On this page you will find a fairly complete CV and a brief biography.

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Peter W. Powning

Sussex, New Brunswick, Canada
Website: http://www.powning.com

Selected Shows

Solo at Galerie Elena Lee, Montreal, Oct. 2004.
Habatat Galleries, Michigan. "North of the Border". May 2004.
International Glass Invitational, Habatat Galleries, Boca Raton, FL. 2004
Canadian Clay, Red Star Gallery, Kansas City, Mo. 2004
"Twenty-first Century Ceramics ", Canzani Center Gallery, Columbus Ohio. Bill Hunt curator, catalogue. 2003.
Large Work, solo at the Sandra Ainsley Gallery, Toronto, 2003. Catalogue.
Canadian Glass Art, National Liberty Museum, Philadelphia. 2003.
"Contemporary Glass 2003: 20th Annual International Glass Invitational", Habatat Galleries, invited speaker, Boca Raton, Fla. 2003.
SOFA Chicago with Habatat Galleries, Outdoor work, October, 2002, Catalogue.
Studio 21, Halifax, NS. Recent Work opens November 15th, 2002
Biennale Nationale de Ceramique, Trois Rivieres, Quebec, National Invitational. 2002-2003
"Northern Realms", Vermont Clay Studio invitational Robin Hopper curator, Waterbury Centre, Vermont. 2002
International Glass Exhibition, Habatat, Boca Raton.2001-2002.
"Transistions", Peter Buckland Gallery, fall 2001
International Glass Exhibition, Habatat, Boca Raton.2000-2001.
Sandra Ainsley Gallery, solo, Sept. 23 - Oct 14, 2000.
NBCC Galery, "Embrace Confusion", solo, February-March, 2000.
Studio 21, Elemental, two person show, June, 2000.
"Looking Forward: New Views of the Craft Object" curated by P.Greenhalgh, V&A Museum, London, exhibition, Ontario, Canada. 2000. catalogue
Historical Influences, NBCC Gallery, Fredericton.May-June 2000.
International Glass Exhibition, Habatat, Boca Raton.1999-2000.
Peter Buckland Gallery, "Screens" group. 1999.
Solo, Habatat Galleries, Boca Raton, Florida, October, 1998.
International Glass Exhibition, Habatat, Boca Raton, 1998.
SOFA Chicago, Sculpture Objects Functional Art, International Art Showcase, October, 1998.
SOFA NYC, Sculpture Objects Functional Art, International Art Showcase NYC, NY April 1998.
Fragments, Solo exhibition, Elena Lee Verre d'Art, Montreal, Quebec. April 1998.
"Poetry of the Vessel", AGNS curated by Chris Tyler, catalogue, 1998.
Prix Strathbutler Award Travelling Exhibition. Touring exhibition of the first five winners of the Strathbutler Award. London, UK. Washington, DC. Canada, etc. 1997-2000.
Studio 21, Halifax, NS. Featured work in conjunction with solo exhibition at Art Gallery of Nova Scotia from Nov. 97 - Feb. 98
"Peter Powning: Elemental Clay & Glass", Solo survey show curated by Gloria Hickey, Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery, Waterloo, Ont. Sept.-Dec. 1996 . Travels under the sponsorship of the NB Museum 97-98. 27 pagef ull colour catalogue.NB Museum February-March 1997,
Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, November 15, 1997- February 2, 1998
Fletcher Challenge Award Show, Aukland New Zealand, 1996.
"Clay: Medium - Based Practices", Dalhousie U. Art Gallery,curator: Arthur Handy, Winter 1996
"Canadian Clay Currents", Pyramid Arts Center, Rochester, NY. During 1996 NCECA conference.
Fireworks. Travelling group exhibition. Fusion: The Ontario Clay and Glass Ass. 1996
Virtual Ceramics Exhibition, NCECA. International juried exhibition on the World Wide Web on Internet. 1995. URL address is http://www.uky.edu/Artsource/vce/vcehome.html
"Fireworks", FUSION, juried travelling show 1993-94.
"Teapots", Gallery Lynda Greenberg, Ottawa.
International Invitational Exhibition of Ceramic Art, Nat'l Museum of History, Taipei,Taiwan, 1992.
The International Exhibition of Glass, Kanazawa, Japan, 1992.
"North", International touring exhibition. Nordic countries and Europe. 1992-1994.
Canadian Craft Museum, Vancouver. "Treasury of Canadian Craft", 1992-1994.
Canadian Contemporary Ceramics, Kunst Klubben Gallery, Oslo, Norway, 1990.
Lynda Greenberg Gallery, Solo. Ottawa. 1990.
Franklin Silverstone at the Olga Korper Gallery. Toronto. 1990.
Sojourn Gallery, Calgary, Alberta. Solo. 1991.
International Ceramics Festival, Mino Japan, 1989
Ancient Origins, America House Gallery, Piermont, NY. February, 1991.
Canadian Excellence in Clay 2, Galerie Barbara Silverberg, Montreal, Fall 1989.
Canadian Australian Exchange, travelling in Canada and Australia, 1988.
Going for Gold, Calgary Olympics Show, 1988.
Lee Sclar Gallery, Morristown, NJ, 1988.
The Fletcher Challenge Pottery Award Show, Auckland, New Zealand, 1987.
Invitational Show, International Gallery, San Diego, California, May 1987.
International Invitational, Sylvia Ullman Gallery, Cleveland, Ohio, April, 1987.
New Canadian Sculptural Ceramics, Art Gallery of Nova Scotia. Invitational, 10
Canadian artists. 1986.
Lynda Greenberg Gallery, Ottawa, September, 1988. March 1990. Solo.
Galerie Barbara Silverberg, Montreal, October, 1987. Solo.
Fireworks Gallery, Halifax, November, 1987. Recent work. Solo.
U.de Moncton, Galerie d'Art, Moncton, NB. Sound sculpture and recent work. Solo. 1983.
Cassel Galleries, Fredericton, NB. Raku and bronze. Solo. 1982.
Boxes & Masks, Canadian Guild of Crafts, Montreal, 1986.
Peter Powning & John Ikeda: Traditional and Sculptural Forms in Clay, Beverlee Lane Gallery, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont, 1986
Old Fields New Paths, Department of External Affairs juried travelling international exhibition, (Touring Japan, Australia, etc). 1985.
Beaverbrook Art Gallery, juried show. Fredericton, NB. 1984.
Memorial University Art Gallery, St. John's, Newfoundland. Exhibited
sound sculpture as part of the National Sound Symposium. 1984.
Departure Gallery, Madison Ave., NYC,NY. Gallery artists. 1981.
"Artists Speaking with Children", Touring invitational, Owens Art Gallery,
Sackville, NB. 1979.
Warehouse Gallery, London, England. 1977.
"Faces of Canada", Montreal Guild of Crafts Invitational. 1976.

