It's Official "Bronfman Nominee"

OFFICIAL MEDIA RELEASE

From: Craft Council of Newfoundland and Labrador

LOCAL CRAFTSPEOPLE NOMINATED FOR

PRESTIGIOUS NATIONAL AWARD
*For immediate release.

ST. JOHN’S, NL (August 15, 2011) – The Craft Council of Newfoundland and Labrador recently nominated two of its members for the Saidye Bronfman Award, Canada’s foremost distinction for excellence in fine craft. Linda Yates and David Hayashida will compete nationally for the award and its $25,000 prize, which is presented annually to exceptional fine craft artists.

The collaborating duo operates a studio, King’s Point Pottery, in rural Newfoundland and specializes in salt/soda firing and high-fired functional stoneware. “For more than 18 years, Linda Yates and David Hayashida have consistently evolved an ever-greater range of ceramic art, capturing the essence of contemporary Newfoundland culture and the attention of collectors, curators and critics,” noted Craft Council executive director Anne Manuel.

“With several provincial and national awards already under their collective belts, Yates and Hayashida are poised for great success. The recognition a Bronfman Award brings would be incredible for their careers as craftspeople.” She continued, “The Craft Council is confident in this nomination not only for the excellence of their ceramics, but also for the innovation of their techniques and the dedication they have shown as craftspeople and community leaders.” The extensive nomination package took two years to compile before it was ready for submission.

Yates and Hayashida, meanwhile, are delighted to have been nominated. “Receiving the Bronfman Award is simply the highest honour in all of Canada for any fine craft artist. Just being nominated is an incredible feeling. Almost all of our favourite master craftspeople have, at some point, either won a Bronfman or been nominated for one. We’re excited to be in the running!”

In its 34 years, the Bronfman Award has never been won by a craftsperson from Newfoundland and Labrador. This fact only adds to the excitement of the nomination, according to Yates. “While no one from our province has won this prestigious award, we’re confident that with so many outstanding craftspeople around us, it’s certainly not a question of ‘if’ it will happen, but ‘when’.”

In addition to the prestige and prize money associated with winning a Bronfman, the Canadian Museum of Civilization acquires creative works by the recipient for its permanent collection. The Bronfman Award was created in 1977 and became part of the Governor General’s Awards in Visual and Media Arts in 2007. The awards presentation will take place in March 2012.

The Craft Council of Newfoundland and Labrador is a member-based organization that works to maximize the artistic and economic potential of the craft community of the province. For further information, call (709) 753-2749.

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CONTACT:

Jennifer Barnable Communications Director communications@craftcouncil.nl.ca

Tel: 709.753.2749

Co-Nominees for 2012 Bronfman Award

Linda Yates &David Hayashida

info@kingspointpottery.com

Tel: 709.268.2216

Opening Matter of Clay III

It was a zoo!!!! It is some hard to push people back at a national event...to get a quick shot of work on the opening night! (4,500 sq ft of sensational work!) Thank you to Linda for picking me to go while she slaved away at the studio/shop in King's Point...but next time Linda goes to face the wild crowds! (Maybe one of the reasons it was so very crowded was because of CBC Radio's Mack Furlong of WAM...the Weekend Arts Magazine in NL did a story on this National show! They are so marvellous for getting the message out there to Canadians! http://www.cbc.ca/wam/episodes/2011/07/31/wam-july-30-31-david-hayashida/ )

Here Iam meeting thee Jonathon for the first time of the Jonathon Bancroft-Snell Gallery. (Thanks to good friend Peter Schaefer for the pic!)

Finally no crowds...a shot taken after everyone left for the day...wow some of the finest work from all across Canada...what a treat and a half!

Spring, summer, winter, & fall. (Not quite in the perfect order...but still lovely.) Our tea bowls for the four seasons framed with Calvin Yates marine recycled Rattling Brook wharf stick tray on a bed of (uncooked) rice and chop sticks.(...water to cook the meal not included.) Local NL materials used on the surface and a variety of clay bodies used. (click on images for close ups)

Here's a close up of our "Sex on the beach: Nickey's Nose Cove Capelin Basket"
....mating Capelin on the handle and on the feet underside, local Paddy's Brook clay glaze (brown), and a Japanese "lichen" glaze on the exterior...very NL! (..special thanks to Jane Thelwell for the handle supplies and handle advice.)

Part of our "S" series (NL tin kettle series) OR as we call 'em here in Central Newfoundland a "Slut" (yes it is true, check your NL dictionary!) It is the architectural interpretation of our ever expanding "S" series. (FYI: Sheila Clennell (Ontario) has some amazing work (just the very corner of which is in this picture)...I could show you but 'no' I won't spoil it for you as it would be so much better to see them in person!!)

Meeting with other Bronfman nominee's...old friends and wonderfully talented potters (far left Mel Bolen (Saskatchewan) and far right Gordon Hutchens (BC) missing from the photo Bruce Cochrane (Ontario)!

The fabulous work of Reed Weir of NL! Reed had alot of amazing work at the show!!!

The Jonathon gallery front after hours. Thank you to Jonathon and Brian for putting together such an incredible show/event!! Everything is for sale for one month only...so head on over to London, Ontario to see this once every 5 year opportunity to see/buy some of the very finest ceramics from all across Canada. http://www.jonathons.ca/