Julia Nygra has been Port Moody Arts Centre’s Ceramic Artist-in-Residence since last September. The year-long award includes a small studio in the clay department, some supervising of clay drop-in sessions and the possibility of teaching some classes. Towards the end of the year the CIR puts together a solo show of work made during the residency.

On Thursday evening the Gallery opening featured work by South Asian artists as this year’s celebration of Asian Heritage month. Julia was born in Canada but her family came here from India and she has made several visits there so her show fits right in to the theme for the month. Her work in this show references and celebrates Indian pottery, with most of the work thrown with terra cotta red earthenware clay and left unglazed.

I took photos of Julia wearing her beautiful traditional dress, along with gallery manager Janice Cotter, and with some of her friends.

If you click on the two text photos you’ll  be able to read her influences and biography. She mentions the Arts Centre’s clay technician and teacher Dan Severance as an important mentor and supporter. During the evening I popped downstairs to catch Dan as he was winding up one of his final wheel-throwing classes. The clay department will miss Dan as their leader and organizer now that he has decided to take his skills elsewhere.

Julia Nygra will be giving a free public Artist Talk about her process and inspiration for this collection of traditional and contemporary Indian pottery on Wednesday May 22nd. 2019, 7.00 – 8.30pm,