About the Artist

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ornamental bowl sculpture

Catharina Goldnau Ceramics

[email protected]

 

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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cubic ceramic sculpture

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.

IMG_6904 (1)

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