Circle Craft presents two exhibits in March 2010: Three Views: Ceramics in the Asian Aesthetic AND Circle Craft’s Annual Student Scholarships Exhibition. Don’t forget to invite your friends to the shows on our Facebook Event Page!

Three Views: Ceramics in the Asian Aesthetic by Cathi Jefferson, Kinichi Shigeno and Junichi Tanaka.
March 5 – March 30, 2010

Since the early 20th century, Asian aesthetics and potters’ traditions have been part of the ceramic arts in North America. Reverence for nature, practicing the art of tea, and Zen philosophy are three obvious influences. Cathi Jefferson, Kinichi Shigeno, and Junichi Tanaka are three British Columbia ceramic artists whose work has an affinity to Asian ceramics while strongly maintaining a uniqueness and individuality, which speaks of the maker. Circle Craft is proud to present the work of these three ceramic artists, also members of the Co-operative in honour of the Canadian Clay Symposium “Aesthetics 2010.”

Circle Craft Student Scholarship Recipients
March 5 – March 30, 2010

This exhibition features the works of Circle Craft’s 2009 student scholarship recipients. Featured will be: Hamza Vora & Raneen Nosh, Emily Carr Institute of Art & Design, Ceramics Program; Morija Reeb, Capilano College, Textile Arts Program; Patrick McIvor, Kootenay School of the Arts, Metal Program; and, Angie Arsenault, Vancouver Community College, Jewellery Program.

In 2003, Circle Craft initiated an external scholarship award program to support new and upcoming craftspeople. This program is part of Circle Craft’s commitment to community outreach programming, working in partnership with four BC institutions; Emily Carr University of Art and Design, Ceramics; Capilano University, Textile Arts Program; Vancouver Community College, Jewellery Program; and, the Kootenay School of the Arts, Metal Program.

We have recently been informed that the roof of the building that we hold our show in is to be replaced over the next year and we will be unable to hold our show on our traditional dates over November 11th.

We have just secured the dates of November 17-21, 2010 in the new West Building of the Vancouver Convention Centre for the show.

On the up side, we’ve been looking forward to the new Convention Centre for several years and Circle Craft Christmas Market will be the “first art and craft show held in this beautiful, state of the art, facility”.

We will be returning to our “traditional” dates in 2011.

Circle Craft Co-op has made a leap into the world of pin trading just in time for the Vancouver 2010 Olympics. Collectable pins are a symbol of the spirit of a place or an event and trading them connects us with the world community. Circle Craft engaged graphic artist Cynthia Frenette(www.greencouchdesigns.com) to design a pin of a friendly craft connoisseur who has just happily purchased work from the Circle Craft store. In 1997, Cynthia designed the postcard for the Circle Craft Christmas Market and an animated character from this image was the inspiration for our collectable pin.

We have a limited number of Circle Craft pins available at our Granville Island Store. They can be purchased for $4.95 each or you may receive a GWP pin. A GWP pin is a “gift with purchase” – any customer that spends $50 or more will receive a complementary collectable pin.

The origins of Olympic pin trading dates back to the 1896 Athens Summer Olympics. At that time, a circular cardboard badge was worn for identification. Metal badges first appeared at the Paris Olympiad of 1900. In these early years, pins were made for participating teams. Each successive Olympics saw the popularity of pins grow as more groups became involved. In 1964 corporate pins appeared at the Tokyo Olympics. The 1976 Montreal Olympics saw the trading of pins with other pin enthusiasts. At the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, specific locations were designated for trading. In Calgary 1988, Coca Cola managed a pin trading area that was open 14 hours a day to large crowds of pin collectors, known as ‘pin heads’.

At the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, Coca Cola will have 3 official pin trading locations in addition to the approximately 12 other pin sites in the lower mainland. Go to the Pacific Pin Clubs website at www.pacificpinclub.org/top10.html for more information about how you can be involved with the unofficial Olympic sport of pin collecting

Don’t miss your opportunity to purchase raffle tickets for our upcoming draw. “Spruce Mermaids”, a collaborative wood piece by members Dale Rouleau and Jason Marlow will be raffled off with all proceeds benefiting the Circle Craft Sharing Tree Charities.