Selected Awards and Collections:

Readers Bench, public sculpture commission, UNB, Fredericton. 2004
Arts Builder Program, NB Arts Board juried grant, 2002
Beaverbrook Art Gallery, purchase for collection. 2002
Canada Council Award, 2000.
Atlantic Canada Design Award, 1999.
Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, purchase for permanent collection "Lunarium", 1997.
Winnepeg Art Gallery, purchase for their permanent collection "Trilithon", 1997.
Honourary Fellowship, NB College of Craft and Design, 1998
"Certificate of Recognition", NB Arts Board for "contibution to the arts", 1997.
Creation Grant, NB Arts Board, 1997.
NB Museum purchases: "Solar Flare" and "Step Series" for permanent collection with the assistance of the Canada Council for the Arts. 1997
"Punctuated Blue", Saint John Free Public Library, 2m tall (78 in.). clay/glass commission.
Strathbutler Award. Excellence in the arts. $10,000. 1993.
Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery, "Broken Arch" donated by Joan Chalmers, 1993.
Deichmann Award for Excellence in Craft, $5,000. 1991.
Barbara Enser Purchase Award, Fireworks, Juried show sponsored by the Ontario Clay and Glass Asc. Ottawa. 1990.
International Ceramics Competition, Mino Japan, Bronze Award. 1989.
Royal Bank Collection, 1989.
Regent Gallery, Summer Show, Marion McCain "Best in Show" Award. 1989.
Premier's Prize, NBCC Bienale, 1988.
Bronfman Award nominee 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989 & 1990.
Maxwell House Coffee Set National Competition, 2nd prize, 1988.
The Betty and Issac Hamburger Sculpture Award, Academy of the Arts, Baltimore Maryland, 1987
Canadian Craft Show, Loomis and Toles Excellence in Craftsmanship Award, Most Innovative Work, Toronto, 1986.
New York International Art Competition, 1986 and 1987, Certificate of excellence.
Canadian Guild of Crafts, Montreal, Award of Excellence, 1986.
CCC Professional Development Award 1985
Ruth McKinley Award for ceramics, The Maker's Eye, Harbourfront, 1985.
Canada Council Art Bank (2 pieces)
Bronfman Collection (Claridge, Montreal)
Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery Collection
Chalmers Collection
The Indusmin Collection
NB Museum Purchase Award
General Foods Collection
The Barbara Ring Memorial Collection
U.de Moncton Galerie d'Art Permanent Collection
Massey Foundation Collection (Canadian Museum of Civilization)
NB Art Bank
Excellence in Crafts Award, One of a Kind, The Canadian Craft Show.1984.

