent 6 days together attending the Taoxichuan International Art Centre Fall Art Fair and Ceramics Conference. Students exhibited their work in the exhibition, Breath From Afar which was held in the Taoxichuan Gallery. This stunning art facility is situated in old historic factories once used for producing plates - now modernized to house art studios and residencies, galleries, conference rooms and small independent shops. Students took part in workshops, attended lectures, and visited a variety of galleries and museums. Some students extended their stay after the conference to travel and further explore this amazing region.
Kleios Maher looks up up up… waaaay up…. in Jingdezhen at the giant vase workshop tour.
Students experiencing size and scale in a kiln room. Left to Right: Chloe Shen, Erin Roundsky, Huen Tsui, Laura Kukkee, Kleios Maher, Jordan Scott, Emily Iseman
Porcelain tile painting in Jingdezhen – anyone find out what podcast they were listening to?
These are just a few highlights from a year jam-packed with activity, excitement, hard work, and unexpected challenges. I encourage you to spend some time looking through the beautiful work produced by the Graduates of 2020 and be inspired by the talent and resiliency displayed by these exceptional emerging makers.
Congrats to everyone on a memorable year!
Gord Thompson,
Coordinator, Honours Bachelor of Craft and Design