Gather at the Gallery: Talk & Taste with Jessica Steinhäuser (55+)

Please join us for a talk by Guelph-based potter and artisan Jessica Steinhäuser. Originally from Germany, Jessica has brought the Kachelofen, or masonry heater, from Europe to Canada. Jessica combines her artistry and ceramic skills with traditional technology to create impressive and functional works of art.

Jessica will share her experiences as an artist, and her journey of bringing the Kachelofen to North America.

You can learn more about Jessica and Kachelöfen on her website and instagram account.

Please note that there is a limit of two tickets per person. This measure is in place to promote a more equitable ticket purchasing experience for everyone.

Gather at the Gallery is a twice monthly event presented specifically for the 55+ community. There will be opportunities to express your own creativity through a variety of hands on workshops, meet artists and hear their stories, or preview new exhibitions. Gather at the Gallery is generously sponsored by the Ministry of Seniors and Accessibility of the Government of Ontario.

Cultural Connections: Talk & Taste

This programming series highlights and celebrates Canadian artists from different cultural backgrounds. Following each artist talk we will sample foods that may be new to you!

Resfreshments will be served following the talk, around 3pm.

This month, join us in sampling German holiday treats.

Some treats will contain nuts.

Please let us know if you have any allergies or dietary restrictions so that we may accomodate you. Please email isabella@theclayandglass.ca before December 9th.

The Artist:

Jessica Steinhäuser is Guelph-based, an award–winning Canadian ceramic artist who works on a grand scale, breathing new life into the ancient tradition of kachelöfen.

Jessica was raised in Germany. She decided early in life to work with her hands, and chose pottery as her medium. She is a graduate of the State School for Art and Design in Nürnberg, and earned her Graduate Journeyman Potter certification from the State School for Ceramics in Landshut.

Jessica immigrated to Canada at age 22, establishing Stonehouse Pottery in downtown Guelph in 1989. In the early years, she made exquisite ceramic vessels, whimsical teapots and intricate ceramic mosaics. She founded the Guelph Potters Market in 2005, which has become an annual event.

All the while Jessica dreamt of working towards a vastly more ambitious artistic goal: she wanted to popularize the kachelofen in North America.

Jessica created her first kachelofen in 2008. Her designs merge functionality with artistry. Vibrant colour, sophisticated lines, and an understanding of architectural context are the hallmarks of her work.

In 2014, Jessica exhibited three kachelöfen in a solo show at the Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery, supported by funding from the Canada Council for the Arts and the Ontario Arts Council.

Jessica has recieved global recognition for her work. In 2016, she was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award in the Trades and Labour category by Women of Distinction. She was also recognized with a special Craft Ontario Volunteer Committee 40th Anniversary Award.

Jessica teaches and lectures widely. She has been a faculty member at the Haliburton School of the Arts since 2007. She has also given lectures and presentations around the world.