Theresa Duong is a Toronto-based designer and maker of jewellery and craft objects. She graduated from OCAD University’s Bachelor of Design program and majored in jewellery and metalsmithing.

Theresa’s work often challenges the concept of wearable art using unconventional materials and displaced forms to stimulate a dialogue with the human figure. Her recent work explores the format of a book and the different ways it can be worn on the body using textural papers, stainless steel, wood, and discarded books. Her interests in bookbinding and textile techniques are displayed in the way she creates jewellery, interwoven by precious metals, pearls and gemstones.

Theresa is currently creating and working in Toronto, Ontario. Her work is represented at the Craft Ontario Shop, AGO gift shop, Distill Gallery, and L.A. Pai Gallery. She is also currently employed as a fashion jewellery designer and product developer at C.O. International. She communicates her designs through technical illustrations in multiple views and measurements and works with a team of designers to create a body of jewellery for every fashion season for different chain store accounts in North America.

theresaduong.com

Simon Ford is a Torontobased designer and maker who produces furniture and functional objects. He was introduced to furniture design in 2009 as an apprentice to Heidi Earnshaw and has since studied at Sheridan College’s School of Craft and Design and launched a studio of his own where he designs and fabricates products and takes on commissions both on his own and collaboratively as part of Fieldhouse, Ford and Reed.

Simon has been the recipient of several awards and accolades for his work in furniture design including the 2013 IBM Award and William and Mary Corcoran Craft Award, and the 2012 Nienkamper Scholarship. He has carved his place in Toronto’s bourgeoning design scene through his participation in events such as IDS, IIDEX, and Do Design. He has garnered press in the Globe and Mail, Azure, and International Architecture and Design. Prior to his venture into furniture design Simon received a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture
from the University of Guelph and worked for multiple firms on a wide range of projects in Canada, the United States, the Caribbean, South America, Northern Africa and the Middle East. His experiences as a landscape architect continue to inform his current work.

simonfordstudio.com

Jen Kneulman is a textile designer working in Toronto.  She is a graduate of OCAD University’s Material Art and Design program where she majored in Fibre. Researching the environmentally damaging effects of traditional textile production during her thesis lead her to form the company Freshly Printed, whose mandate is to produce beautiful yet functional textiles with an emphasis on low impact production and material choice.

The inspirations for Freshly Printed’s designs are often local flora and fauna, cottage living, and Canadiana.  Concurrent to this lighthearted imagery are underlying themes of function, nostalgia, and environmental protection. Approaching these topics with tongue-in-cheek humour is a subtle way to broach heavier subject matter that interests Kneulman, such as ecological crisis and survivalism.

www.freshlyprinted.ca

Marcelina grew up in Colombia and moved to Canada in 1999 to go to university, where she developed a keen interest in food issues. At the same time, her passion for clay was taking shape. Pottery seemed to bring her interest in food and food issues to the table.

So, after finishing a degree in environmental science at Trent University, she decided to pursue pottery more seriously. In 2007 she completed a Ceramic Certificate at The Haliburton School of the Arts, followed by more ceramic’s studies at Sheridan College. Now she works as a full-time ceramics maker in her timber frame studio, on her farm in rural Ontario.

Her work has a strong sense of function and simplicity of form. The outer surface being entirely the result of the firing process: the inside is glazed, but the outside is naked porcelain that becomes ‘glazed’ by the combined action of the woodflame and a soda mix added at top temperature. The surfaces are consistently rich and dynamic, yet there is variation from firing to firing, and within each kiln load. This relationship between the firing process and the surface results is central to her work.

www.marcelinasalazar.com

Silvia Taylor is a recent graduate of Sheridan’s Crafts and Design program. Since graduating she has had the opportunity to return to Sheridan to fulfill the role of teachers assistant, and start her part time residency at Blown Away Glass studio in Elora.

Silvia has also had the privilege of doing a Summer residency at Harbourfront in 2010 and has been a grateful recipient of several bursaries and awards that have helped her start her career.In the past year she has done a full time residency at Blown Away and set up her copper studio at her ever inspiring country home in Belwood. Currently, Silvia is thrilled to have started a full time artist in residence position in the glass studio at Toronto’s Harbourfront centre.

www.silviataylor.ca

Dorie Millerson is a Toronto-based artist and educator. She holds an MFA in textiles from NSCAD University and is an honours graduate in fibre from the Ontario College of Art & Design. Her award-winning artwork is exhibited internationally. Articles about her work have appeared in Fiberarts and Surface Design Journal and her writing about craft practice has been published in Studio, Surfacing Journal, MAGazine and the book Crafting New Traditions: Canadian Innovators and Influences. She is an Assistant Professor in Fibre in the Material Art & Design Program at OCAD University.

www.doriemillerson.com