Recently, I had the privilege of collaborating with Canadian enamel artist Tim Laurin for his exhibition at the Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery in Waterloo, Ontario. Now that the show is officially open and runs through the end of the month, it seems like the perfect time to highlight this cross-cultural artistic exchange!
For this exhibition, Tim took an innovative approach—starting with works by other artists and then adding his own embellishments in enamel. I was honored to be one of the 12 artists involved, and I was thrilled to see how he transformed one of my ceramic sunflowers into something entirely new.
Tim shared that my sunflower reminded him of his Indigenous grandmother, who always planted her garden in accordance with the phases of the moon. Inspired by this memory, he created an enameled metal border featuring the moon, sunflower petals, and seeds—beautifully tying together personal history, nature, and craftsmanship.
Since I wasn’t able to attend the opening in person, I was incredibly grateful that Tim sent me high-quality photos of the show. Seeing my work incorporated into his vision in such a meaningful way was truly special. It was also a treat to see the other collaborations. Here are some of my favorites:
The other participants, in no particular order, are: Ellen Blaubergs – Archaeologist, Sandra Fraser – Curator, John Crown – Musician & Songwriter, Valerie Davidson – Silversmith, Susan Edgerly – Glass Artist & Educator, Heather Dynes Smit - Ceramic Artist, Derek Coulombe – Author & Art Dandy, Gary Evans – Contemporary Painter, Jillian Messervey – Weaver and Conservator, Michael Ciesielski – Woodblock Carver, Tamara Benoit – Printmaker
If you're in the greater Toronto area, I highly recommend stopping by the Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery before the exhibition closes at the end of the month. It’s an amazing showcase of collaboration, creativity, and cross-disciplinary artistry.
A huge thank you to Tim for including me in this project—it’s been an absolute joy to be part of!
