Historical Timeline

1973 A small group of Ottawa potters began meeting to discuss shared interests.

1975 Executive meetings and minute-keeping began. Ingrid Levine elected first president. First Holiday Sale at SAW Gallery. Technical Quality Standards established.

1976First Spring Sale at Glebe Community Centre. Guild library began with eight books. Display units built for juried exhibitions.

1977Ottawa Guild of Potters (OGP) became incorporated. Seal design competition won by John Reid (three cones in profile).

1978Retail space secured in Eric Rasmusiel’s shop. Standards Committee formed to inspect work at sale tables.

1979Guild exhibition at Twin Willows Gallery, Manotick. New meeting space at St. Pierre School on Friel Street became home to the OGP for 12 years.

1980OGP hosted Ontario Potters Association (OPA) Conference at the University of Ottawa; 500 attendees. Citywide gallery exhibitions. Workshop: Michael Casson.

1981Earthworks exhibition at York Gallery (15% commission). Workshop: David Leach.

1982Algonquin Pottery Studio launched with five resident potters. OGP began teaching through Continuing Education.

1983OGP newsletter launched. Spring Sale overcrowded, so potter display space was reduced. OPA launched The Perfect Setting dinnerware competition.

1984Earthworks juried by Paula Murray and Her Excellency Lily Schreyer; three prizes awarded. OGP became an affiliate of the Ontario Crafts Council (OCC). Workshop: Robin Hopper.

1985Fireworks exhibition juried by Jim Thomson. Workshop: Wally Keeler.

1986Glaze recipe exchange. Workshops: Ken Cumberland; Robert Copeland (Spode); Leta Cormier (Japanese pottery). Potter’s Choice exhibition with self-juried entries. Charity table at Spring Sale supported Camp Trillium. OPA renamed Fusion: Ontario Clay and Glass Association.

1987Guild revitalization brainstorming. “In Celebration of Spring” juried by Victoria Henry and Randy Anderson. Algonquin Studio closed.

1988Lead glaze risks covered in Ottawa Citizen; Guild confirmed it used no lead. Workshops: Ankaret Dean (basketry), Bruce Cochrane (earthenware), Lise Fleury (sawdust firing). Nepean Visual Arts Centre (NVAC) opened.

1989Workshops: David Leach (family history), Marthe Sirois (crystalline glazes).

1990Fusion Conference at Carleton University. Fireworks and Annual Exhibition at Arts Court. Workshops: Ron Roy (pot design), Liz Willoughby (hands on teapots), Robert Tetu (porcelain), Sadashi Inuzuka (thrown forms and decoration demo).

1991Guild meetings moved to Fisher Park Community Centre. Sales survey: 34% customers by word-of-mouth, 27% newspaper, 20% Guild flyers, 12% community newspapers, 6% radio (free PSAs).

1992$250 donations to OCC and Fusion. Tulip Festival demos. Presentations: Mimi Cabri (Champagne Bath tiles), Dr. Trevor Hodge (Greek pottery). Inspirations in Clay juried by John Ikeda and Jim Thomson at World Exchange Plaza. Workshops: Eric Lindgren, Seth Cardew.

1994Guild moved to Firehall Training Centre, Industrial Ave. Student bursary program launched for ceramic art students.

1995Late return fines introduced for library books. Donation to CHEO Burn Unit in lieu of rent. Member workshop honorarium set at $75. New sales participation criteria established.

1996Fusion Conference at Carleton University with Fusion exhibition in St Pat’s Hall. Eight member workshops offered. Decorated tree auctioned for Festival of Lights charities.

1997Tree decorating continued. Spring Sale moved to Hellenic Centre during Glebe CC renovations. Bursaries awarded to three high school students. Workshops: Heather Mallett (Artist’s Way), Carol Ann Michaelson (glazing).

199825th anniversary planning began. Workshop: Malcolm Davis. Executive role term limit set at three years. Christmas tree auction for Big Sisters.

1999Spring Fling hosted annually by Lynda Northey since 1984. Sales team expanded to five roles. Holiday Sale at Hellenic Centre was hugely successful. Hungry Bowls fundraiser launched with Rasputin’s Café– free soup with purchase of hand crafted bowl; over 100 bowls donated, tickets $10 with proceeds to Ottawa Food Bank. Guild history compiled by Doris McIlroy as 25th anniversary project.

200025th Anniversary Exhibition “Who We Are as Potters” at Ottawa-Carleton Regional Headquarters (now City Hall).

2002“Empty Bowls” fundraiser launched at Rasputin’s Café.

2003Presentations at the FUSION Conference, held May 23–25 at Carleton University included Alan C. Elder (Canadian Museum of Civilization), Stéphane Bédard (Shambhala Art), Dan and Nisha Ferguson (sculptural work), Susan Low Beer, and Maria Gomez Umaña. Field trip to the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts to view A Voyage Into Myth – Gauguin to Matisse. Workshops: Moulds, Sprigs and Stamps and Planters, Bowls and Plates with Victoria Jenkins, Throwing Large Bowls with Christina McCarthy, Slab Forms with Catherine Brewster, Pit Firing with Phillip Black, Tray-Chic with Lynda Northey and Julien Couture, Glaze Basics with Anne Chambers, and Firing with Chandler Swain. Sharon Gebert’s Raku Box was awarded Best in Show at the 2003 Juried Exhibition at Carleton University.

