Richmond BC, Canada #richmondartgallerybc
Kick off Culture Days weekend with artist Cat Hart and make decorative tiles using locally gathered Fraser River clay.
Using clay and plants gathered from the Fraser River, we’ll make decorative tiles which will be fired at a later date. Clay from the Fraser is low-fire, so it will fire a bright brick red and have a slightly rough texture. When fired to high temperatures it will melt and can be used as a dark brownish-purple glaze.
Local or wild clay is very different to store-bought clay; it can be unreliable and may not turn out as you hope, but it also allows us to work with the land in its purest local form, so bring a spirit of experimentation and curiosity! You’ll have the opportunity to experience the clay at various different stages—freshly dug, dried, and wet—and observe the ways it changes colour and texture.
What to bring:
All materials will be provided but, if you like, bring some plants or flowers that you’ve seen growing along the Fraser. Be mindful not to take more than you need. A few leaves or flowers will be enough.
Location:
This event is part of the Branscombe House Artist Residency, but for this workshop we’ll be working in the Richmond Art Gallery classroom.
Registration:
This event is best suited to adults and youth ages 16+. Registration is required and space is limited, so register now!
Any questions, please don’t hesitate to email me at cathrynhart@gmail.com.
About the Artist:
Cat Hart, 2025 Branscombe House Artist-in-Residence
The Branscombe House Artist Residency takes place in a restored 1908 Edwardian-style house in Steveston, one of the earliest settler homes in the area, significant for its historical association to the development of the area, both as a residential building and through the Branscombe family’s general store.
Since its inaugural residency in 2016, the program has hosted visiting professional artists for eleven-month community-engaged arts residencies. Professional artists with a community-engaged practice are invited to apply for the residency through an annual open call.
Cat Hart is the current artist-in-residence exploring this history through eco-arts processes.
Originally from the UK, for the last 20 years Cat Hart has lived on the traditional homelands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skxwú7mesh (Squamish) & səlilw̓ ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples in Vancouver. Cat’s work explores memory, place, migration, and biodiversity. Influenced by Indigenous teachings about good land relations, alongside the deepening climate crisis, the artist’s practice reflects their interest in local histories and materials and a desire to be deeply connected to place.
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This event is part of Richmond Culture Days 2025
