2008 TORONTO OUTDOOR ART EXHIBITION

I am very pleased to once again be participating in the TORONTO OUTDOOR ART EXHIBITION this July. This is my favourite show, and one not to be missed. The quality of the art is always top-notch.
I will be showing some new boat forms and some new porcelain work this year. Perhaps a large sculpture or two, as well.
My booth number is 376...located in the green section.
Check out their website for dates and information.
See you in July!
http://www.torontooutdoorart.org/

SHOWROOM SEASON

Spring cleanup! With the summer approaching, I decided it was time to freshen up my showroom! Oliver; my bulldog ( who follows me EVERYWHERE I go ) matches perfectly!
My new porcelain celadon teapots and tea bowls have been quite popular. So simple and classic! My showroom is open by appointment only from mid-May until December 31st. Details are available through my website: www.shanenorrie.com

SOFA EXPO-MAY 2008

I can't wait to head back to New York the 29th of May to see the SOFA EXPO! I enjoyed it so much in Chicago this past November, that I couldn't miss the New York show. Check out their website to preview who is going to be there. It's going to be amazing!
http://www.sofaexpo.com/

The photo above is:
Hervé Wahlen
Bis, 2006
Hammered copper with gold leaf, 15"h x 16.5"w x 12.5/8 d (38.1 x 41.9 x 32.1 cm)
Represented by Barry Friedman, Ltd., New York, NY

Gallery Feature: Circle Arts-Tobermory

As the warm weather approaches, Circle Arts Gallery in Tobermory is preparing to open for its season. (May 17- October 13) If you are in the area, be sure to visit this gallery. I Love working with the owners; Simon, Glenda and Arlene. Their enthusiasm and support is wonderful.

Below is a great description of my current work, from the owners of Circle Arts...

"Shane Norrie joined Circle Arts three years ago when the business
partnership of Glenda Burrell, Arlene Kennedy and Simon White
first acquired the 39 year old summer art gallery at Tobermory in 2006.

We are excited with Shane's work as he concentrates more on an artistic
focus this season and proud to offer these innovative works for our
collectors and over 35,000 seasonal visitors.

Circle Arts is all about presenting the creative energies of artists
like Shane who are exploring new horizons and expanding our awareness of
new possibilities for the interpretation of our world. "


Be sure to visit their website to look at their roster of artists
http://www.circlearts.com/

Thank you to Circle Arts for the kind words!
Shane

NEW PAINTINGS!

I just delivered a series of new paintings to Jonathons Gallery. I love the white-on-white paintings. I suppose it is the influence of a long a Canadian winter! Here are a few of my favourites.
( The yellow and last painting with the black frame are actually ones that I borrowed back from private collections to have photographed, but are probably my all-time favourite paintings.)

CHECK IT OUT!-- Style at Home Magazine

Thank you so much to the people at Style at Home Magazine, for featuring me and my work in their Spring Issue. (May 2008, page 38) What a great way to Welcome Spring! Yay!
www.styleathome.com

PAINTING - SEPTEMBER 2008 EXHIBITION

I just recently completed this large painting for my solo show in September 2008 at Jonathons Gallery. This is the first piece I finished for the exhibition, and am working on sculptural pieces to be displayed with my paintings . These new sculptural pieces will be much different than previous work, but I am looking forward to developing them into a cohesive body...I am finding it so interesting to see how my painting and ceramics feed off of one another in both process and product. I am looking forward to seeing how they relate together in a gallery setting when they are completed and hung.
Can't wait for September!
Shane

JOHN CHALKE EXHIBITION

One of my all-time favourite ceramic artists recently had an exhibition at Willock & Sax Gallery in Alberta. Although I didn't get to see the exhibition in person, there are quite a few images on their web site. Have a look: http://www.willockandsaxgallery.com/
You can see why I am a fan of his work...his textural glazes are incredible!

