Clay, Connection and Community

from Modern Luxuria Vol 37 JUNE 2023

Dessert In A Glass

Where artists grow and a dream is kept alive

WORDS BY MONA ROSE

Even before Viva Clayworks was her own, KJ MacAlister was intimately familiar with the studio, having spent 17 years making, teaching, and being taught in the space. In 2017, she took it over from Elli Grassmuck who opened the studio in 1995, and made a commitment to expand the studio to better serve the artists in the community and those who are seeking their art. With this commitment came a new name: Viva Clay.

“We have grown since we opened, offering more class time slots, more pottery night experiences, more markets, and more opportunities for staff to learn the business side of this craft,” KJ explained.

It’s common for businesses in the art world to maintain multiple income streams in order to thrive and within this, Viva Clay has developed an extremely varied demographic. While their 6-week classes are predominantly women and there may be fewer men; their age ranges are far more spread out. The pottery night experience adds even more diversity, welcoming those with and without experience to try their hand at a crash course behind the throwing wheel.

“We were one of the first studios to be able to offer Pottery Night Experiences on a long-term schedule. This is a great ‘date night’, a perfect gift experience, and a delightful way to celebrate a family get together, or work team-building. This is a one-time-only, 90-minute introduction to throwing pottery on the wheel. You enjoy a demo, make the work, choose the glaze and we do the rest of the work and call you when your piece is complete!”

Viva Clay not only gives people a space to make art, but it is also a place for people to purchase ready-made art as well. The studio regularly hosts markets with staff and student pieces on display, as well as KJ’s own ceramics.

To those separated from the world of ceramics, it might seem like a non-issue to call oneself an artist, but to KJ, it was something that took time to settle with as a title. For many years she called herself anything but an artist: maker, craftsperson, tradesperson, and after 23 years, finally, artist.

“I enjoy the act of creation. I enjoy the surprising brainstorms of ideas and problem-solving that this material, this world of techniques offers me. I have been gifted with the time and space to create in any direction I wish. An outside viewer may not be able to see an identifying thread through my body of work. I am that thread.”

Looking toward the future of Viva Clay, KJ aspires to a larger space with a second classroom and individual studios, and to build anticipation for their markets across the city. Her own future eventually lies in Salmon Arm, at Viva Clay’s sister location, The Workshop Studio and Gallery, currently being tended to by a staff member,

“That location is the land I want to retire on, have a studio to putter around in and be surrounded by artsy friends and lush gardens. In the meantime, I met an amazing person who asked me what I wanted to do when I grew up and I said an artist retreat would be a great dream. He agreed, so together we started The Workshop Studio and Gallery. It is the baby sister to our Edmonton location, offering classes and the opportunity to fire pots in our wood fired kiln.” WWW.VIVACLAYWORKS.COM

WORDS BY FRANCESCA ROZNICKI PHOTOGRAPHY STEVEN HOPE

THEworld of furniture and lighting has seen a lot of changes in recent years with new trends emerging, and old ones being reimagined. From minimalist designs to bold colours and patterns, there is something for everyone in this rapidly evolving industry and Park Lighting is the place to find it.

Located in the heart of Edmonton's west end, Park Lighting and Furnishings is a furniture and lighting boutique that offers a wide range of contemporary, modern, and classic designs. What started in 1980 as a DIY electrical shop on bustling Whyte Avenue, has now grown to a second store, Cartwright Lighting in Calgary, as well as a massive 31,000 sq/ft showroom in Edmonton. Always on the cusp of current trends, Park Lighting and Furnishings owner, Jared Johannesen knows a thing or two about up and coming styles.

The black fixtures we are seeing in so many designs these days continues to trend upward, Johannesen explains. “We are seeing black still to be the strongest finish choice for us, followed by brass. There are still many people that are looking to mix finishes either with existing finishes in the home, or to curate their own design inspiration.” He goes on to say, “We are seeing many natural materials being used such as rattan, alabaster, wood and now travertine to create warmth and texture.”

He mentions the rise of wall lights in new and creative applications, such as floating shelves, art lights, or bedside wall lamps. The other big shift is the use of vanity and island lighting. “Vanity lights are now often replaced with pendants in the bathrooms, and instead of three pendants over an island, we are often seeing two oversized pendants. Although subtle, these changes can really enhance the space,” Johannesen says.

Johannesen has also noticed a shift in trending furniture as of late. The ever trendy grey is slowly being replaced by a modernized take on blonde oak furniture with clean lines. For timeless trendy designs, he suggests lots of neutrals with the occasional pop of earthy colours such as soft oranges, yellows, and greens mixed with smooth textures like linen and wood.

When shopping for lighting and furniture, everybody’s needs and preferences are different, so being able to communicate what you need and want with your lighting and furniture expert is important. “Breaking down the spaces in a house makes the whole project less daunting and allows us to focus on specifics. Of course, scale, finish, placement, light output, light colour and controls are all part of completing the project.” explains Johannsesen. He continues, “If there is opportunity, lighting should also be part of the initial planning stages of a home. If it’s an afterthought, the flexibility and control are lost.”