Curriculum Vitae

Valerie Suzanne Metcalfe RCA

Education and Background

1994
Elected to the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts 1978
Founding member of the Stoneware Gallery and the Stoneware Studio, two Manitoba artists Cooperatives dedicated to teaching about and marketing fine pottery. 1974
Graduated from the University of Manitoba, BFA Honours

Exhibitions

2011
Matter of Clay III, National Invitational. Jonathon Bancroft-Snell Gallery, London, Ontario
2008
“No Drips Allowed” Teapot Show. Jonathon Bancroft-Snell Gallery, London, Ontario
2006
Matter of Clay II, National Invitational. Jonathon Bancroft-Snell Gallery, London, Ontario
2004
Invitational Porcelain Exhibit, Ontario Crafts Council, Toronto, Ontario 2004
Manitoba Crafts Council, juried spring exhibition 2003
Stoneware Gallery on Site: 25 Years of Getting Our Hands Dirty, Anniversary exhibition of Stoneware Gallery members at The Site Gallery, Winnipeg, Manitoba 2002
Manitoba Crafts Council, juried Spring Exhibition, Winnipeg, Manitoba 2002
Sixth Annual Invitational, The Guild Shop, Toronto, Ontario 2001
A Matter of Clay. Invitational national exhibition held at the Jonathon Bancroft–Snell Gallery in London, Ontario
Fifth Annual Invitational, The Guild Shop, Toronto, Ontario
2000
Porcelain 2000, juried show of functional forms in porcelain at Esmay Fine Art in Rochester, New York.
A Bowl for all Seasons, invitational show at The George R. Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art in Toronto, Ontario
1999–2000
Thick as a Brick: By the Flue, juried show. Exhibited first at the Saskatchewan Crafts Council in Regina Saskatchewan in December 1999. Then shown at the Manitoba Crafts Council in Winnipeg, Manitoba in January 2000.
Clay at the Crossroads: Directions in Contemporary Ceramics, Winnipeg Art Gallery in Winnipeg, Manitoba from the collection of the Winnipeg Art Gallery.
1999
Royal Canadian Academy of Arts, Prairie Region Exhibition, curated show. First exhibited at the Winnipeg Art Gallery in 1997, then shown at both the Mackenzie Art Gallery in Regina, Saskatchewan and the Triangle Gallery of the Visual Arts in Calgary, Alberta in 1998. It was subsequently renamed Prairie West and shown at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria in Victoria, BC and the Frederick Horsman Varley Gallery in Markham, Ontario in 1999
The Fourth Annual Invitational Ceramics Exhibit, The Guild Shop in Toronto, Ontario.
Contemporary Manitoba Clay, invitational show, Site Gallery in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
1998
Setting the Table, invitational show, The Guild Shop in Toronto, Ontario
1997
The Tea Party, invitational show, The Guild Shop in Toronto, Ontario
And the Earth was Filled with Wonder, juried spring exhibit, Manitoba Craft Council in Winnipeg, Manitoba
Prairie Artist Group Show, Harbinger Gallery in Waterloo, Ontario
Woven Together: Fibre and Clay, collaborative exhibit, The Weaver’s Guild and the Stoneware Gallery Potters, Manitoba Craft Council
Plate and Vase Invitational, The Guild Shop in Toronto, Ontario
1996
Manitoba Craft Council, juried spring exhibition (Winner: Best in Show for Vase)
Plate and Vase Invitational, The Guild Shop in Toronto, Ontario
1995
One Person Show, The Guild Shop in Toronto, Ontario
Clay in Canada: North by Northwest, Group show from the three Prairie Provinces and Minneapolis, Minnesota (voted one of the best shows of the year)
1994
Craft Exhibit, Owl 57 Galleries in Woodmere, New York
Canadian Decorative and Contemporary Crafts Exhibit, New York, New York
Art on the Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba
Fletcher Challenge International Ceramics Competition, Auckland, New Zealand (platter accepted)
Related Vases, juried spring exhibition, Manitoba Crafts Council (Winner: Best in Show)
1993
8th Annual San Angelo National Ceramic Competition, San Angelo, Texas. (Platter accepted and featured in Ceramics Monthly October issue as part of their coverage of the show)
A Touch of Madness, juried spring crafts show, Manitoba Crafts Council
1992
Contemporary Studio Collections in Ceramics, Glass and Silver, The Winnipeg Art Gallery in Winnipeg, Manitoba
1991
International Platter Show from the D. G. Harding Collection, Kingston, Jamaica
Manitoba Craft Council, juried spring craft show
A Teapot Show, A Show of Hands Gallery in Toronto, Ontario (requested participant)
1990
Pattern and Print, juried spring crafts show, Manitoba Crafts Council
Teapot Show, Sojourn Gallery in Calgary, Alberta
Teapot Show, Ontario Crafts Council in Toronto, Ontario
1989
Spring Show, Maralynn Wilson Gallery in Birmingham, Alabama
A Salute to the New Home, Craft Guild of Ontario group show in honour of the Ontario Crafts Council’s new office
Premier Artist Show, Sojourn Gallery’s Opening in Calgary, Alberta (requested participant)
1988
Craft Guild Diamond Jubilee, juried craft show in Winnipeg, Manitoba
Teapot Show from the private collection of Mr. Oswald G. Harding, Q.C., and Attorney General of Jamaica
1987
Manitoba Artists, juried show, The Winnipeg Art Gallery 75th Anniversary
Group Show, Tapis-Inca Plus Gallery in Montreal, Quebec
Canadian Potters’ Show, Maralynn Wilson Gallery in Birmingham, Alabama
Ten Best Manitoba Craftsmen, group show, Warehouse Art Works in Winnipeg, Manitoba
In Praise of Crafts, juried Western Canadian craft show held by the Manitoba Crafts Guild.
Afternoon Tea Group Show, The Rubayait in Calgary, Alberta
MDC Group Show, Interior Design Institute of Manitoba Convention (IDIM) in Winnipeg, Manitoba
One Person Show, Lindor Gallery in Winnipeg Manitoba
Reflections of Three Plains, juried tri-provincial craft show, The Winnipeg Art Gallery in Winnipeg, Manitoba
1982
MDC Group Show, Eatons in Winnipeg Manitoba
1981
MDC Group Show, Eatons in Winnipeg Manitoba
1980
Three-Man Show, Sequoia Gallery in Edmonton, Alberta
1979
Group Show, Janet Ian Cameron Gallery, University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Manitoba
1978
Manitoba Crafts Council Show, Archives Building, University of Manitoba in Winnipeg
1974
Thesis Show, University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Manitoba