Sculptural Vessels

I have been creating these hand built vessels, and am loving the results! I posted some previously, but here are some more that weren't yet completed.
I am very proud of these pieces, and I feel a renewed sense of excitement when I go in to the studio to work on them!
Let me know what you think!
Shane

ART GALLERY OF ONTARIO

Although The AGO is closed for total reconstruction, (It is going to be amazing...see above rendering) the shop, which has a nice selection of my smaller sized lidded vessels remains open online! How convenient. Visit their website http://shop.ago.net/ and choose DESIGN on the left-hand menu to see what is available of my work.

NEW YEAR, NEW DIRECTION

With the start of a new year, I always seem to evaluate what I have been doing, and where I have been heading in regards to my work. The latter part of last year was very much like this, as I desperately wanted to spend more time on my sculptural pieces, but found I was much too busy with orders to do this.
As a result, I have decided to take this year to work on my paintings, and more sculptural expressive pieces. I will not be supplying as many galleries for the next year. I have a major show coming up in September, and am looking forward to working on that. I have added a couple of photos of new pieces that I recently made. This week, I began working on a few more, and can already see an exciting progression. I would love to hear what you think about this new work.
Happy 2008!
Shane

TOYOTA-JAPAN

I was very pleased that for the second year in a row, the mayor of Woodstock, and the city's Economic Development Officer decided to present as gifts, a number of my pieces to TOYOTA in Japan, and the various other companies that they are working with for the new TOYOTA automotive plant in Woodstock.
Thank you Woodstock for your continued support!

MARTIN PURYEAR AT MOMA

Martin Puryear's exhibition at the MOMA in New York is a must-see. His wooden sculptures (Some 3 stories high!) have an organic, mysterious feel that I just love.
It's on until January 14th if you are in New York
http://moma.org

INGO MAURER AT COOPER-HEWITT

While visiting New York this past Christmas, I managed to see quite a few Exhibitions. Ingo Maurer has an amazing lighting exhibition on until January 27th. I posted a few images of my favourites. I started thinking about how I could create some lighting for myself with translucent porcelain. Who knows, maybe something new will come out of it.
If you are in New York, be sure to visit the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum
http://www.cooperhewitt.org for more information

INTERNATIONAL CHAWAN EXHIBITION - BELGIUM

I came across this website for an exhibition I participated in a couple of years ago. It was traveling exhibition in Belgium that was sponsored by the Japanese Embassy in Belgium and the Province of Antwerp.
8 people from Canada participated, a number of them friends of mine.

The focus of the exhibition was the Chawan (Oriental Teabowl). The website is very interesting, and has a lot of very good information about the tea ceremony and Chawans.
Check it out if it interests you http://www.jnt.info/

YOU MUST VISIT JONATHONS GALLERY!

Jonathon Bancroft-Snell Gallery in London, Ontario, is like no other I have been to.
It is filled with work from the top Canadian Ceramic Artists from across Canada.
I am always inspired every time I visit, and try to get there as often as I can.
Exhibition openings are not to be missed!

Yesterday a new shipment of my thin bowls arrived there, just in time for the holidays. My new satin turquoise and bronze-glazed pieces have been very popular. I am very pleased with my new matte charcoal pierced bowls with red accents. (See above photo)
Trust me...you want to see this place!

For information,
258 Dundas St.
London, ON Canada N6A 1H3
Toll Free 1-866-229-5244

PETROFF GALLERY - TORONTO

The Petroff Gallery (formerly A Show of Hands) has been displaying a wide variety of Contemporary Canadian and International Craftwork for over 18 years. They have a nice selection of my ceramic work. The Gallery is located at 1016 Eglinton Avenue West, between Allen Road and Bathurst Street in Toronto, Ontario.

EMMA AND OLIVER!

I have 2 full-time studio assistants....although they seem to not do much, but they do keep me company. They are a joy to have around, and pretty cute ( well, at least I think so! )
The brown one is our old girl, Emma....she's very sweet.
The handsome white one is Oliver...he's a handful!

PAINTINGS!

