MIKIND Handmade Ceramics

Bridging the gap between the east and west side of the Rockies is ceramic artist Jenn Demke-Lange. Her long awaited SFM debut is finally here (we have been courting her for a while to do the show) and we are thrilled! Whimsical and narrative her work always seems to be telling a story. Come and find out what the story is!

MIKIND is a ceramic studio located in Southern Alberta founded by Jenn Demke-Lange, designer and maker.  Drawing inspiration from contemporary graphics, patterns and illustrations, we produce handmade ceramic objects that are playful and decorative. Since our start in 2009, we have expanded our production from tableware to ceramic jewellery.  We love to discover all the possibilities that ceramics can offer and create these unique objects for all who are interested in the world of the handmade object. We hope to share what we love with others and hope you pass it along.

Mikind studio began in Calgary, Alberta and has since moved to Medicine Hat, Alberta where Jenn now lives with her husband and their furry creature, Belle. Feeling most at home in her studio, Jenn can be found making and creating with her head down. With a BFA  from the Alberta College of Art & Design under her belt, she continues her lifelong passion of using her imagination and doodling things she loves. She currently maintains a full-time job as Studio Manager at the Medalta International Artists in Residence Program where she is lucky to have her ceramic practice be continually inspired and flourish by the many artists filtering through the studio. When her head is up she can be found baking, perusing magazines, visiting boutique shops and  sharing adventures with her closest friends.

Jessie Turner Designs

We are really pleased to welcome Jessie Turner back to SFM. Her work strikes that warm and fuzzy nerve that we of course love to host at Shiny Fuzzy Muddy. Jessie successfully uses a mixture of materials to bring her work to life. Using a base of sterling silver she adds wood, gold foil and feathers for her desired effects. This season she is introducing bronze into her collection. We are looking forward to seeing her newest work as it is sure to inspire.

She is a jeweler who specializes in natural and contemporary forms using silver and gold. Much of Jessie’s work expands the concept of jewellery as simple adornment to one that encompasses self-expression and purpose. “All things worn can have meaning. We need meaning to fulfill life and create balance, both within, and between, the individual, the community, and the natural world. Jewellery, when created and worn with intention has the ability to empower and connect us with our deeper selves.”  Jessie’s vision is to create unique jewellery that encourages people's individuality and connection to truth, nature and beauty. Both traditional and contemporary ideas of design guide her innovation and creative fire.

Originally from the islands of BC’s West Coast, Jessie has returned to her roots in Courtenay BC after living and studying in Vancvouver. She received her diploma in Jewellery Art and Design in 2000 and has since studied at Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, as well as with local art teachers of different mediums.  Her work is sold in stores through out Canada, as well as at select craft shows. Along with being featured in The Georgia Straight and ELLE Canada Magazine, she has also received numerous design awards including an Accessories Designer decoration at Vancouver Fashion Week. 

Eastside Culture Crawl

One of the greatest cultural events in Vancouver is happening this weekend - the Eastside Culture Crawl! Artists open up their studios to the public for three days (Nov 18/19/20) where you can experience the context of the work directly and get to know your local creatives.

Shiny Fuzzy Muddy artists that you can see on the tour this weekend include Arleigh Wood, Laura McKibbon, Astrosatchel, Jessie Turner Designs, heyday designs and Nana Fro Textile Art. Of course if you don't have a chance to get out this weekend you will be able to see all this wonderful talent at Heritage Hall in a few weeks!

Adhesif Clothing Co.

As a staple in Main Street fashion culture where you will find Adhesif's Flagship store it is only fitting that Adhesif join the ranks of our show this year. We are so pleased to welcome Adhesif Clothing Co. to SFM! 

Melissa Ferreira is the Vancouver-based designer of Adhesif Clothing Co. Born in Montreal, Melissa was influenced by her mother who worked in garment production for a large scale clothing distributor. At a young age, Melissa started teaching herself how to sew and has been experimenting with textiles ever since! After working for many years as a buyer for vintage retailers like True Value Vintage, Melissa noticed there was a lot of interest in using recycled materials and set out to create her own clothing label in 2007.

