Jenna Stanton, Medicine Hat, Alberta

ACC Feature Gallery 15 on 35: January 17 - March 28, 2015

How is this work representative of a remarkable aspect of your involvement with the ACC?
When I initially went to Stoke on Trent for my Masters in Ceramic Design I went to learn traditional mold making, pattern development and industrial ceramic design. I came from a background of working at the Craft Council and wasn’t sure where new technology fit within my idea of craft. After seeing the UK Craft Council exhibition LAB CRAFT I realized that in the hands of craftsmen this technology was merely a new tool to explore and add to the kit. The understanding and knowledge of materials, that haptic & tacit knowledge that makes a craftsperson, was an advantage when working with this new technology and within the industrial design field.

Stacked Series: Prototypes for small stacks were developed using 3d modeling software(Deskartes) and 3d printing technology, molds were handmade from the prototypes and slipcast using earthenware.
Large 8”diameter stacks were developed using lazer cut templates and developing plaster molds on a jolly jigger machine.  Patterns developed using illustrator. Decoration in sprayed and silkscreened enamel.

This series is also reflective of my upbringing in a large extended family where  most Sundays all of my siblings loaded into the car with a bowl on our lap to head to a family gathering.  I realized growing up in this way had a huge influence on my career path as well.. gravitating to & fostering community.  Working at the Craft Council helped me realize that I could actually do that professionally.

Designs were developed to create a series of stacked dishes for potluck dinners …from car to table to fridge..  They represent my interests in Craft and Creative Placemaking. Everyone brings something to the table .. and it’s always more interesting when they do.

How has the ACC influenced your craft career (in the past, present or opened up possibilities for the future)?
In my final semester at the Alberta College of Art + Design in 2003, my instructor Barb Tipton invited ACC director Tom McFall in to talk about the Craft Council and professional careers in Craft. After Tom’s talk I knew what was missing from my education, the business side of craft and how to make a living as a practicing studio artist. I knew working at the craft council was the next step in my education.
 
When I returned to Edmonton I wrote a letter of interest to get involved. The rest is history, I worked at the ACC for seven years and am now on the board of directors.  To me the Craft Council isn’t a just a fantastic organization or place, it is my community. I feel more than fortunate to have worked with so many talented, passionate and hardworking artists and ACC staff. I really believe in the organization and our artists.

I can’t imagine my career without the ACC and the opportunities and confidence it gave me and pride for the skills and creativity of the talented craft artists in our province.  It is pretty empowering for an emerging artist to have a voice at the table at this kind of organization and a chance to not only get involved but to brainstorm and work towards the big dreams and day to day schemes that help promote and enable craft artists to do what they love to do.. with an organization that usually finds a way to make it happen.  

Having the opportunity to travel to Korea for the Craft Biennial and work on the Canadian Craft Boutique (and what sometimes felt like Tom throwing me in over my head) played a big part in seeing that I was capable and determined enough. It gave me the confidence to go after my big dream in my career in craft; moving to the UK for my MA in Ceramic Design. I was proudly and sometimes defiantly CRAFT in a Design world, and I wouldn’t have gotten to that place without the ACC.

What are your views and expectations about the future of the ACC?
It’s pretty exciting to see what has been accomplished by the Craft Council as an organization and the successes we can share with our members.  As we are seeing some of the long term plans such as the permanent spaces in Calgary and Edmonton come to fruition over the next few years I am excited to see what else we can dream up.  Creative scheming has always been one of my favorite parts of being involved with the Craft Council. It’s fun since a lot of it actually happens.

PotLuck Series: 2012, stacked containers, slipcast earthenware with sprayed and silk-screen enamel decals, NFS