2004Presentations: Darlene Keffer (The Humble Mug: Our Bread and Butter), Reed Weir (figurative sculpture), Hanne Lawrence (tile making), Anne Creskey (wood firing in Ireland), and Jackie Seaton (Empty Bowls, Perth). Workshop: Wayne Cardinalli (throwing and slip decorating). Guild discussions covered pricing, including the $21 mug.

2005First Great Bowls of Fire (GBoF) raised $7,500 for Ottawa Food Bank. Presentations: Leta Cormier (challenges of functional work) and Richard Gill (bas relief wall sculptures). Membership fees increased to $30/individual and $40/family.

2006OGP featured at Canadian Tulip Festival in Major’s Hill Park: try-the-wheel and tulip display. Presentations: Cheryl Ann Webster (Beautiful Women Project), Nancy Green. Workshop: Jason L’Abbe. Spring Fling at Lynda Soper’s residence.

2007Weekend workshops: Rob Tetu, Eric Serritella. Member workshops: Marie Paquette, Lis Allison. Meeting presentations: Paula Murray, Maureen Marcotte. GboF raised $10,300. OGP pin and certificates introduced. First Clay Olympics at Colette Beardall’s home.

2008Workshops: Carol Ann Michaelson, Steven Branfman, Hanne Lawrence. OGP participates in OCC’s Goblet Grab fundraiser. Lifetime Achievement Award from OCC to Carolynn Pynn Trudeau. Young at Art Bursary given to high school students. First OGP Fall Fire conference created by Carol Badenoch, held in Morrisburg featuring Eric Seritella (raku), Tim Storey (handbuilding) and Anne Chambers (altered pots and glaze spraying).

2009Rebranding: new logo by Margit Heideg combines kiln door with smoke swirl, brown/white/black. OGP’s Symphony exhibition in Toronto at OCC. Workshops by: Peta Hall (marketing), Joan Anderson (photographing your work), Victoria Jenkins (glazing), Sandra Marshall (handbuilding sculptural pieces), Paul Portelli (Booth Design and Visual Marketing), Paula Murray (slip casting). Membership fee increased to $40/individual and $60/family. Studio Map published by OGP. “Fall Fire” held Sept 11-13 featuring Leta Cormier (throwing) and Thom Lambert (geological influences in pots) with vendors from Capital Pottery, PSH and Tucker’s Pottery Supplies.

2010OGP hosted Fusion Conference at Carleton U; Sam Chung and Joan Bruneau were presenters. OGP members offered pre-conference workshops: Carolynne Pynn-Trudeau, Thom Lambert (from Haliburton), Lucie Rossignol, Anne Chambers with Colette Beardall, Chandler Swain, and Margaret Ann Capper. Meeting presentation by Dan Hill (soda fired pots, Wilno Ontario). Workshop given by Carolyn Gibbs (lidded boxes and tiles, in conjunction with Almonte Potters Guild). Strategic communication plan developed. New LCD projector purchased for meetings. GboF tote bags made; GboF raised $13,900 for the Ottawa Food Bank.

2011Spring Sale moved to Shenkman Arts Centre.

2012GboF sold out in record time, co charged by Colette Beardall and Sarah Hand. Presentation by Phil White (Federal Government official sculptor). Two day workshop by Tony Clennell. Facebook and Twitter accounts created for OGP communications, promotion and advertising.

201340th Anniversary show at City of Ottawa Archives. Roots exhibition celebrating Guild founders and early members at Dust Evans Gallery. GboF raised $17,000. Guild meetings and library moved to Hintonburg CC. Young at Art bursary awarded. Second Clay Olympics held at Colette Beardall’s. Workshop: Susan Hall (handbuilding animal sculptures). Presentation: Cynthia Bringle (her experience as a potter).

2014Presentations: Diana Jackson (Pit Firing and Sagar Firing in an Electric Kiln). FUSION Mentorship Exhibition “Transitions” at Trinity Art Gallery, Shenkman Arts Centre with mentor Leta Cormier, featuring regional participants Colette Beardall, Michelle Bishop, Diana Jackson, Victoria Jenkins, Janet Keefe, Sandra Marshall, Marie Paquette, Ann Randeraad, Jane Thelwell and Ileana Tierney. GboF raised $19,400. Holiday Sale moved to Lansdowne Park.

2015Presentations by: Hanne Lawrence (building a mud oven), Hilde Lambrechts (preparations for her solo show at the Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery), Grace Nickel and Sheilah Mackinnon (Assistant Conservator of Sculpture and Decorative Arts, National Art Gallery). Workshop by Takeshi Shimizu (traditional Japanese Tamba ware potter, sponsored by the Japanese embassy). Capital Pottery Supplies changes ownership: thank-you Sarah Hand for serving our community for 10 great years! GboF raised $15,800 for the Ottawa Food Bank. Annual Exhibition Juror: Keith Campbell.

