Ellen Statz’s pottery will highlight a unique, collaborative fundraising event on behalf of Campbell River’s Food Bank, being held at three neighbouring stores: Impressions Custom Framing, Needle & Arts Centre, & French Creek Collective on Dec. 12.
Each store will feature exclusive lines of Statz’s ceramics, a chance to win a prized item, and donation bins collecting food items. Event goers can experience three distinctive environments showcasing Statz’s work, and multiple opportunities to support the Campbell River Food Bank.
Show, sale and Food Bank fundraiser will run from Saturday, Dec. 12 to Saturday, Dec. 19 at the three stores. Meet the artist on Saturday, Dec. 12 from 4-7 p.m. at Impressions Art Gallery & Framing.
Statz was born and raised in Campbell River, and has had a long, direct connection with the sea and with nature. Her recent work focuses on botanical textures and impressions. Statz works intuitively, finding the shape within each piece of clay, creating the graceful lines and feminine shapes she is known for.
“When I get my hands into the clay, all is right in my world. Clay is truly a magical material and I have not begun to exhaust the possibilities,” Statz says.
Statz’s work is sold in B.C. and Alberta, and has found homes around the world.
Statz is the daughter of a commercial fisherman and has a long and direct connection with the sea and with nature.
While pursuing a Fine Art Diploma at Malaspina College (now VIU) in Nanaimo, Statz had a serendipitous meeting with clay and became instantly addicted. She was often the first to arrive at the ceramics studio in the morning, and the last to leave at night.
Statz continued her art education and work in Raku at North Island College. For years she balanced a working life and caring for family together with her pottery career.
In 2006 she made the decision to work full time in the studio, and has never looked back.
Pottery has been a passion of Statz’s for 30 years.
Early in Statz’s career, her love of texture led her to a fascination with crocodiles and alligators, and for a time she as known as the “Alligator Lady.” At one point, the urge struck to create a full sized crocodile. Kitchen chairs and table were cleared out to make room for a bench and large bucket of clay.
The result was a very convincing seven foot long “croco-gator” that sadly did not survive the firing process. With several changes in technique, two large scale creatures now keep her company in the garden.
“The magic of Raku, for me at least, lies in the unknown, and the spontaneous,” Statz says.