 Hi, art lovers! | | |  | CBC | | | You could spend all weekend streaming artsy reality shows on CBC Gem: Best in Miniature, Race Against the Tide, Landscape Artist of the Year Canada — plus there’s one more coming soon, and its stars are already kiln it.
The Great Canadian Pottery Throw Down is on its way to CBC, and as the title implies, it’s the homegrown spinoff of The Great Pottery Throw Down, a long-running series that sprung from the same production company as The Great British Bake Off.
The format is cozily familiar. Hosted by Jennifer Robertson (Schitt’s Creek), the show takes a group of 10 hobbyist potters from across the country, and throws them together in a Vancouver studio. Each episode, they’ll compete in an elimination challenge until one of them wins the ultimate clay-m to fame: the title of Canada’s top potter.
As for the show’s panel of esteemed judges: watch for Brendan Tang, a Sobey Art Award nominee (who starred in this CBC Arts short doc) and Natalie Waddell, a Toronto-based artist who teaches pottery throughout the GTA. (Incidentally, she’s also the latest guest on Brendan’s podcast, The Kiln Sitters, another show that’s all about Canadian ceramic arts.)
And in a development I never would’ve predicted when I wrote this feature article way back in 2019, Seth Rogen — movie star, author and creator of gloopy ceramic homewares — will be appearing on the show as a guest judge.
The Vancouver-raised star is actually executive producing The Great Canadian Pottery Throw Down with his company Point Grey Pictures. And if you’ve somehow slept on his charmingly ceramic-forward Instagram presence, I recommend this (exhaustive!) magazine profile from 2021. There’s some great detail in there about Seth’s passion for pottery (among other things) including his thoughts on the ceramic artist who first inspired him (Ken Price). Or maybe you’re just curious about what sort of art he collects? There are a few snoopy details in there too — though you’d be better off watching this video if you just want a sneaky peek at his museum-worthy haul of vintage ashtrays.
The Great Canadian Pottery Throw Down is slated to appear on CBC in the new year (premiere date TBA). Until then, meet a few of the cast members in this video set tour. | | | | | And because we promised you eye candy ... | | | | |  | Brendan Tang | | Here’s a little something from Throw Down judge Brendan Tang! This piece is from an ongoing series (Manga Ormolu) where he remixes elements of Ming Dynasty-era vessels with manga-style sci-fi. Brendan has some new work showing at C24 Gallery in New York right now, but this particular piece was at Art Toronto last weekend. | | | | |  | Jocelyn Reid | | More ceramics! The Art Gallery of Alberta in Edmonton is hosting a group exhibition that’s all about ceramic art in the province, and Jocelyn Reid is among the featured artists. | | | | |  | Objects and Feelings | | Also in Edmonton: the Royal Bison Art and Craft Fair will return for two weekends (Nov. 24 to 26 and Dec. 1 to 3). I love prowling around a craft fair to look for one-of-a-kind functional ceramics. Pictured: the artist/brand Objects and Feelings, who is one of this year’s vendors. | | | | |  | Art Gallery of Burlington | | | | | Keith Atteck always knew his aunt was an artist — he just didn’t realize she was the Sybil Atteck, one of the greatest painters to come out of Trinidad. | | | | |  | Ian Douglas | | | | | Now, another set of twin sisters, Briana Brown-Tipley and Hilary Brown-Istrefi, are telling the Silent Twins’ tragic story through dance. The choreographers spoke with CBC Arts before their appearance at Workman Arts’ Rendezvous With Madness Festival in Toronto. | | | | |  | A24 | | | | | | | Dicks: The Musical is an unhinged queering of The Parent Trap, and it’s the brainchild of comedians Josh Sharp and Aaron Jackson. | | |  | Geri Kramer | | Geri runs Tattoo Zoo in downtown Victoria, and the veteran tattooist created this CBC Arts logo for Transgender Awareness Month. Get the story behind her design. | | | | | Share this newsletter | | or subscribe if this was
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I’m Leah Collins, senior writer at CBC Arts. Until next time! | | | | | |
