COLUMBIA

2009 Winifred Shantz Award: Jasna SOkOIOVIC By Melany Hallam

The Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery has
announced that the 2009 Winifred Shantz
Award for Ceramics of $10,000 goes to Jasna
Sokolovic of Vancouver, B.C. Winners were
announced on Sept. 17 at an award gala in
Waterloo, Ont.

Jasna uses clay not just to make objects but
as a way to develop structures for drawing and
painted images. Using images and text, she
presents thoughts on relationships. Images
of two chairs, or two birds, and titles like
Waiting for You, and With or With Out You,
show stories of life. There is an element of
installation in how she uses the wall and floor
and engages the viewer with alternative image
sources to tell a story. Her work is an excellent
example of contemporary art whose style fits
perfectly well to the project she intends to
undertake which includes one residency and
two research projects in Mexico.

“My work has been highly influenced by
Mexican traditional art in my choice of colours
and imagery, as well as in the way I use them
to depict every day stories on ceramic works,”
says Jasna. “My art forms are a record of my

life. Each piece tells a story about my everyday

experiences as much as my extraordinary ones,

much like a diary or a sketch book. With a

use of symbolism, images, text and numbers,

I reveal a personal vision about today’s culture

and my place in it.”
Jasna’s process:

* While clay is still wet, 1 apply photocopy
transfers, stamps, and silkscreen. I also
scratch or penetrate surfaces with tools and
found objects.

* After bisque firing, I draw and paint directly
on clay with a ceramic pencil, underglazes
and glazes. Here again I also use silkscreen
techniques to transfer images and patterns.

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Each piece is fired after the surface treatment,
sometimes even up to five or six times.
For more on Jasna’s work see: http://www.
jasnart.com/NEWSITE.htm

The Winifred Shantz Award recognizes
significant artistic achievement and is an
investment in the future, designed to allow the
recipient time away from the studio, to travel
for career development, link with mentors,
visit other studios, study museum collections,

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Hide with Me, approx. 22 cm high, by Jasna
Sokolovic.

Jasna Sokolovic receiving her award from
Winifred Shantz.

or liaise with industry, performing research
that will further their studio production. It
may also be used for international residencies
or symposia. While recognizing that not all
ceramists arise from an academic background,
this award is intended to assist at a post-
graduate level of accomplishment.
Adjudicating this year’s submissions were:
Catherine Paleczny (MFA), a sculptor who
lives and works in Waterloo, Ont. Mary
Anne Barkhouse (BFA) of the Kwakiurl First
Nation, who works with a variety of materials
and Processes examining environmental
concerns and indigenous culture through
the use of animal imagery. Ruth Chambers,
(MFA) whose work incorporates a range of
media, usually in an installation format, and
usually includes ceramics.
Also short-listed for
PGBC member

Nelson, B.C. For more on Jan’s work see:

the 2009 award

was Jan Johnston of

www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/yourgallery/
artist_profile//104169.html

Potters Guild of BC Newsletter : October 2009