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The Ontario Arts Council awarded $15,000 in funding through the Indigenous Arts Projects in support of Ace’s upcoming project Zhaabwaabndaan (to see through). Ace worked with artist D’Andrea Bowie for a two-week one-on-one intensive residency from June 30 to July 14, 2024 to learn the process of working with clay and glass to produce new works and explore the potential of integrating both materials with his signature electronic component treatments.
Zhaabwaabndaan builds upon a residency that Ace undertook in 2018 with master potter David Migwans in M’Chigeeng First Nation on Manitoulin Island. Under David’s tutelage, Ace gathered natural clay, made coiled pottery and successfully integrated electronic components and glass beads into vitrified clay vessels.
Artist D’Andrea Bowie has a large-scale indoor sculpture and ceramic studio in Stouffville, Ontario where she works as a full-time professional artist. D’Andrea has recently completed a Master of Fine Arts from York University where she was awarded a SSHRC Research Scholarship, CGS Master’s Scholarship and the Susan Crocker and John Hunkin Award and completed her BFA at OCADU in Sculpture & Installation in 2017. In 2023, D’Andrea completed a glass-casting course at the prestigious Penland School of Craft, a national craft education centre located in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains. In May 2024, D’Andrea undertook a two-week intensive course at the Pilchuck Glass School located on the ceded territories of the Treaty of Point Elliott Tribes, which includes the Duwamish, Suquamish, Snoqualmie, Snohomish, Lummi, Skagit, and Swinomish Tribes, in Stanwood, Washington, USA.
The Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery in Waterloo, Ontario will feature Ace’s ceramic and glass works in a confirmed upcoming solo exhibition.
The artist grateful acknowledges the support of the Ontario Arts Council, D’Andrea Bowie, and the Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery (Waterloo).
Bowie | Belmore Studios, Stouffville, Ontario. 
D'Andrea Bowie, Artist 
Residency. Photo Courtesy of D'Andrea Bowie. 
The Earth Remembers: Echoes of Light (2024) white clay, stone buffed, raku fired, circuit board, photomultiplier tube. 35 x 18 cm. Collection of the Artist. 
Clayborn Serpent: Vessel of Radiant Power (2024) black clay, stone buffed, raku fired, birch wood and bark, coated wired, photomuliplier tube. 45 x 25 cm. Collection of the Artist. 
Hand-building black clay serpent vessel. 
Clayborn Serpent: Vessel of Radiant Power (Detail). Photo courtesy of D'Andrea Bowie. 
Clayborn Serpent: Vessel of Radiant Power (Detail). Photo courtesy of D'Andrea Bowie. 
Clayborn Serpent: Vessel of Radiant Power (Detail). Photo courtesy of D'Andrea Bowie. 
Pate de verre and cast glass testing. 
Programming the kiln. 
Glass test sample. 
Terra sigillata vessels before raku and glazing. 
Seven Grandfathers. Plaster molds from carved wax figures, beads for glass casting, clay vessel. 
Preparing to plaster mold wax figures. 
Plaster mold of wax figures in preparation for steam. 
Steam tenting plaster molds to melt wax figures from mold. 
Removing plaster mold after firing glass beads. 
Trimming off glass bases. 
Trimming off glass bases. 
Washing plaster off glass shaman figures. 
Building black clay wall mount plaque for mounting over red circuit-board. 
Outdoor Raku Kiln 
Removing vessel after raku firing. 
Night firing Raku Vessels. 
kinoownaa (to counsel somebody) (2024) 94 x 69 x 53 cm. Hand-built raku clay vessel, circuit board, plastic, paper, glass-beads, vellum, graphite, tobacco, fabric, sinew, wood. Collection of the Artist. Photo courtesy of D'Andrea Bowie. 
kinoownaa (to counsel somebody) (2024) 94 x 69 x 53 cm. Hand-built raku clay vessel, circuit board, plastic, paper, glass-beads, vellum, graphite, tobacco, fabric, sinew. On exhibition at the Gardiner Museum (Toronto). 
Vessel of Power (2024) 22 x 10 cm, clay, glaze, circuit board, bronze wire. Collection of the Artist. 
Medicine Power Vessel (2025) (front view) white clay, acrylic paint, glaze (raku fired), capacitors, light emitting diodes, glass beads. 30 x 9 cm. Collection of the Artist. 
Medicine Power Vessel (2025) (back view) white clay, acrylic paint, glaze (raku fired), capacitors, light emitting diodes, glass beads. 30 x 9 cm. Collection of the Artist.