Check out artists LIVING IT UP! during FIRED UP!!

LiveItUp

Watch for The Arctic Show opening November 19th 2009

Jamie Jardine has just returned from Iqaluit, Nunavut filled with enthusiasm and inspiration for this year's exhibition. previous exhibitions have resulted in exhibitions featuring England, France, Italy, Saskatchewan, the Boreal Forest, Algonquin and, of course London, Ontario. Jamie is particularly excited about his recent trip to the north and has returned filled with enthusiasm and inspiration. November 19th will be the gala opening and it will be an exciting show. If past show are an indicator then this one should be a blockbuster!!!!

Teapots arriving fast and furious!!!

Brian is working busily unpacking, sorting, pricing, photographing and admiring all the teapots that have been arriving for "No Drips Allowed".  It has been quite exciting watching the parcels arrive from all over Canada using every shipping method possible.  Yesterday Carol-Anne Michaelson hand-delivered her teapots and mugs.  This morning guest artist Darren Emenau's teapot arrived from New Brunswick.  He was recommended by Peter Powning and Beth Biggs.  Shortly after Keith Campbell's teapots and mugs arrived from North Bay.  Unfortunately a teapot was broken in transit.  It is always frustrating to open a box and see a damaged pot.  Saturday Celia Brandao of Toronto arrived with her teapots as did Heather Daymond from Guelph.  Then one of Bruce Cochrane's students arriving with Bruce's teapots. It is turning into a teapot extravaganza.  There are still a number of teapots to arrive and artists have been calling in regularly to give status updates.  We have been getting notice of progress from "I just assembled it---It's in the kiln---It's out of the kiln---It is looking good--- It failed -have to do another---It's on the way!!!" It is exciting to think that there will be almost 100 teapots and around 500 mugs from all over Canada.  Opening night there are lots of artists planning to be here.  When all the teapots and mugs are set up it will be nice to stand back and enjoy a glass of wine, naturally while contemplating my next cup of tea and wondering whose mug I will use!

Where the teapots are!

To see the teapots that are arriving simply click on 'About' and then click teapots and you are there!

Teapots for "No Drips Allowed" starting to arrive!!!

The teapots and mugs for Brian's show have started to arrive and Brian has been photographing them and putting them online.  This show is going to be a little bit different from previous shows in that the opening is going to be streamed LIVE ON LINE!!! Kimberly from BlueWave Media is going to be here to make it happen. Kimberly is our incredible web designer who has given us our new look. Not only will the exhibition be live you will also be able to BUY ONLINE!!! Yes it will be possible to actually buy online starting at 8 o'clock.  The exhibition opens at 7PM but for the first hour, keeping with gallery policy, people attending have priority purchasing rights.  In the nine years that we have been open we have always given the people attending our openings first choice.

Making our exhibitions accessible online is part of our mandate in making the best in contemporary Canadian ceramics available to a wider audience.  We are quite excited about having the exhibition streaming live as many of the artists are attending. This will give you a chance to put a face to a piece of work.

More details will follow but essentially the game plan is:

Live streaming of the exhibition will begin at 7PM

All teapots and mugs will be photographed and online.  As work sells between 7PM and 8PM it will be marked such on the web.  At 8PM web-watchers can join the party!!!!

More details to follow as the story unfolds!!!

New Work Arriving for February Exhibition!!

Happy New Year! Brian and I are now back from our annual studio tour (more about that at a later date). Now it is back to work and preparations for our first events of the new year.  February 5th is our second fund raiser for Investing In Children titled "London Gets Mugged 2".  Last year was a huge success and we are looking to raise the bar this year and raise even more money.  There are more details of this even elsewhere on the site.

Our first gallery event this year is "No Drips Allowed".  Brian has worked very hard organizing this event and it is promising to be quite exciting.  As you may be aware the teapot is besides being one of the most collected items in ceramics also a true testament to the skill of the potter.  For this exhibition artists from all over Canada are participating.  This is also an event paying homage to function hence the title "No Drips Allowed".

Teapots began arriving before we left January 1st on our trip.  Harlan House was the first artist's work to arrive.  Since then not a day goes by that work doesn't arrive.  it has been great unwrapping the work of both artists we already carry and that of the guest artists who are participating.  The guest artists have all been recommended by artists we already represent.

A particularly exciting aspect of this exhibition is our intent to stream it live on the internet.  Kimberly of BlueWave Media will be assisting us in our launch of live stream openings.  It will also be possible to buy on-line. We will have Paypal installed by the event and this will give people the opportunity as of 8PM to actually purchase online.  The show opens with work going on sale at 7PM but, in keeping with gallery practice, the first hour is for people in the gallery.

