Craft Awards

Hana Balaban-Pommier
2014 AWARD: Tuckers Pottery Supplies Ltd. Clay Supply Grant

Hana Balaban-Pommier is a ceramic artist living and working in Toronto. She immigrated to Canada from her native Czechoslovakia and took her first weekend course in pottery shortly afterwards to balance her caregiving responsibilities. Subsequent employment in a production studio of Rick and Nancy Hilborn as well as working within MIT Art community when living in the USA deepened her infatuation with the material and led to explorations of form in stoneware and Raku.

Hana’s previous educational background includes Sheridan College’s Crafts and Design Ceramics program, art history studies at Harvard Extension School and a B.Sc. in Occupational Therapy at the University of Toronto. Her work has been exhibited in various galleries and events including the Craft Ontario gallery, the FUSION Pottery and Glass Show as well as the Art Gallery of Hamilton Art Sale.

A new direction of work came as a result of professional experience as a therapist teaching mindfulness and meditation to clients with chronic pain. Hana’s interest in the grounding qualities of clay and its decorative and utilitarian function was replaced by deepening desire to capture states, emotions, moods and perceptions.

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Ceramic Wall Display for Art Gallery of Hamilton
Slip trailed porcelain, cone 6 oxidation

Ceramic Wall Display for Art Gallery of Hamilton (detail)
Slip trailed porcelain, cone 6 oxidation

Coral Bowls
Slip trailed porcelain, cone 6 oxidation

Dreamscape
Slip trailed porcelain, cone 6 oxidation

Tipping Point
Slip trailed porcelain, stoneware, cone 6 oxidation

Transverse
Slip trailed porcelain, cone 6 oxidation

Lean On Me
Slip trailed porcelain, stoneware, wood, cone 6 oxidation

Torso
Slip trailed porcelain, wood, cone 6 oxidation

Look Beyond the Skin
Slip trailed porcelain, stoneware, cone 6 oxidation

Look Beyond the Skin (detail)
Slip trailed porcelain, cone 6 oxidation

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Formerly the Ontario Crafts Council, Craft Ontario is a not-for-profit service organization that works to have craft recognized as a valuable part of life. We promote and celebrate professional craft through providing member opportunities, and advocate for craft practice by educating and empowering diverse audiences.