Grants and Juries

2004
Juried for the Manitoba Crafts Council craftspace committee
1998–2002
Served on the Steering Committee, Arts and Cultural Industries Training Plan Development Team
Served on the Exhibitions Jury, Manitoba Arts Council
1994–95
Served on the Manitoba Arts Council Multi Disciplinary Arts Advisory Panel
1993
Received short-term project grant to attend the opening of the 8th Annual San Angelo National in San Angelo, Texas
Juried for the Manitoba Arts Council, Major Craft Grant
1991
Juried for the Manitoba Arts Council, Major Craft Grant
1990
Awarded Manitoba Arts Council Major Craft Grant
1989
Juried for the Manitoba Arts Council, Major Craft Grant
1984
Ceceived Manitoba Arts Council Grant to attend workshop in Neon Techniques at the Experimental Glass Studio in New York, New York

Awards

2004
Commissioned to design awards for National Leasing’s sales leaders
1997
Appointed to the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts
1996
Best in Show, Manitoba Crafts Council, juried spring exhibition in Winnipeg
1994
Best in Show, Manitoba Crafts Council, juried spring exhibition in Winnipeg
1991
Commissioned, for a variety of pieces for the Manitoba Blue Cross executive offices in Winnipeg, Manitoba
1981–91
Award Plates for Great-West Life Assurance Company in Winnipeg, Manitoba
1983
Award of Merit, Manitoba Christmas Craft Show in Winnipeg, Manitoba
Award Plates, Faculty of Architecture, University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Manitoba
1982
Limited Edition Award Plates for the Manitoba Squash Club
1981
Awarded Manitoba Designer Craftsman designation

