Tom Smith

Education

B.Ed. (Art) Pennsylvania State University.

M.F.A. New York State College of Ceramics, Alfred University, Alfred, New York.

Selected Solo & Group Exhibitions

2002      "FIRE+EARTH: Contemporary Canadian Ceramics"; Thunder Bay Art Gallery, Thunder Bay, Ontario.

2001      "FIRE+EARTH: Contemporary Canadian Ceramics"; The Mackenzie Art Gallery, Regina, Saskatchewan.

              Studio 21, Halifax, Nova Scotia

2000      Marion McCain Exhibition, Beaverbrook Gallery, Fredericton, New Brunswick

               "FIRE+EARTH: Contemporary Canadian Ceramics"; Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, Halifax, Nova Scotia.

               Harbinger Gallery, Waterloo, Ontario

1999       Peter Buckland Gallery, Saint John, New Brunswick

1998      "FIRE+EARTH: Contemporary Canadian Ceramics", Itabashi Art Museum, Tokyo, Japan.

              "Nine New Brunswick Artists in Mexico"

              Workshops and Touring Exhibition, Aitken Bi-Centennial Exhibition Centre, Saint John, New Brunswick

              Studio 21, Halifax, Nova Scotia

              Harbinger Gallery, Waterloo, Ontario

1997      "FIRE+EARTH: Contemporary Canadian Ceramics"; Burlington Art Centre.

              "Strathbutler; The First Five Years"; Grand Opening, Canadian/International tour.1994              

               Harbinger Gallery, Waterloo, Ontario

Awards

1999      Royal Canadian Academy of Art

1992       Strathbutler Award

1991       Sculpture Grant – New Brunswick Arts Board

              Award of Excellence – ACTS, Halifax, Nova Scotia

Selected Collections

Massey Collection - Museum of Civilization, Ottawa, Ontario

Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Ottawa, Ontario

Palais d'Elysee, Paris, France

Bronfman Collection, Claridge House, Montreal, Quebec

Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, Halifax, Nova Scotia

New Brunswick Art Bank, Fredericton, New Brunswick

Burlington Cultural Center, Burlington, Ontario

State University of New York, Albany, New York

University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick

Numerous private collections in Canada, Europe, Asia and the US.

Artist's Statement

As a potter I am primarily interested in the sculptural dimensions of the medium….the existence of the object in space and the idea and nature of containment. The vessel as a three dimensional object allows and invites endless exploration in form and content spanning centuries and societies, urging the contemporary artist to create personal statements on their nature and relation to current aesthetic ideas and work.

Using a definition of Paul Soldner (American Ceramist), I make, for the most part, Vessel Oriented Ceramic Objects….VOCO for short. In all of my work over a long number of years I have been constantly involved in creating strong contrasting elements and tensions in individual pieces as well as exploring and attempting to control ambiguities of perception. Such things are explosive, abstract elements juxtaposed with quiet classical parts….the function/non function clash seemingly apparent in a large portion of my work. Intention, accident, contrivance.

I also work for a sense of “monumental” in even very small pieces. I work for “quiet strength” in my pieces. I get excited about a tear in clay as opposed to a cut …the mark of the end of a broken piece of wood into the clay as opposed to a brush stroke of colour on the surface . It is sort of three-dimensional calligraphy affecting and developing the form itself. Texture is more important in my work than colour. Colour is used to enhance the form…form at times almost brutally conceived.

Tom Smith