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V.Mary Profitt |
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 | | 14kt gold earring with Mohave turquoise beads |
V. Carriage House Studio. Mary Profitt, is a maker of contemporary fine art jewellery, working in gold, silver, gems and stone beads - a rich and vibrant collection. Please ask about her workshop series that runs in the spring and fall. 105 Toronto St., Barrie. 705-252-1138 Guest: Peter Michalski of Blind Alley Arts offers unique, beautiful, distinctive, and anything but common, functional hand carved pottery. 705-735-2305 blindalleyarts@rogers.com. |
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Mary Profitt began her work in jewellery in a small repair shop in Fredericton, New Brunswick, where she grew up. Travelling the next year to Calgary, Alberta, she entered into an apprenticeship, training under Danish Master Goldsmith Kirsten Ross for four years. She went on to set up a studio under her own name in Barrie, Ontario. Mary made jewellery while expanding her gallery to include the works of other artists. During this next 15 years she also participated in exhibitions, solo and group shows, and worked to promote art and fine craft in the area. Her jewellery has been featured in Flare, Chatelaine and Homemaker’s magazines. |
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During a seven year hiatus from jewellery making, Mary went on to work in fibre arts - spinning, weaving, felt making, and dyeing fabrics. She produces large art quilts, drawing on her years of design experience. For four years she ran a morning fibre arts workshop for adults with special needs within the organization of Camphill Communities.
In 2004 Mary went back to the bench, starting with a solo show, “New Work – Returning to Metal” at the MacLaren Art Center Gallery. She now sells her jewellery in art and fine craft galleries across Canada. She also continues to work with fibre arts, planning to produce several art quilts each year and has focused this design work around hand dyed fabrics.
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Artist's Statement |
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I have an affinity for two very different design styles. I’m drawn to the clean lines and geometric shapes of contemporary modern, enjoying the discipline and skills it takes to achieve the simplicity. I also love the layered richness of primitive, ethnic and tribal art. Jewellery from early civilizations and cultures fascinates me in the way it tells the stories of the wearer and the maker.
I work to give both of these styles expression in my pieces. Sometimes I achieve a balance of the two in a single piece, which feels great, but I also like to see the two styles worked side by side in a collection with some small aspect that joins them.
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The Work Process |
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From the day I made my first pair of off-beat earrings in a high school art class I have loved making jewellery. It seems to be the perfect medium within which I can do the designing and making that I never grow tired of. I love the studio environment, the tools and equipment and the materials. As a goldsmith I am trained to make from scratch – melting, casting, soldering, sawing, filing, polishing, setting stones – the works! A goldsmith is also trained in all aspects of the design process, including working with customers to help them acquire what they really want – what is personal and special to them alone. My studio is a converted century old carriage house in downtown Barrie. For many years I had a main street gallery/workshop, but have now chosen to work in a more private space. I still see customers for custom work, but mainly I sell out of gallery shops specializing in fine handmade craft and contemporary art jewellery. |
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The Galleries and Stores where I am currently represented |
Circle Arts Gallery, Tobemory
Gallery Craighurst, Craighurst
The Guild Shop, Toronto
Influx Jewellery Gallery, Calgary
MacLaren Art Center, Barrie
Metalworks Contemporary Goldsmithing, Kingston
Metzger’s Fine Jewellery, Barrie
Object Design Wearable Art, Whistler
Object Design Wearable Art, Grandville Island
Summit Gallery of Fine Art, Banff
Zilberschmuck Art – Jewellery, Toronto
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Work by Peter Michalski |
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Peter Michalski was born in Toronto, Ontario in 1971. He spent his school year in the city, but during the summer months he went to his family camp in northern Ontario. Later, he attended the University of Guelph acquiring a Bachelor of Arts Degree, specializing in history. Soon after, Peter was accepted to the Ontario Collage of Art and Design and found himself drawn to the ideas and qualities of ceramics. After completing his formal academic career, Peter moved to Barrie, Ontario with his wife Andrea and set up a ceramic studio under the title “Blind Alley Arts.” In the beginning pottery felt like a blind alley but more recently Peter has become more confident and certain in the direction he is headed with his work. Currently, his main occupation is caring for his 4 year old boy Pierson, however in his moments of peace, Peter works away crafting his unique clay pieces in limited quantities exploring his own blind alley. |
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Artist's Statement |
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I want to create beautiful unique, clay pieces, crafted with quality and passion. My influences stem from the beauty and elements of nature, to the worn pages of history with my carvings invoking the idea of harmony between differences. My work is constantly shifting subtly and growing in more organic ways. It also seems to be straying from the normal. I think this is good. |
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About the Work |
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Most of Peter's works are functional pieces thrown on the wheel, or slipcast into handcrafted plaster molds. Afterwards, these items may be altered and then various slips are applied and carved. With regards to surface decoration he has looked to the past using scratches, marks, letters and symbols taken from a wide variety of historical and natural sources. |
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Peter tends to produce items in limited quantities and every piece is carved differently from each other. By working in this manner he sacrifices the speed of production, but he is able to create unique items that are consistently being modified and enhanced. |
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Awards and Exhibitions |
Huronia Festival of Arts and Crafts at Kempenfest 2006 – Award Winner
Muskoka Arts and Crafts Summer Show 2004 – 2005
Winner of Plate Design Competition for the Four Seasons Hotel - Handcrafted 90 plates for the Four Seasons Hotel for use in their Studio Café Restaurant in Toronto ‘99
Toronto Outdoor Arts Festival ‘98
Ceramics Studio Award ‘98
Pottery Supply House Prize ‘98
Dora Wechsler Memorial Fund Award ‘97
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