Raffle tickets cost $10 and can be purchased at the Shop and Gallery. “Spruce Mermaids” is currently on display in the Gallery. The winner of the Spruce Mermaids raffle will be drawn at 6pm on February 28, 2010 at the Shop.

All proceeds of the raffle benefit the The Vancouver Sun Children’s Fund; CTV’s charity of choice, the Salvation Army and The Peak and JRFM’s charity, Basics for Babies.

With only 17 days of holiday shopping left until Christmas, here are some staff picks on unique gifts this season available at the Circle Craft Shop and Gallery on Granville Island.

Hermann Edler

The Creche, depicting the birth of Christ, has been a Christmas tradition for centuries. Hermann Edler continues to be inspired by a life long interest in European folk art, that is relfected in his own work. Hermann’s Creches are his own interpretations yet have a direct link to the Creches carved and painted by folk artists of the past.

Carmen Haws

The Teddy bear is a toy tradition that has existed for over a century. Carmen Haws specializes in creating unique Teddy Bears from salvaged fur coats. Her bears are individually finished by hand and appeal to children, adults, and serious bear collectors alike.

Lisa Samphire – Murrine Series

These pieces are influences by nature. They are a loose interpretation of under sea and above gardens. The decoration is fluid as if there is a current or wind in the scene. The colours are chosen as a snapshot from a larger picture. The vases are made to be functional and yet beautiful as stand-alone pieces.

Rudi Diesvelt

Rudi Diesvelt has designed a full line of leather products using leather retrieved from the shipwrecked Metta Catharina, which sank in 1786. The antique leather develops a rich patina with use. Journals remain one of the most popular items in the line and are also available with hand laced edge detail.

Junichi Tanaka

The Puffer Fish Teapot by Junich Tanaka is one of his signature designs. Handthrown and altered from stoneware, these teapots combine the best of high fired ceramics traditions with whimsy.

Dennis Cloutier

Lathe turned pepper mills are a specialty of Dennis Cloutier. Dennis skillfully selects and turns the finest indigenous and exotic woods to create a variety of useful and beautiful utensils, bowls, and sculptural turnings. The peppermill and salt shaker and bowl are all made from Big Maple.

The Totally Amazing Glass!! show is an interactive hot glass show arranged by Malcolm Macfadyen and this is the 12th year it has been part of Circle Craft Christmas Market. The TAG show at Circle Craft Christmas Market features up to fourteen different glass artists doing daily demonstrations; their work is also displayed in the Totally Amazing Glass!! gallery beside the stage.

All throughout the day there are free demonstrations by Canada’s top glass artists. There are thirteen artists doing demonstrations this year: Malcolm Macfadyen, Ted Jolda, Stephanie Ann, Robert Held, Larry Johnston, Wayne Harjula, Ian Lang, Joanne Andriguetti, Ilona Barakso Lindsay, Braden Hammond, Maria Keating, Peter Medley, and Brian Spence. View the demo schedule on the website for details.

Andrew Luketic, President of the BC Glass Arts Association and founder of Glass-a-holics, has been helping run the TAG gallery during Circle Craft. Some of the artists featured in the Gallery are Ted Jolda, Ilona Barakso Lindsay, Malcolm Macfadyen, Joanne Andriguetti, and Stephanie Ann. Some of the participating artists also have booths at the Market including Robert Held, Wayne Harjula, and Braden Hammond.

The other exciting feature on the TAG stage is the Ballz of Fire!! workshops. You can work with a master glass artists to make your own Christmas bauble. This is the third year they have been doing interactive workshops and the response has been phenominal. There were 13 students on the first day of Circle Craft Christmas Market this year.

