Catharina Goldnau Ceramics
ARTIST STATEMENT
Past and Present, clash of opposites or unified reality? The world looms large around, the primordial chaos was sorted, put in order by creating objects that carry meaning, manufactured to fulfil needs, desires and aesthetics as defined by culture. Life is lived in the space that is created between opposites, defined by civilizations over time. Rough vs polished, nature vs culture, Void of Value vs Priceless – who decides? Where is the value in the porcelain vase broken into 1000 shards? Disappeared? In Limbo? Searching I dive into the pile of broken pieces, I hunt for the right shard, cutting my fingers, bloody. These shards, testaments of my work, my children – memories of touch, shape, hope, idea and purpose. Foundations for new pieces, build from them and on them, and it feels true – I feel whole. Mending the cavity that was left behind when the baby was broken.
I build from shards and rough clay, putting the chaos back in order, giving birth to a new some…thing. An object of cultural significance, a jewelry box, a treasure chest, a bowl – but not quite. Testimonials of the primal ooze make their presence know, strewn throughout, bold and shy. The porcelain shard flashes, fragmented canine, reminding of former splendor and questioning present value systems from a bed of dirt. What’s your score?
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BIOGRAPHY
Catharina Goldnau explores transitions, juxtaposing traditions and materials in sculptural work that borders functionality. Born next to the Iron Curtain in Germany, she moved to Canada at the age of 19. After academic studies, 4 children and a teaching career, Catharina studied ceramics at Sheridan College, under Bruce Cochrane, Linda Sormin and Laura Kukkee.
Forming clay by hand complements the intellectual task of manipulating clay and glaze chemistry. Catharina is compelled to innovate, exploring non-traditional ways to manipulate clays, combining unconventional materials in clay yields intriguing variations of form and unusual finishes. The effects of heat and fire play a pan-ultimate role in altering the piece, creating new forms and surfaces, tearing and splitting in the fire. Resins and textiles may be employed to supplement final touches.
Catharina is an award-winning graduate with a BA in Craft and Design with a specialty in Ceramics from Sheridan College.
Catharina has a BA in Craft and Design with a Specialty in Ceramics from Sheridan College, Ontario, Canada.
PROFILE
I am passionate about clay and the complexities of ceramic processes. My practice encompasses material exploration of low to high-fire clays with and without additions of materials, glazes in electric and atmospheric kilns, hand-building, wheel-throwing and slip-casting techniques, in the quest to make unconventional pieces of art designed for use.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
since 2021 President of FUSION: The Ontario Clay and Glass Association
2021 Vice President of Exhibitions, Ontario Society of Artists
2021 Director of “Faces of Fusion”; a weekly Instagram Live Series of Artist Interviews
2019 Director of Magazine, Fusion: The Ontario Clay and Glass Association
since 2018 independent studio artist
2017 Spent 3 months in Germany studying and working with three German studio potters
2013 – 2018 studied under Linda Sormin and Bruce Cochrane at Sheridan College, Oakville
2005 – 2015 French Immersion Teacher at Toronto District School Board
REPRESENTATION
ARTA Gallery, Distillery District, Toronto
Gardiner Museum, Toronto
Ontario Society of Artists, OSA
WAAC: Women’s Art Association of Canada
Overzealous Online Art Gallery
Wescover online platform
ART SHOWS
2023 Artist’s Choice Exhibition, Dignam Gallery, Toronto
2023 Being and Belonging, Blitz Art Gallery, Toronto, ON
2023 FUSION FIREWORKS travelling exhibition, Neilson Park CC, Gardiner Museum, Art Gallery of Burlington, Rails End Gallery, Haliburton ON
2022 Figureworks 2022, juried show, Ottawa, ON
2022 OSA 150th Breath, Heart, Spirit exhibition at the Lieutenant Governor Suites, Queen’s Park, TO
2022 Connect Online, FUSION online exhibition, juried
2022 Solo Exhibition, Garden Culture, Ruth Upjohn Gallery
2022 Impact, Juried Art Show, Neilson Park Creative Centre
2022 WAAC, Vital Signs, Dignam Gallery, Toronto
2022 Overzealous, Juried Art Show, Neilson Park Creative Centre
2022 Beaux Arts Gallery, Brampton ON, Reflection, Colour and Form Society
2022 MNJCC Gallery curated group show From the Depths: A Women’s Art Association of Canada Exhibition
2022 Breakthrough+, FUSION juried art show, Leslie Grove Gallery, Toronto