Although most of you know me as a ceramic artist, you may be interested to find out that painting takes up a large amount of my time. Before ceramics, I had always wanted to be a painter. It was through ceramics that I found my own voice, and also my own style. Paintings came again later, and they seem to echo the same feel of my ceramics.
I currently carry my paintings exclusively through Jonathon Bancroft-Snell Gallery in London, Ontario. He has shipped my paintings throughout Canada, and scattered them throughout the United States. They are also in the RBC Corporate Collection. I am having a large Exhibition of my new ceramics and paintings in London next September, but I will post more as the time nears. This is DEFINITELY a gallery that you must see if you are in London.

The above photograph is one of my favourite paintings. The long-necked vases are by Mary fox of British Columbia, and the Bronze Sculpture is by George Shadford, also form Ingersoll!

Below is a photograph of my painting Exhibition this past March, 2007. The Ceramics are by Mary Fox of British Columbia, and Laurie Rolland of British Columbia, as well as myself. It was a huge honour for me to show alongside these two very well-known Ceramic Artists. If you get a chance visit these web sites: http://www.laurierolland.com, http://www.wallacegalleries.com/artists.php?id=Fox

The second photograph is another painting of mine.The ceramic sculpture below it is by Keith Campbell, of North Bay.

For further information about current painting availability and pricing:
Jonathon Bancroft-Snell Gallery
258 Dundas St.
London, Ontario, Canada
N6A-1H3
1-866-229-5244

MUSE GALLERY - TORONTO

If in Toronto, be sure to visit MUSE GALLERY.
This Gallery, located at 1230 Yonge St in Toronto ( By the Yonge/Summerhill Station ) carries exquisite pieces. They carry a nice selection of my clay work, and I really enjoy working with them. They are located in a wonderful part of Toronto, on a great strip of Yonge Street. Definitely do not miss this gallery.

Visit : http://www.musegallery.ca for further information

I LOVE NEW YORK - INSPIRATIONS

I absolutely love visiting New York City, and I try to get there as often as I can. Creatively, I find it to be the most inspiring city. I love the architecture, and juxtaposition of the sleek modern elements with the worn, gritty surfaces. I try to capture that feeling in my paintings and ceramics. I am looking forward to returning this Christmas.
Below are a few images that caught my eye, and have inspired my work. You can see my preference for a subdued, neutral palette in these photos.

SOFA EXPO, CHICAGO - 2007

This past November, I flew to Chicago to visit the SOFA EXPO (International Sculpture Objects & Functional Art Exposition).
The SOFA EXPO is one of the best Sculptural Expositions in existence. I wanted to see it, to get inspired for my exhibition next September (More about that later)
I must admit that I was extremely impressed, and seeing this Exposition was exactly what I needed. My new work is heavily influenced by this show, and I am very excited about my new direction. As a result, I have taken a sabbatical for the next year to work on my new pieces and new direction. I will, however, have some new work at a few galleries throughout the year, and will be posting news and images on this site. I also hope to participate in the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition again in 2008.

I was very excited to see, and purchase a piece from one of my favourite sculptors, Mark Chatterley. Meeting Mark was amazing! His work has a dark, unearthed, organic feel to it...just what I love.
You can see some more of his work on this page: http://www.chasegallery.com/Artist_Profiles/Chatterley_extra/Chatterleypage1.html

Below are some of my favourite pieces from the SOFA EXPO. Please visit http://www.sofaexpo.com for further information, and artists names.

GARDINER MUSEUM - TORONTO

If you're in Toronto, be sure to visit the newly renovated Gardiner Museum.
They have incredible ceramic exhibitions and Jamie Kennedy's Restaurant at the Gardiner is wonderful.
My work is carried regularly in their shop, which is always a very popular destination.

I was fortunate to have my work included in their outdoor signage. You can see in the photographs, a shallow dish of mine in the lower portion of the sign.

Visit http://www.gardinermuseum.on.ca for further information