The VAC is thrilled to be partnering with our colleagues at University of Victoria and Carr House National Historic Site on a very special presentation of ceramics by the late Judy Cranmer.
Please note, the location of this exhibit and related programming is Carr House National Historic Site at 207 Government Street.
Judy Cranmer Tweedie (1935-2009) exhibited across Canada and the United States, including the University of British Columbia’s Museum of Anthropology and the National Museum of the American Indian. Her work is represented in widespread private collections, but only now, after her death, are museums and institutions taking notice of her impressive output. Most recently Judy Cranmer’s work was included in the Vancouver Art Gallery’s Modern in the Making exhibition (2020), and the Museum of Anthropology opened The Judy Cranmer Ceramics Research Laboratory in 2015; both important steps towards ensuring her legacy.
This is the first posthumous solo exhibition of Judy Cranmer’s ceramics, and is co-curated by Kegan MᶜFadden, Executive Director of Victoria Arts Council and Lorilee Wastasecoot, UVic Legacy Galleries Curator of Indigenous Art and Engagement.
Please join us for these public programs:
Curator’s tour with Kegan MᶜFadden, Saturday 26 September @ 2PM as part of the annual Canadian Art Hop.
Panel Discussion with Lou-ann Neel and Vickie Jensen moderated by Lorilee Wastasecoot, Saturday 24 October @ 2PM.
About the panelists:
Gilakas’la! My name is Lou-ann Neel, and I am from the Kwagiulth, Mamalilikulla, ‘Namgis, Mumtagila and Da’naxda’xw people. I am a practicing visual artist working in acrylic and oil painting; textiles; jewelry design; and digital design. I began my journey as a practicing artist in my early teenage years, and learned by practicing and through one of my first jobs at Arts of the Raven Gallery, owned by Chief Tony Hunt and John Livingston. There, I met all the artists whose work was featured in the gallery, and came to know more about each of them and their artistic practice.
I have always been fascinated by the work that people do–whether it’s carving a 42-ft totem pole, teaching a disappearing First Nation language or inventing Canada’s first deep-diving submersible. I want to discover how things are created, get to know the people who do that work-and then collaborate to share that information in both text and photographs.
In the early 1970’s, I had the good fortune of becoming one of Judy Cranmer’s many friends and knowing her daughter Betsy. I documented and publicized her unique pottery; in return she gave me wonderful pots—many are in this show. I’m delighted to share some of those memories.
Vickie Jensen
All VAC programming has been funded by CRD Arts Development Services, BC Arts Council, Province of BC (Community Gaming), and The Victoria Foundation. We also are grateful to our incredible membership for their continued support.