Tickets are $45 to participate in the Ballz of Fire!! workshops and can be purchased at the TAG Gallery. The workshop includes the lesson, choosing what colours you want to use, and you get to keep your bauble once it’s cooled. Participants of all ages can participate in the Ballz of Fire!! workshops.

Excellence in Craft 2009

Gold: Gordon Hutchens Design
Silver: Pavel Barta
Bronze: Mizzonk

Excellence in Booth Design 2009

Gold: Westcoast Gnomes
Silver: Earth to Body
Bronze: LUprints

Since its inception in 1993, The Sharing Tree has become an integral part of the Circle Craft Christmas Market. A $2 donation enters you to win a fabulous surprise destination vacation valued at $1,500. The draw takes place at 4:00pm on Sunday, November 15, 2009.

New this year, “Spruce Mermaids” by Dale Rouleau and Jason Marlow will be raffled off with all proceeds benefiting The Sharing Tree. Raffle tickets cost $10 and can be purchased at The Sharing Tree during Circle Craft Christmas Market. If you buy your raffle ticket before Sunday at 4:00pm, your name will also be entered in the vacation draw for no extra donation.

After Circle Craft Christmas Market is over, raffle tickets will be available at the Shop & Gallery on Granville Island. The winner of the Sharing Tree Raffle will be drawn on February 28, 2010.

All proceeds of the Sharing Tree benefit the The Vancouver Sun Children’s Fund; CTV’s charity of choice, the Salvation Army and The Peak and JRFM’s charity, Basics for Babies.

Together we can make a child’s Christmas a little brighter.

“We had a stellar turnout,” says Lisa Martyn of the Circle Craft team, “it gets better each year and this year is no exception.” The market opened Wednesday morning at 10:00am with a bagpiper in attendance. At 11:00am everyone observed a moment of silence in honour of Remembrance Day. Afterwards the day progressed as normal with tons of phenomenal entertainment and shopping. It was a great beginning to five amazing days of Circle Craft Christmas Market.

Joel Morassutti of Cascadia Soaps said that attendance yesterday was spectacular and “you wouldn’t know there was a downward turn in the economy” with the turnout they got. Cascadia Soaps has been coming to Circle Craft Christmas Fair for many years as well as running their store in the Granville Island Market. Today was “a great day” Joel reiterated.

Robert Doucet of Les Guedines en Folie comes all the way from Quebec for the Market each year. “I’ve been coming since 1986,” Robert said, adding also that he arranges at 53-foot trailer for 26 other Quebec exhibitors coming to Circle Craft Christmas Market. It started when a friend of his from Vancouver was going to Toronto for a craft show and her shipment got lost, turning up in Winnipeg three months later. Robert decided to organize with many of his friends to ship all their wares together from Quebec to Vancouver specifically for Circle Craft Christmas Market.

Teena and Jacquelyn Grierson of Wheels of Imagination travelled from Alberta for their first Circle Craft Christmas Market. The first day was “really good and very busy” said the sisters-in-law. Although it is their first Market, they feel that the turnout was fantastic and are looking forward to the rest of the week and weekend.

We are all excited here at Circle Craft HQ about the Market. It opens tomorrow, Wednesday, November 11th until Sunday, November 15th. Tomorrow, at 11:00am in honour of Remembrance Day, there will be a bagpiper playing and one minute of silence.

SHOW TIMES
Wednesday thru Friday 10:00am – 9:00pm
Saturday 10:00am – 7:00pm
Sunday 10:00am – 5:00pm

Have you wondered what it looks like this week in the Convention Centre while we set up? Check out our time lapse video from setup last year:

Here are some additional links to all the info you need for the Market:

• Show information
• Admission Coupons: $2-off admission OR 2-for-1 evenings
• Totally Amazing Glass!! glass blowing demonstrations schedule
• Wood Turning demonstrations schedule
• Entertainment stage schedule
• List of 2009 Exhibitors
• Downloadable Program Guide (PDF)