Publications

2008
500 Plates and Chargers, Lark Books
2006
500 Pitchers, Lark Books
1993
Ceramics Monthly, 8th Annual San Angelo National
1997
Royal Canadian Academy of Arts. Book of Days
1997
Contemporary Studio Ceramics, Collection of the Winnipeg Art Gallery
2000
Clay Times, Esmay Fine Art, Rochester, N.Y., Porcelain 2000 Exhibit
2000
Daniel Rhodes, Clay and Glazes For the Potter, 3rd edition, revised and expanded by Robin Hopper
2000
Robin Hopper, Functional Pottery, Form and Aesthetic in Pots of Purpose, 2nd edition
2001
Kevin A Hluch, The Art of Contemporary American Pottery
2001
Robin Hopper, The Ceramic Spectrum, 2nd edition

Collections

2009
Plate presented to The Honourable Michaelle Jean, Governor General of Canada
2002
Piece presented to The Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, Governor General of Canada
1995–96
Pieces purchased by the Manitoba Department of Culture and Heritage, Government of Manitoba
1992 and 1994
Pieces purchased by the Manitoba Department of Culture and Heritage, Government of Manitoba
1991
Three pieces acquired for the private collection of Senator Harding, Attorney General of Kingston, Jamaica
Platter purchased for the permanent collection of the Winnipeg Art Gallery in Winnipeg, Manitoba
1990
Three pieces acquired for the private collection of Senator Harding, Attorney General of Kingston, Jamaica
Teapot acquired by Lipton’s Tea Company for inclusion in their permanent collection
1989
Piece presented on behalf of the Manitoba Government to the President of Iceland
1988
Piece presented on behalf of the Manitoba Government to the King and Queen of Sweden
Purchases by the Massey Foundation, the Provincial Government of Manitoba, and the Federal Government of Canada
Private collections across Canada, in the United States, England, Australia, France, Jamaica, Korea, Japan, the Netherlands and Germany

Teaching

2011
Lectured at the University of Manitoba for the Fine Arts course, “Women in Pottery”
2011
Conducted a hands-on workshop for The London Potters’ Guild, London, Ontario
1998
Conducted workshop for the University of Manitoba Ceramic Club.
1978–present
Teach regularly at Stoneware Studio since becoming part owner in 1980. The Stoneware Studio has an enrollment of 65 students.
1985
Taught a pottery course at St. John’s Ravenscourt, a private school in Winnipeg, Manitoba
1980–81
Worked in conjunction with Artist/Professor Winston Leathers and Professor Gordon Adaskin, teaching a ceramic elective to Environmental Studies students at the Faculty of Architecture, University of Manitoba.
1977–85
Taught two winter sessions for the Winnipeg Art Gallery and, occasionally, for the Winnipeg Department of Parks and Recreation.
Conducted workshops at Mostly Stoneware Studio, the Brandon Allied Arts Centre and the Thunder Bay Craft Guild.

Professional Organizations

  • Manitoba Crafts Council
  • Ontario Crafts Council
  • CARFAC
  • The Winnipeg Art Gallery
  • The Royal Canadian Academy of Arts
  • The Stoneware Gallery
  • The Stoneware Studio

Commercial Outlets

  • The Stoneware Gallery, Winnipeg, Mb. Sienna Gallery, Rockland, Ontario David Rice Jewellers, Winnipeg, Mb.
  • Inside Gallery, Winnipeg Art Gallery Gift Shop
  • Art Gallery of South-Western Manitoba Gift Shop, Brandon, Mb.
  • The Guild Shop, Toronto, Ont.
  • Jonathon Bancroft-Snell Gallery, London, Ont.
  • Made in Canada, Edmonton, Alberta