I recently received two bits of ‘good’ news. One from Ed Drahanchuk and another from Robin Hopper.
Ed Drahanchuk. From Alberta Comes of Age Catalogue
Ed recently wrote me that he is planning on getting back into ceramics. For the past many years Ed has been working in his other artistic love, painting. As Ed puts it:
“I’ve been out of touch for some time now (years), but plan for my last stab into pottery for 2017 if all goes well. Just a matter of building my fifth kiln.”
Ed is still on Quadra Island coping with internet outages, snowstorms, mice chewing through water lines, and the arrival, or return, of a large mural once on the RBC head office in Calgary. Ed is contemplating how to uncrate and restore it. So nice to see that RBC preserved art rather than just discarding it for ‘progress’.
I interviewed Ed Drahanchuk many years ago and had planned a page on him. So expect to see that page on Ed here in the future.
Thank you Ed for connecting.
Robin Hopper and Judi Dyelle in their Metchosin garden
The other surprise was from Robin Hopper. I had noticed a surge in readers and followers. After a bit of digging I found out it was because of a post on Robin’s facebook page. Here is the post:
“I’m getting too shaky to write much and answer questions, so please don’t ask. Instead. I’m going to put you in the hands of Barry Morrison, editor of an information on-line Canadian ceramic topic. Barry is a brilliant scholar and ceramic historian who I’ve known for over 30 years. He has been well aware of my personal trajectory as well as other authors in giving the best overview of my multiple workstyles, technical info and techniques. You can find Barry’s amazing coverage at :
Studio Ceramics Canada.Com
If you want to know anything about Canadian ceramics and its major practitioners, this is definitely the best place to go.
Robin.”
Wow! Thank you, Robin. I think I’m going to have to increase my hat size by a few sizes.
By the way, Robin is still waiting for the final details of the location for his Order of Canada investiture.
Let’s welcome Ed back to ceramics and continue to congratulate Robin on this recent honour.
Studio Ceramics Canada 
Thanks for the post Barry – interesting that Ed D is going to re-enter the ceramic field. Love the colour co-ordinated photo of Robin and Judy. His beard is at its best. His Order of Canada must be making him a very happy man, despite his illness. wonderful timing. Talk soon d
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Thank you Debra. This is certainly a dynamic business. Much going on.
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Hi Barry,
I am working on a book about Canadian ceramic murals done by studio potters. I am obviously really interested in the news from Ed Drahanchuk about his RBC mural. I am aware of another he did in Calgary that was moved a few years ago to preserve it. I will get in touch with Ed about this one.
By the way, I really appreciate your Studio Ceramics news. I teach ceramic history at Concordia University, Montreal. My Phd is in Canadian ceramic murals created by studio potters and I received a post doctoral fellowship to add the element of “the gift” to this research. Both my doctoral and postdoctoral research projects were funded through SSHRC, FQRSC and McConnell fellowships. I tell you this to let you know there is considerable support for research into Canadian ceramics and upcoming scholars might consider this as an interesting and young field to engage with. Rachel Gotleib who teaches at ACADU and Sheridan and who is an adjunct curator at the Gardiner also recently earned her PhD in ceramics at Queens. It would be wonderful to have more scholarship in Canadian ceramics, a topic that is so rich in terms of objects, people and issues.
You might be aware of this already, however here goes: The First Canadian Craft Biennial conference is being held in Toronto at OCADU and the Art Gallery of Burlington Sept. 16-17 2017. This is part of a larger program running August to October. There are great exhibitions accompanying it. Website link: http://artgalleryofburlington.com/upcoming-exhibitions/canadian-craft-biennial/. Canadian ceramics is an important subject within both the exhibitions and in the sessions.
Best, Susan Surette, PhD
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Hi, Susan.
Thank you for information and the kind words. I’ll email you with more information and thoughts. Good luck with the book.
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So happy to hear that Ed is going to make pottery…He is an amazing potter. Ed is Bob Pike’s reason fro believing he could make a living doing pottery. And we still are making our living doing just that.
Thanks for doing all our Canadian ceramic archive…
Do you have a picture of Ed’s RBC mural…
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Hi, Connie.
Ed has influenced so many potters and had long been missed. I have not been able to find pictures yet of the mural but will keep looking. Right now the mural is still crated up. Ed wants to unpack it carefully.
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Hi, Connie.
Ed has influenced so many potters and has long been missed. I have not been able to find pictures yet of the mural but will keep looking. Right now the mural is still crated up. Ed wants to unpack it carefully.
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Is This the same Drahanchuk that had a Unique House with kilns in Bragg Creek?
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Yes, this the same, the one and only Ed Drahanchuk
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Hi, I recently came in possession of a print by Ed Drahanchuk and have had trouble finding out more about his art other than pottery. Any info you could provide would be greatly appreciated. I recently read an article about Cheech Marin and how he lived with Ed. It piqued my interest even more! Thanks in advance for any info you can provide.
Jenn
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Ed always enjoyed painting. In the early 1980s he moved from pottery into painting. A Google search and Pinterest will turn up more examples of his work. I will be publishing a page on Ed and his pottery in 2018. I will touch on his paintings.
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