The collection plays with colours, shapes, and textiles to create one-of-a-kind, edgy garments. All of the clothing is made from recycled fabrics that have an attitude and personality all of their own. So if you thought adhesives were bad for the environment, definitely try this one on for size!

Adhesif Clothing looks great and is good for the environment. The line of garments for men and women is not only made from sustainable materials, but is also locally produced in Vancouver, BC.

These Gray Days

We are so happy to have the collective brightness of 'These Gray Days' back at SFM! Their work is simultaneously whimsical and poignant, cleverly using humor to bring their audience's attention to the beautiful subtleties in daily life that can easily be overlooked. In the past few years Jasna and Noel have been participants in a number of prestigious artist's residencies including one at the Banff Centre and most recently the Medalta International Artist's in Residence Program in Medicine Hat's Historic Clay District. Earlier this year also marked another success - a commission for the new Anthropologie store in Vancouver. Come and see their lovely work for yourself!

 

These Gray Days is the collective name of artists Jasna Sokolovic and Noel O’Connell. The name These Gray Days represents the source of their inspiration—a constant reminder of the ongoing battle against monotony and complacency. They strive to be an unexpected brightness in these tedious gray days, wherever it may be needed. Whether it is objects for everyday use or large-scale outdoor installations, they approach each new project with a tender defiance to the expected and a goal of inspiring sudden joy in those who are trapped in the doldrums.

Sandpiper Studio

We are looking forward to Sandpiper Studio's debut appearance at SFM this year. Pushing the traditional boundaries of the aesthetics of handblown glass the artist applies images to the surface of her unique and often opaque forms that have nostalgic and narrative qualities coupled with a modern minimalism. We love them! Truly functional art. 

Julie Gibb was born in Toronto, Ontario in 1974. She graduated from the H.B. Beal Art Program in 1995 and later from the School of Crafts and Design at Sheridan College in 2002. Julie is the recipient of several awards and honours including the Aaron Milrad Award for best decorative arts at the 2003 Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition and a residency at the studio of the Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, NY. Her work has been included in several publications such as 500 Glass Objects and 25 Years of New Glass Review. Julie recently completed a three year artist in residency program at Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre. She has since moved to the Columbia Valley in British Columbia, where she operates Sandpiper Studio with her partner, Gordon Webster. Located in Windermere B.C., Sandpiper Studio is a small scale production/design studio specializing in hand blown functional glass and strives to create exceptionally crafted objects with modern aesthetics and sensibilities.

SFM 12 is coming up!

So far its been a busting-at-the-seams-busy year for the SFM members with international residencies, new lines being launched, babies being had and growing up! As October winds down we are all busy with our delegated tasks of organizing our upcoming show, which we are so excited about! We have a stellar line up of Canadian talent (see side bar for list of SFM12 artists and links to websites) that we can't wait to host at this years event!

Year after year we hear the same responses from artists and visitors alike - that SFM is the best show around for its quality of work, cozy atmosphere which includes drinks, food and great (non-Christmas) music and room to move. While many other events at Heritage Hall host a lot more vendors we host only 25 artists each year. Be assured that this is all designed with intention. For our artists we want them to have the opportunity to showcase their work in a relevant, sophisticated venue that allows their work to breathe and be seen. For our patrons we want to provide an environment that is relaxed, authentic and offers the highest quality independently designed and crafted artworks.

The icing on top of this is that admission is free! So, on the weekend of Dec 10 + 11 come and visit us and bring all your friends! Until then keep checking back here for more detailed information about our artists + join our facebook page for visual updates. We'll leave you for now with some images from last years SFM 11 Show.

Show is ON!!!!

We had a great turnout yesterday at our opening day of SFM 11. In just over an hour we will open our doors for our 2nd and last day of what is probably turning out to be our best show ever! Please drop in to experience a well curated and considered collection of art, craft and design. End your or someone else's decade in style while supporting your local arts and culture!