2016Presentations: Lesley McInally, Tom Lambert and a new initiative with Hintonburg Pottery starting in September. Proposal for “Populace” is accepted with grants from Ottawa 2017 and Ontario 150, spearheaded by Kirstin Davidson, Hilda Lambrechts, Kim Lulashnyk. OGP calendar created featuring Guild members’ work. “Celebrating Clay” monthly shows launched and held at pop-up gallery Galerie Côté Créations. OGP members Amy Bell, Philip Samuel Black and Johanna Jansen participate in the “Tulip Gallery” for the Canadian Tulip Festival. Annual Exhibition Juror: Leta Cormier.

2017Hosted the 2017 FUSION Conference. OGP Notebook produced featuring the work of Guild members. Website redesigned by Johanna Jansen. Guild Forum established for email communications within Guild membership. Great Guild Garage Sale held. “Populace” opens at the Museum of Nature, McLeod Street, with dignitaries from Pikwakanagan, the City of Ottawa, Ottawa 2017 and Ontario 150. “Populace at Home,” a joint venture featuring 150 gilded sculptures displayed at Dust Evans Gallery. Presentations: Cynthia O’Brien (Rites of Spring), Amy Bell, Emily Dore and Jocelyn Jenkins (FUSION Mentorship Program); their group show “Dimensions” at Robert McLaughlin Gallery, Oshawa. GboF raised $14,400 for the Ottawa Food Bank. Annual Exhibition Juror: Cynthia O’Brien.

2018Three “Populace” sculptures placed in City of Ottawa Time Capsule. “Populace” reimagined as Compass for the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, installed in the shape of a compass rose on the lawn of the Society’s building at 50 Sussex Drive. Presentation: Monica Rosenthal (NCECA). Guild members who attended NCECA offered a “Micro NCECA Conference” at the April meeting. Workshop: Clement Hoeck (The Potter’s Nod). Artist Lecture: Paula Murray (Canada C3-A Crucible). Dave Drapeau becomes the Guild’s new webmaster. Annual Exhibition Juror: Brenda Sutton Mader.

2019Presentation: Hilde Lambrechts (Works in Progress). Celebrating Clay shows continue, including the first “Focus On” show by Amy Bell, Jocelyn Jenkins and Emily Dore, entitled “Flow”. Great Bowls of Fire raised $14,400 for the Ottawa Food Bank.

2020Guild rebranding by Jordan Danger. Meeting presentations:: Sarah Fulford (Fogo Island Clay Studio), Maria Moldovan. Commemorative “Populace” book delivered to Mayor Jim Watson. Online membership/renewals launched; members gain the ability to update their profile and gallery independently. Due to Coronavirus (Covid 19) pandemic, in-person events, including Great Bowls of Fire, cancelled; meetings/talks/workshops conducted via ZOOM. Virtual Annual Exhibition Juror: Marney McDiarmid.

2021Two virtual exhibitions: Jocelyn Jenkins “Night Garden”, Ada Brzeski, “From Paper to Clay”.

2022GboF returns in takeout format, raising $10,500 for the Food Bank. Annual Exhibition resumes, juror: Maureen Marcotte, with live stream awards ceremony. Promotion/advertising focus moves from legacy media to social media; Instagram followers and engagement growing. Virtual solo Celebrating Clay exhibition: Elizabeth Davies “Field and Forest”. Workshop: John Britt (Cone 6 Glazes).

202350th Anniversary celebrated with an anniversary logo, branded aprons, and special events & exhibitions. See 50th Anniversary celebrations here. Special events included scholarship awards, “50 Pots in 50 Spots” and “Capital Creates” exhibition at the Ottawa Art Gallery, as well as the launch of the Ottawa Clay Festival. GboF raised $15,000 for the Food Bank. Bursaries offered to help members attend the New Clay Conference. Celebrating Clay virtual solo exhibit: Lucy Willemsen “Birds & Birch”. Annual Exhibition juror: Angelo di Petta.

2024Ottawa Clay Festival becomes an annual event. Spring Sale sold out. Holiday Sale oversubscribed. GboF raised $15,000+ (tickets $50) for the Food Bank. Workshops: Eiko Maeda (Nerikomi), Richard Gill (Relief Wall Hangings), Emily Lim (Photographing your Pots). Virtual show: Amy Jane St. Denis :Vessels of Contemplation MMXXIV”. Annual Exhibition Juror: Leslie McInally.

2025Membership reached 127. Spring Sale sold out in under 12 hours. Website redesign launched by Lisa Butler and Nancy Riggs; Bernadette Lapierre became new webmaster. “Pot Talks” networking series launched. GboF raised $18,101 (tickets $55). Two Fusion conference bursaries awarded. Workshops: Kiefer Floreal (Throwing Large), Pulling Handles. Annual Exhibition Juror: Sequoia Miller.

2017-PresentCelebrating Clay provides members the opportunity to present their work either in a solo show or as a collaborative group exhibition: see the Celebrating Clay Archive.

2015-PresentExhibitions provide Guild members with the opportunity to compete and display fine works of art: see the Annual Juried Exhibition Archive.