Just think you will be able to see the work, see who is buying it and then, if it hasn't sold, buy yourself at 8PM.  This is going to be interesting and a first for us.  The pieces will also be online for viewing commencing February 1st so you will also have a chance to email or call our toll free number with any questions.  I think this is going to be an added enhancement for collectors interested in fine ceramics.

Remember the only separation between an artist's mug and a major exhibition piece is time not quality.  This exhibition presents an opportunity to acquire, at a modest cost, a work by a major Canadian artist.  Many of the artists are planning to attend the opening so you will also have an opportunity to associate the work with a face. Heady stuff!!!

Stay tuned for more details!!!

No Drips Allowed!!!

Form and function are very important when creating a teapot that doesn't drip.  No drips Allowed, curated by Brian Cooke, is an exhibition illustrating this fact with works by over fifty of Canada's leading ceramic artists from coast to coast.  The exhibition is also introducing work by various guest artists.  This exhibition will also be the first time that we will be live streaming an opening.  The exhibition opens Thursday February 12th at 7 PM.  Our website will also be set up to accept internet buyers from 8PM.  Watch our site as we begin loading images beginning February 1st.  A special "No Drips Allowed" page will follow shortly.

You must visit Jonathons!

"Jonathon Bancroft-Snell Gallery in London, Ontario, is like no other I have been to.
It is filled with work from the top Canadian Ceramic Artists from across Canada.
I am always inspired every time I visit, and try to get there as often as I can.
Exhibition openings are not to be missed!

Yesterday a new shipment of my thin bowls arrived there, just in time for the holidays. My new satin turquoise and bronze-glazed pieces have been very popular. I am very pleased with my new matte charcoal pierced bowls with red accents. (See above photo)
Trust me...you want to see this place!"

Shane Norrie - visit his site here

“Celebration”

November 6th through November 22nd

Featuring Lois Etherington-Betteridge CM, RCA.  This show will feature the work of 21 of Canada’s leading precious metal artists.

Many of the artists will be attending from all over Canada to honour one Canada’s leading metal artist on her eightieth birthday. Many of the participating artists will be attending. Watch our website for updates!

Opening Reception: Thursday November 6th at 7PM

“Celebration” is tribute to Lois Etherington Betteridge CM, RCA and recognition of her lifetime dedication to the arts.  It is also a birthday party.  Birthday parties are celebrations and “Celebration” is an incredible birthday party. Among the guests are some of the finest metal artists creating in Canada today The result is an extraordinary exhibition of metal art that has not occurred in Canada for a very long time.

It is my pleasure to be hosting “Celebration” in honour of Lois’ eightieth birthday.  It would be easy to turn this statement into a litany of Lois’ awards and achievements during her long and productive career as one of the 20th century’s most illustrious metal artists. Suffice it to say the achievements are extraordinary and the awards are numerous. These alone would certainly have provided ample reason for hosting an exhibition however this exhibition is not merely a tribute to excellence but a testament to an incredible woman. She is a woman who, as an artist, has impacted on the lives of many artists nationally and internationally.

The artists participating in this exhibition represent some of the finest talents in Canada today.  Their work is the personification of imagination, innovation and creative excellence.  They hail from all over Canada and each has a personal link with Lois. Many of them participated in the exhibition “Tribute” that took place in The Art Gallery of Nova Scotia in 2000. Their commitment to participate is further testament to an incredible woman.

I am honoured to be hosting “Celebration”

There is nothing I can add other than:

“Happy Birthday Lois”

Jonathon & Brian

Show Dates: November 6th through November 22nd
Open: Monday to Saturday 10AM until 6PM

“Celebration”
Featuring: Lois Etherington Betteridge

Opening Night

Thursday, November 6th, 2008 :: From 7PM

For information: 519-434-5443 or 866-229-5244
Or jonathon@jonathons.ca
REFRESHMENTS WILL BE SERVED :: RSVP

Hola Cuba

Today is the opening of "Hola Cuba" with paintings by Scott Woods. The show is hung and looks great. Brian has done an excellent job in hanging the show and displaying the latest Canadian ceramics to have arrived this summer.

The exhibition got a nice boost last night with a little story on Rogers television. The producer Drew, as usual, did a super job. The work by Maurice Savoie looked incredible on the screen.

Speaking of Maurice, I should me.....

Featured in Vantage Magazine

Vantage, a luxury lifestyle magazine, profiles outstanding Canadian entrepreneurs and celebrities and the charitable work they do.
Jonathon is featured in the new issue, which will be available at better magazine stores everywhere, as well as at charitable events throughout the year.