Tafoni, Play & Portraits

The coastal shoreline is a unique place where land and ocean overlap. When the conditions are right, the persistent and unyielding tidal forces can carve hollows and divots into the bedrock itself. Groupings of these sculptural rock formations are called Tafoni.  from Brent Comber.

While holidaying together on a Gulf Island five artist friends realized that they needed to put their work together in a show. They were intrigued by the distinctive Tafoni rock features which can be found on many of the islands of the Salish Sea. These wonderful forms have lent themselves to artwork in the form of painting, photography, poetry, porcelain and mixed media.

Tafoni: Weathering is just one of three shows that opened at PoMoArts last Thursday evening. It features the work of painter Sande Waters, photographer Carolyn Sullivan, poet Celeste Snowber, potter Denise Jeffrey and mixed media artist Ellen Pelto.

Tafoni artists & Janice Cotter. Carolyn Sullivan was away.
Denise Jeffrey

Denise Jeffrey is a NSCAD grad, is on the board of the North-West Ceramic Foundation and is also a member of the Blackberry Artist Society. 

 

De Jeffrey Dances with Waves

At the opening De was enthusiastic about how working alongside other artists has pushed her into making sculptures. They’re a step beyond her delicate, wheel-thrown functional ware which we’ve been finding in the Blackberry Gift Shop here, in PoMoArts.

Tafoni pieces
D Jeffrey's display in the Blackberry Gift Shop

I found several potter friends in the Ann Kitching Gallery, congratulating recent ECUAD grad Brianne Siu. Her first solo show is titled Permission to Play.

l to r. Debra Sloan, Emily Sheppard, Brianne Siu & Mitra Mahmoodi
Mitra & Brianne
five of us..

The third show, in the Beedie Living Gallery, is Relational/Reflexive, a first solo show by Jason Young. Here are his bold colourful portraits and bio. You can click on the image to make it bigger to read.

Jason Young portraits

Make a point of checking out these three shows before they close on May 6th. You’ll find lots to enjoy.

De Jeffrey tile
Tafoni art

Here is a last minute reminder to join TriCity Potters for our monthly meeting at PoMoArts on Wednesday March 20th. I’m sure Jen Woodin will give us a fascinating presentation.

My next blog will let you know about a ‘Raid Made’ show in a new Port Moody gallery, Bohart.

Gillian McMillan

Gillian writes blogs about ceramics in and around Vancouver and sometimes talks about other Art, her garden, travels and family.

This Post Has 4 Comments

  1. Dale

    So beautiful

  2. Sharon K

    Great review. I hadn’t heard the term, tafoni before. It will help me pay better attention when I’m out in nature.

  3. Gillian McMillan

    Right? me too. I love those crazy rock shapes.

  4. carolyn Sullivan

    Gillian, I just got back into town and went to POMO Gallery, to see our show. I’m delighted with the clever presentation that Janice has done to show off our work . Everyone’s art is wonderful.
    Thank you for writing in your blog about Tafoni: Weathering, hope it bring more people to view our art at the POMO gallery .
    I’m right with you loving the crazy rock formations.
    De’s sculptures just expel the beauty of the shoreline erosion.
    Thank you
    Carolyn Sullivan

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