Sarah Hamelin

Sarah received her Honours Bachelor of Fine Arts, Sculpture Specialization from the University of Waterloo. She holds a diploma of Fine Craft in Ceramics from the New Brunswick College of Craft and Design, where she was awarded for Best Portfolio for Direct Entry, and the Graduate Ceramic Award for Highest Academic Achievement. Her work has been exhibited at shows and galleries across Ontario and New Brunswick. Sarah lives in Eastern Ontario, working out of a converted greenhouse studio that operates within the natural cycles of the area. She relies on rain water and reusable materials when possible to maintain a small footprint. Sarah is dedicated to sustainability, technique, and artistry.
 
My work is inspired by 19th century architecture and organic forms found in nature. This series investigates the ‘bough pot’ vessels popular during this time, specifically designed to decorate fireplace mantels with seasonal flora during summer months. The harsh realities of the Industrial Revolution at the time also inspired a romantic movement that looked closely at nature. I am interested in this example of tension between the man-made and the natural world, in an attempt to resolve these same imbalances we face today. To me, the bough pot vessel symbolizes an attempt for harmony between the two; decorating a coal- burning fireplace in an age of industrialization with wild, foraged flowers. To merge these two philosophies together, I combine angular cylinders thrown on the wheel, a reference to chimney stacks, with soft, rounded bodies and floral decoration. The distinct oval shape of historic bough pots lends itself well to observe nature’s fluid, adaptable characteristics. Altering wheel-thrown shapes further combine the use of machinery with natural, human imperfection. My unique glaze is inspired by frost- coloured lichen that grows on buildings, to act as a further reminder of the strong and quiet existence of our natural world in the face of human development.