Print and Electronic Media (selected)

"Advanced Raku Techniques", American Creamic Society, Traveling solo 4 p. article by P. Powning. 2004
"Internaional Glass Art", by Richard Wilfred Yelle, Schiffer Publishing, 2003. 400 page oversize hardcover. P.Powning, 2 page spread.
“Peter Powning”, exhibition catalogue for solo show at Sandra Ainsley Gallery, 2003. 40 pages.
“Stayin’ Alive: Survival Tactics for the Visual Artist”, Robin Hopper, 2003. Biographical essay by P. Powning.
"Raku" by John Mathieson. Ceramics Handbook by the American Craft Society, 2003.
Winnipeg Free Press, review of solo show by Amy Karlinski. 2003
"One on One: Peter and Beth Powning", Rogers cable feature interview, 30 minutes. 2003.
American Craft Magazine, Oct/Nov ’02, page 39.
Ceramics Monthly, page 38, Canada's Tenth Biennial. December 2002.
"Raku", by John Mathieson. 128 pgs. Profile w/ images pp. 101 & 102.
“Some Work” by Peter Powning, catalogue, 42 pages. ’02 w/ Habatat Galleires
The Halifax Herald, Dec. 1, 2002, review of Studio 21 exhibition. B5.
Maclean's "Canada's Weekly Newsmagazine", pg. 52, profile. July 16, 2001
"Looking Forward: New Views of the Craft Object" curated by P.Greenhalgh, V&A Museum, London, exhibition, Ontario, Canada. 2000. catalogue pgs. 16&18.
"Artspots", CBC Maritimes TV , 4 segments Fall 1999
"Contrasts", NBTV, Feature program.Spring 1999
"All Things Considered", Saint John Telegraph Journal, feature article by Alison Hughes
"The Ceramic Design Book: A Gallery of Contemporary Work", intro. Val Cushing, pub. Lark, 1998.
Listed in "Canadian Who's Who", 1997
Ceramics Monthly, 7 page feature with colour photographs, November 1997.
Contact Magazine, feature article "A Personal Alchemy" by Gloria Hickey pp10-13, Summer 1997, illustrated.
Fusion Magazine. Cover photo and review "Peter Powning: Elemental Clay and Glass" by Kathryn Forler,pp 8-9, illustrated. Vol. 21, No. 2. Spring/Summer 1997.
Prix Strathbutler Award 1991-1995, exhibition catalogue pp 32-37. Sandra Flood curator. 50 pages, illustrated.
"Peter Powning: Elemental Clay and Glass", Ratwing Press, 28 page colour exhibition catalogue. 1996
Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery video highlight by Accidental Arts for Bravo TV, 1997
Feature Article, NB Reader, February 1997.
Clay: Medium-Based Practices, Arthur Handy, 32 page exhibition catalogue. Illustrated.
"Contact", article, pp. 19-23. Summer 1995, No. 101
"Sunday Arts", CBC TV (national), Documentary on P&B Powning's work and studio. Jan. 1993 and repeats.
"Morningside", CBC. Interview w/ Peter Gzowski re: Strathbutler Award. 1993.
"As It Happens", CBC. Interview w/ Michael Enright re: Light Brigade. 1993.
"City & Country Home", A Celebration of Canadian Design, Architecture and Craft. pp 14&93.
September 1992.
"Leading Edge", Feature, MITV Regional Program, Halifax, October 6, 1991.
" Canadian Interiors", Highlight of cast bronze and glass table. May/June issue. 1991.
"Contact", Keeping the Lid On, feature profile and photos inc. cover. pp. 2-4.Summer '90 no. 81.
"The Craft Factor",photos and reviews, pp. 2,4,5 & 17. Volume 14 No.2, 1989.
"Chez-Soi", photo, No. 131 October 1989.
"The Ottawa Citizen", solo show review, October, 1988.
"The Crafts Report", Wilmington, Delaware. p.18. Nov.1987.
"Building Renovation", work in cover photo, Nov/Dec 1987.
"Craft News", OCC magazine cover article pp. 1,3. Vol.12 no. 5.
"Arts Atlantic", feature review #29,summer/fall 1987 pg. 42.
"Arts Atlantic", review, p.5, #27 vol.5. Winter, 1987.
"Canadian Interiors", p. 25, Jan. 1987.
"Craft Focus 2", Ontario Craft Council's juried photo gallery issue. 1986.
"Ceramics Monthly", feature pp. 24-27. November, 1986
"Arts Atlantic", Cover photo, #26. Summer, 1986.
"ART POST" 3.1 "In Review: The Maritimes' Peter Powning",Astrid Brunner, 1985.
"Vie des Art", Vol.XXIX,No.116,Sept.-Nov.1984. pp. 26,27,44 & 95.
"Atlantic Insights", April 1984. p. 90.
Toronto Star, Supplement,December 1984.
"Morningside", 30 minute interview w/ Peter Gzowski, CBC, Nov. 27, 1984.
"Arts Atlantic", Summer 1982, pp. 16-19.
Numerous appearances on local TV and radio and in regional publications.

