I have worked with clay since 1977, often exploring fish motifs in decoration and form. I have lived on the shore of the Bay of Fundy for most of those years, and still feel its strong tidal pull. A recent move to Ottawa, ON has given me an opportunity to enlarge my scope of work and audience.
In 1991, the Museum of Civilization put out a call for entry for a weathervane competition. Always interested in new things, I thought about how I could apply my clay relief images in metal. After mental exploration in copper shaping for a traditional fish weathervane, I found myself thinking of the tin can lids sitting in my recycle box as perfect fish scales. I borrowed a rivet gun, and some tin snips and set to work. The first fish, titled “Starkist Gold, T’ain’t No Tuna Here” came to be, and was named after the tainted tuna problems experienced by the nearby Bayside community. The attention this first fish received; its purchase by the Museum, and subsequent choice by the American Crafts (for use in it’s publication of a desk diary in commemoration of 1993, the year of craft in America) demanded further exploration in this new media. This combination of a seemingly worthless material into a shiny armored fish is a metamorphosis. This results in a re-evaluation of material and a surprise for most viewers. The fish have evolved over the years, becoming the works you see in these images. The viewer is taken beyond the material by shape and beauty; but is at the same time reminded of issues of environmental impact.
I continue to work part-time in tin. All of the tin used comes from my community, people I do not even know, carefully clean and save tin lids for me, and I often find little packages of them tied to my doorknob. More recently I have added scrap copper to my material supply, creating the potential for exterior application. This use of recycled material is timely, the resulting fish are timeless.
Another avenue for my creativity is printmaking. I was able to use the resources of Sunbury Shores Arts and Nature Center’s print shop to explore copper plate etching and engraving. I also use the simple block printing techniques of linoleum that I first learned in high school. My work includes simple black and white images as well as more complex, colour reduction prints.
I continue my interest in clay through teaching at the Gloucester Pottery School here in Ottawa with introductory classes in hand building and wheel work. www.gloucesterpotteryschool.com
Alanna Baird
2007
Alanna Baird
8 Kilbarry Cr., Ottawa, ON, K1K 0G7, 613-744-7721, tinfish@sympatico.ca, www.tinfish.ca
Education:
1973-76 – completed 3 years studies in engineering – University of New Brunswick
1977-78 – completed diploma in Clay – New Brunswick Craft School
Studio:
I have been a working artist since 1977 in many media, primarily clay until 1991 when I began exploring tin sculpture. I currently am working in both tin and copper for sculpture, as well as watercolour and printmaking. I operate a studio in my home in Ottawa, Ontario.
Work Experience:
2006 – teaching ceramics at the Gloucester Pottery School in Ottawa, ON.
1993 – 2005 – teaching ceramics at Sunbury Shores Arts and Nature Center, beginner through advanced classes, seasonal.
2001 – 2005 – owner/operator The Tin Fish Shop, 24 King St., St. Andrews, a retail store with working studio.
2003-04 – Guest Lecturer for Elderhostel groups on Printmaking, Sunbury Shores Arts and Nature Center.
Juried Shows and Exhibitions:
1988 – New Works – Fireworks Gallery, Halifax, Nova Scotia
1989 – Biennale ’89 – “Arizona Series” – New Brunswick Craft Council Show
1991 – Biennale ’91 – “Fish Pot” – New Brunswick Craft Council Show
1991 – All Boxed Up – “Salt Box” – The George R. Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art, Toronto
1991 – Weathervane Competition – “Starkist Gold, T’ain’t No Tuna Here” – The Museum of
Civilization, Hull, Quebec
1991 – The Incredible Animal Show – “Tin Fish” – The Guild Shop, Toronto, Ontario
1991 – Recent Works in Raku – The Guild Shop, Toronto, Ontario
1992 – Artists Celebrate The Season, an exhibition of goblets – “Tin Cups” – Queen’s Quay, Toronto
1992 – Terra – The York Sunbury Historical Society Museum, Fredericton, New Brunswick
1992 – Tin Fish, variations on a theme – Aitken’s Bicentennial Exhibition Center, Saint John, NB
1993 – Alanna Morgan and Denise D’oust – Sunbury Shores Arts and Nature Center, St.
Andrews, NB
1993 – Collaborations - Sue Lawrence Gallery, Fredericton
1993 – Top of the Line – New Brunswick Craft Council Juried Exhibition, Fredericton, NB
1994 – Containment, the Space Within – Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery, Waterloo, Ontario
1994 – Renewable Resources – Mary Black Gallery, Halifax, Nova Scotia
1996 – Tin Can Alley: The Fine Art of Cans and Bottlecaps – America*Oh, Yes! – Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, USA
2004 – Fresh Fish – Saint John Arts Center Inc., Saint John, NB
2005 – Alumni Art Exhibition – Saint John Arts Center Inc., Saint John, NB
2005 – Sound Sculptures – St. Croix Estuary Project, St. Stephen, NB
2006 - Foundling - Cube Gallery, Ottawa, ON
2006 – Small Works – Cube Gallery, Ottawa, ON
Galleries:
The Commons, Eastport, ME, USA
Handworks, Saint John, NB, Canada
Gallery St. Thomas, St. Thomas, USVI
Devine’s, Chateau Laurier, Ottawa, ON
Cube Gallery, Ottawa, ON
Snapdragon Gallery, Bank St., Ottawa, ON
Publications:
1992 – Arts Atlantic –Terra – review of show
1992 – City & Country Home Magazine – Choice – feature on Tin Fish
1992 – Arts Atlantic – Tinned Fish, variations on a theme – review of show
1993 – Abrams Desk Diary, The Year of American Craft – American Craft Council publication in celebration of The Year of Craft in North America, week of July 1st, photo of “T’ain’t No Tuna Here”, one of two Canadian selections
1994 – Canadian Gardening Magazine – article featuring weathervanes for the garden
2005 – Charlotte County Studio Guide – conception, organization, graphics, printing and distribution of a guide to artist's studios within Charlotte County.
Commissions:
1995 – copper weather vane – The Windsor House, St. Andrews, NB
1997 – copper weather vane – private commission, Bayside, NB
2003 – copper fish wall sculpture – private commission, Halifax, NS
2003 – design proposal to display river driving bateau, Town of St. Stephen, NB
2005 – design and construction of “sound sculptures” for St. Croix Estuary Project for installation in the Ganong Nature Park, St. Stephen, NB.
2006 – construction of reproduction heritage decorative “garlands” for Centerbeam Place, Saint John, NB
Awards:
1986 – Best Booth Award – Nova Scotia Designer Crafts Council Christmas Market
1987 – Best Booth Award – Nova Scotia Designer Crafts Council Christmas Market
1988 – Award for Excellence Production Clay – New Brunswick Crafts Council Mactaquac Show
1988 – Honorable Mention One-of-a-Kind Clay – New Brunswick Crafts Council Mactaquac Show
1988 – Best Booth Award – New Brunswick Craft Council Moncton Show
1989 – Award for Excellence One-of-a-Kind Clay – New Brunswick Craft Council Mactaquac Show
1991 – Honorable Mention Booth Design – One-of-a-Kind Canadian Craft Show, Toronto
1992 – Best New Product Award – Tin Fish – Nova Scotia Designer Crafts Council Summer Show
January 2007
Alanna Baird
8 Kilbarry Cr., Ottawa, ON, K1K 0G7, Canada, 613-744-7721
tinfish@sympatico.ca