Combermere area potter and Haliburton School of the Arts ceramics teacher, Stephanie Park loves to talk about the history of pottery—that she points out goes back multiple thousands of years—with widespread samples that still exist and are venerated to this day. And she has picked up on those traditional forms and methods to create her own unique pottery that she will pass on to future generations herself—and will show in this fall’s Bancroft and Area Studio Tour. Her interest in the art form was triggered during a visit as a thirteen-year-old exchange student to Kyoto Japan when she saw and purchased a delicate ceramic tea pot while visiting pottery stores in that city. Ther practice of the craft for the Sudbury-born and raised Park didn’t happen until much later as she didn’t find the lower levels of school particularly interesting. But was fully engaged and loved and excelled at studying geography and history and biology at Laurentian University. Plus she had taken a college-level parks and recreation course focused on outdoor education, and thoroughly enjoyed teaching canoeing and kayaking to children as a summer job. And decided because of those learning experiences to become a teacher. And got her certificate after studies at Lakehead Teachers College. However, the flat teaching-employment market there left her and hubby, Jonathan without jobs and in 2009, they ended up moving to Palmer Rapids. He found employment in the field and she, initially worked as the editor of a canoeing magazine. Several years later they moved to and settled at Combermere and she became the receptionist and assistant at a veterinary clinic in Barrys Bay. However, Park’s later-revealed allergy to cats eventually forced her out of the clinic and, with time on her hands, she began taking pottery courses at the Haliburton School of the Arts; and discovered she loved “being on the wheel”. And there she found her true calling. She took several more advanced classes and then in 2017, earned her ceramic teaching certificate from the school—becoming alumni artist in residence (assistant instructor) in 2018. And is now in her third summer as a fulltime teacher of kids and beginner adult classes. |
![]() In 2021, She built and outfitted her own studio and there recreates age-old styles of pottery using “resist” techniques: painting wax or vinyl on selected areas of the piece of pottery, then glazing the piece, as desired prior to firing. And follows up with designs added to the non-glazed area—placing reflections of where she lives in colour sketches and photos of the Algonquin and other northern Ontario landscapes on her creations—thus making unusual and unique works. She sells them at the Muse Gallery in Bancroft and at Wildwood in Maynooth. And participates in studio tours in Madawaska as well as the Bancroft and Area event—displaying her works as a guest at the Amy Poole location, 23 Fitzpatrick Court in Maynooth. Connect with her atsparkpottery@gmail.com (Profile writing and photo by Allan O’Marra) |