Positions & Affiliations

RCA. Nominated and elected to the Royal Canadian Academy of the Arts, 1998
Banff Centre for the Arts, Banff, Alberta. Visiting Artist. 1992.
Canada Council Explorations Program jury, two year term, Atlantic Region.
New Brunswick Arts Board, vice-chair, 1990-1991.
Premier's Advisory Committee for the Arts 1987-88.
Past president and founder of In Form Gallery, artists' coop. St. John, NB.
Past president and vice-president of the NB Crafts Council.
Past vice-president and founder of Alliance Craft Gallery (coop),St. John,NB.
Member: CAR/FAC, Sculptor's International, MSDC (Member Society of Designer Craftsmen, England), NB Crafts Council, Nova Scotia Designer Craftsmen, FUSION, Ontario Crafts Council and the Glass Art Association of Canada.

Peter Powning has and continues to do numerous workshops, slide presentations, lectures, radio and TV interviews as well as working with a wide variety of community and school groups.

Education

"New Works Residency", Banff Centre for the Arts, Jan-Feb. 2001.
1 week ceramic shell workshop. The University of the Arts, Philadelphia. 1992.
Leighton Artist Colony, Banff Centre for the Arts, Banff, Alberta. January-February, 1992,
AutoCAD Training, 120 hour certificate course. CADCAM Systems Ltd. 1991.
NB Community College, 40 hr. Computer Assisted Design Course. 1984.
Baltimore Institute of Art, chemically bonded mold making techniques for metal casting, by Johnson Atelier staff. 1980.
Croydon College of Design and Technology, London, England. One Year Advanced Research and Development Course. Awarded MSDC. 1976-77.
University of Connecticut, Art major in sculpture and ceramics. 1968-1971.
Trinity College, Hartford, Connecticut. 1967-1968.

Recent workshops and presentations by Peter Powning

Manitoba Craft Council, 2 day workshop, Winnepeg, Manitoba. 2004.
Habatat Great Barrington, "life as an artist", June, 2003
Chicago SOFA, Outdoor sculpture “talk” at Habatat installation.2002

1998:
Fusion Conference, Missisauga, Ontario. Guest speaker, panelist and workshop leader.
Graduation Speaker, NB College of Craft and Design, 1998

1996-1997:
Glass Art Association of Canada Conference, Montreal, P.Q.
Nova Scotia Guild of Potters, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Sculpture Department, Grenville College, Cornerbrook, Newfoundland.
Ceramics Department, West Viking College, Stephenville, Newfoundland.
Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, lecture and workshop series ‘97-'98.
Devon House, Saint John's, Newfoundland.
NB College of Craft and Design, Fredericton, New Brunswick.

1997:
Visiting Artist at NB College of Craft and Design Fall term 1997
Ottawa Potter's Guild, Ottawa, Ontario.
Various presentations and workshops at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia in association with "Elemental Clay and Glass"
New Brunswick Museum, Saint John, New Brunswick.
Waterloo University, Waterloo, Ontario.
Aitken Bi-Centennial Exhibition Centre, Saint John, NB.
Dalhousie University Art Gallery, Halifax, Nova Scotia

Peter Powning has won many national and international awards for both his vessels and sculpture in glass, bronze and clay. His work is in numerous private and corporate collections and has been exhibited widely, including: Japan, Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand, England, Scandinavia, Canada and the U.S.A.