2022 WAAC, Collage, at Dignam Gallery, Toronto, ON
2021 ICAN 2022 Wall Calendar Finalist in Sculpture
2021 WAAC Small Gems show at Dignam Gallery, Toronto
2021 Colour and Form Society, 69th Open Juried Exhibition, Award
2021 OSA Curated Show at the Glenhyrst Gallery in Brant, ON
2021 Ontario Society of Artists New Members Online Exhibition
2021 presenter in “Clay Voices” an Instagram Live symposium
2021 McMichael Gallery, online auction
2021 Women’s Art Association of Canada “Artist’s Choice” online Exhibition
2020 featured artist in International Ceramic Artist Network (ICAN) juried exhibition “Holiday Entertaining”
2020 Ontario Society of Artists 147th Annual Open Juried Art Exhibition
2020 “Roots and Belonging” Exhibit at Leslie Grove Gallery
2020 International Peace Festival art exhibition, Daniel’s Spectrum Gallery, Toronto
2020 Emerging Artist mentioned in Fusion Magazine, 2020 Vol.4
2020 Toronto Outdoor/Online Art Fair
2020 Designweek TO: 1000 Vases Exhibition, juried
2020 Come Up to my Room, Gladstone Hotel, Toronto
2019 “Wir wollen Meer”, Group Exhibit, GEDOK, Hamburg, Germany
2019 30th International Juried Exhibition, Viridian Art Gallery, Chelsea, NYC
2019 Function Fest, juried, Clay Center of New Orleans
2019 National Sculpture Exhibit, juried, Clay Center of New Orleans
2019 Water Exhibit, juried, open i art space gallery, Santa Barbara, CA
2019 Fusion Fireworks Travelling Exhibit, juried, Emerging Artist Award
2019 ICFF gallery exhibiting artist, New York City
2019 Solo exhibit, Gardiner Museum Toronto, lobby vitrine
2019 Toronto Interior Design Show 2019, Studio North Artist
2018 Overzealous Juried Art Show, First Place Award for Sculpture
2018 Fusion Clay and Glass Show, Wychwood Barns, Toronto
2018 Feature Artist at Faculty Club, UofT, inaugural opening
2018 Impact Art Show, juried, Neilson Park Creative Centre
2018 Breakthrough Exhibit by Fusion, juried, The Ontario Clay and Glass Association
2018 Toronto Outdoor Art Show
2018 Sheridan College Graduation Exhibition at the Gardiner Museum, Award Winner
2018 Class Graduation Exhibit at the Gardiner Museum
2018 Selected for Sheridan College student showcase
2017 Participant in student exhibit “Made in Canada” at the Gardiner Museum
2017 Selected for “Crafting the Future” National Student Exhibition for Canada 150, OCAD U
2010 – now Hosts and organizes several private shows, donating all proceeds to charity.
2014-17 Exhibited several works in the gallery and display cases on Sheridan Campus.
2014 Participated in the Fusion Clay and Glass show at Wychwood Barns, Toronto.
2014 Exhibited work at “La Mano” clay studio, West 26th St, NY, NY
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND MEMBERSHIPS/AFFILIATIONS
2020 Women’s Art Association of Canada (WAAC) member
2020 Ontario Society of Artists (OSA) member
2020 International Sculpture Center member
2020 Covid19 mug drive, selling mugs with Toronto motives in support of Covid 19 research
2019 Board member at Fusion Ontario Clay and Glass Association, Magazine Chair
2019 holds artists talks for Toronto, Richmond Hill and Burlington Potter’s guilds
since 2018 member of Toronto Potters
since 2017 member of Craft Ontario
since 2014 member of Fusion the Ontario Clay and Glass Association
since 2012 participates in OLPH church bazaars
2012 – 16 teaches clay classes for children aged 4-12
2013 – 14 teaches therapeutic clay classes for adults at the Centre Francophone de Toronto
AWARDS
2019 Emerging Artist Award, Fusion: Ontario Clay and Glass Association
2018 First prize for 3-D works in Overzealous Art Exhibit NPCC
2018 Winner of the Gardiner Museum Graduating Award
2016 Crack Pot Student Award rewarded by the Ceramic Faculty of Sheridan College.
2015 Peter’s Valley Summer Scholarship awarded by the Ceramic Faculty, Sheridan College
2014 Sculpture “life” nominated by Central Tech Art Staff for participation in BMO show.
EDUCATION
2018 Sheridan College Bachelor of Craft and Design, Ceramics
2010 – 2014 Central Technical School, TDSB, Adult Art Diploma,
1993 – 1997 University of Toronto M.A. in Applied Psychology, Ph.D., pending,
1991-1993 University of Toronto Ontario Teacher’s Certificate, Diploma of Child Studies
1986 – 1991 B.A. Honours English, Spanish, Glendon College, York University
EXTRACURRICULAR
Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, In-design, some experience with Solidworks
2015 Workshop: Decorating with Slip, Maureen Mills, Peter’s Valley
2015/11 Workshop: Naked Raku/RakuTechniques, Michael Sheba, Haliburton School of the Arts
LANGUAGES spoken and written: English, French, German, Spanish