Art in the library – Galiano

Sandra Dolph, Ceramic Artist

In 1971, Sandra obtained a BS in Art Education from New York State University
College. After immigrating to the Canadian Rockies in 1974 and establishing a
homestead, Sandra taught and ran a clay studio for 15 years specializing in salt/
woodfired pottery. In 1989 she relocated to Galiano Island, British Columbia, where
she has spent the last 34 years making a home and establishing her studio and
gallery, Cedar Grove Pottery.

Over the years she has hosted and presented numerous workshops here at her
studio on Galiano and at schools and colleges in Canada and the US. The
workshops have focused on various pottery techniques such as throwing,
handbuilding and raku firing.

Sandra has also traveled extensively and studied with well known potters here
and abroad. Most importantly for her work, Sandra’s many visits to Japan began
in 1998, where she studied, made pots and studied meditation in a Zen Buddhist
temple.

Sandra is best known on Galiano as a potter with an international reputation.
Her work is represented in various galleries throughout Northwestern Canada, the
USA and Japan. Historically, she’s had numerous solo shows here on the Westcoast
of BC and the US, plus has participated in a few shows in Japan. She is currently a
permanent member of Fired Up!, a group of 10 top Western Canadian ceramicists
that hosts an annual show and sale outside of Victoria in Metchosin, BC.

Surface decoration of graceful, traditional forms has always been a large part of
her work, but in the last decade or so the decoration of the flat surface has become a
major area of exploration for her. She uses the rich color of ceramic underglazes,
terra sigillatas, and her signature “lichen glaze” to render impressions of the
Westcoast coastline: the waves and sea, forests nd sky. She incises line and texture
with found natural objects into the clay, and sometimes imbeds beach stone or sand
into her wallpieces. As well, she uses shells, bark, plants and other interesting prizes
that come home with her from her long daily walks along the shores and in the
forests. The resultant framed two-dimensional works are softly undulating, vibrant
and flushed with warm earthy tones that depict her impressions and love of Galiano,
her home

Click the poster for more details!