Penumbrium.

Seeking Balance

Glass, steel and stone, 7.5' tall

Peter Powning: Biographical Information

Peter Powning was born in Rhode Island in 1949. He and his wife Beth set up their first studio in Markhamville near Sussex, New Brunswick in 1970 at the age of 20. At university, wide ranging interests led him to study a bizarre array of subjects including anthropology, sculpture, agricultural economics, homesteading, ceramics, farm welding, survival, philosophy, children's literature etc. In short, it was the late sixties. He eventually focused on Beth and ceramics (in that order). He served a short and stormy apprenticeship in Florida, New York, where he and Beth lived in a tire warehouse under the local sheriff's office (a man who definitely watched too much television). That really primed them for moving to New Brunswick. They built their first studio in a grain shed on their old farmstead in Markhamville. This studio burned to the ground in 1974. They built the next studio with the help of many friends in February and March of 1974 with materials from an old barn. Over the years this studio evolved to include three buildings which incorporate a small bronze and glass foundry, metal and wood workshops as well as a pottery studio with a gallery showroom. This evolution has taken place on the same rural farm which they bought in 1970 and now share with their 23 year old son Jacob, who is a blade smith and his wife Sara McQuinn Powning.

To begin with, Peter sold his work locally, but by 1973 he began selling work to galleries and shops across Canada. In 1975, Peter and Beth, along with another couple, opened a craft gallery in Sussex, which ran successfully for nine years, selling both their own work, as well as featuring word of other Maritime craftspeople and artists in monthly shows. When the gallery closed in 1984, Peter went back to wholesaling, eventually selling work in every province in Canada, as well as many states in the US. At that time Peter shifted completely from porcelain and stoneware to raku-fired pottery.In the 90's he made the transition for clay to mixed media mainly working in bronze, glass and clay.

Over the years, Peter Powning has contributed in many ways to the development of both art and craft in Canada. In 1982, He was instrumental in convincing a Saint John developer to help a group of craftspeople establish a co-op craft gallery in the new Market Square complex. He also was central in persuading the same developer to underwrite the establishment and operating costs for a cooperative art gallery in the same complex. Peter Powning has served as vice-president and president of the NB Craft Council, as well as serving on many Council committees. He's given lectures and workshops across much of Canada and in the US and has served on numerous juries, both for private shows, as well as for the Canada Council. He was chosen as the representative for craft on the Premier's Advisory Committee on the Arts, a committee whose mandate was to sort out the province's cultural programs and make policy and structural recommendations to the Premier. As a consequence of his effective work on that committee he was appointed to the fledgeling NB Arts Board, set up as a result of recommendations by the Premier's Advisory Committee on the Arts. He was elected as vice chair of Board. In 1997 he was awarded a "Certificate of Recognition" by the Arts Board for his contribution to the arts.

Peter spent one year (1976-1977) studying in London, on a one year research and development course at Croydon College of Art. This year gave him a chance to leave the pressure of production word behind; he and his wife visited many potters and artists, coming in contact with influences which reshaped his work. Aside from this break and one other, Peter has worked full-time as a craftsman and artist since he was twenty; he has never had any other "job". The business has always been a family affair with shared work and responsibilities. His wife, Beth, has a writing and photography career of her own in addition to helping with keeping the studio on a sound footing.

Recognition for his work has come in many forms such as the 1991 Deichman Award for excellence in craft and a bronze award he won at the Second International Ceramics Competition at Mino, Japan out of a field of over 1,700 entries from 52 countries. His work is currently included in invitational and juried exhibitions nationally as well as in Europe, Japan and Taiwan. In addition to recognition for his ceramic work, Peter has won awards for his efforts in bronze and glass. In 1992 he did a stint as visiting artist at the Banff Centre for the Arts as well as participating in the Leighton Artist Colony. A touring exhibition of his work "Peter Powning: Elemental Clay and Glass" made the rounds of selected Canadian Museums and Galleries. The exhibition was curated by Gloria Hickey and travelled until the end of 1998. There is a 28 page colour catalogue of this exhibition available by clicking on bookstore. For additional career information have a look at Peter's CV.