Cathi Jefferson Bio

My career as a studio-trained potter began under mentor Herman Venema in Matsqui, British Columbia, in 1974. I have completed fine arts courses at Kwantlen College (1980-1) and the Fraser Valley College (1986-88). My passion and desire to learn and improve have led to ongoing wonderful experiences. A Canada Council Grant provided funding for a 4-month residency at The Archie Bray Foundation in Montana. Experiences with fellow ceramic artists include a Cuban artist exchange (2004), wood-firings in B.C., Banff, Oregon and Minnesota, residencies in Banff (2000), Maine (1997), Japan (1993/ 2003), the UK (2002).

I have always been involved in the clay community and have helped organize several workshops and activities over the years. During a 4-year term as a board member with the Tozan Society, I helped to build 2 traditional Japanese wood-fire kilns in Nanaimo. I am affiliated with Circle Craft Co-op, the Crafts Association of BC, the Potters Guild of BC, the South Vancouver Island Potter’s Guild, and the Fraser Valley Potter’s Guild (president 1995-2007). Since 1996, I have been a member of the Fired Up collective. I recently completed a 3-year term as a North West Ceramic Foundation board member. Since 1999 I have been a co-chair of the triennial Canadian Clay Symposium.

Over the past ten years I have taught ceramics at the University of Victoria, Emily Carr College of Art and Industrial Design, Kootenay School of Art in Nelson, Medalta in Medicine Hat, North Mount Pleasant in Calgary, and at ‘Series’ in Red Deer. I have given more than twenty demonstration workshops throughout B.C. Workshops in the USA have included ‘Functional Ceramics’ in Wooster, Ohio, and hands-on salt-kiln firings in Maryland and Alaska. I have demonstrated at conferences in Aberystwyth, Wales (1999), the Alberta College of Art and Industrial Design (2001), the Kelowna Festival (2003), ‘Fusion’ in Ontario (2005), and the Pun Choung Festival in Korea (2007).

My exhibition history consists of over sixty ceramic exhibitions including ‘Below the Salt’ Derby, UK (2000,) and ‘Pots in the Kitchen’ Nottinghamshire, UK (2003), ‘World Tea Party’ at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria (2004), ‘On the Table’ at the Gardiner Museum in Toronto (2007). I have been invited to participate in three USA exhibitions at the National Clay Exhibition for the Ceramic Arts (2006/2004/1999) conferences and the ‘21st Century Ceramics’ in Ohio (2003). I was juried into the Sydney Myers International Award, Australia (2004), and won the juror’s award at the American Orton Cone Box Show (2004). Among the 22 publications that have featured my work are Robin Hopper’s ‘Functional Pottery’ and Phil Roger’s ‘Salt-Glaze Ceramics’.

I have created an installation, ‘Reflecting Nature: Reflecting Spirit’, using mixed media that expresses my concern for the fragility of nature. It involved 3 years of work and included residencies at the Banff Centre for the Arts and The Archie Bray Foundation. It’s inaugural opening was at the Seymour Art Gallery in September, 2007.