We are honoured to celebrate the legacy of so many talented instructors at SSANC over the years. In Memory is a tribute to artists and instructors whom we’ve lost over the past ten years. Each instructor was beloved by their students throughout their years of teaching. They inspired the artistic spirit, motivated and encouraged their students. All of the works in this show exhibit are on loan from families and friends of the instructors.
Patrick Cordier | Jay Dampf | Jenepher Hooper | Mabel Ketcham | Frankie Remer | Dick Saunders | Jon Sawyer | Juliette Scheffers | Tom Smith Sr.
Patrick Henry Jean Cordier 1950—2019
An artist by trade, Patrick worked in paints but was well known and will always be remembered for his jewelry pieces and sculptures.
“Patrick was a true artist, in every sense of the word. His creativity whether in his paintings, jewelry, or music, will be remembered by all who had the opportunity of knowing him.
Patrick was also an adventurer, travelling to all four corners of the world. He had a love for sports, scuba diving, windsurfing, judo, skiing, and golf.
His love of animals started at a young age working with Mira.
We can go on and write many pages outlining his many accomplishments but we are here today to remember a husband, a stepfather, a brother, a friend, and it’s through them that his memory will go on.
Thank you for joining us to share each other’s very special memories of Patrick”. – Patricia & Chantal
Jay Dampf 1960 –2020
Jay has been a part of the Sunbury Shores family, both as a student and teacher, since the 1970s. He unfailingly brought his patience, kindness, amazing knowledge and enthusiasm every time he taught with us. He will be greatly missed by his students, his peers, his friends – all who knew him. His classes always filled – often with a waiting list – and many times with repeat students.
Always happy to help a student at any level of experience, his flexibility of media use and ability to create a relaxed atmosphere of positive learning allowed him to teach and encourage any and everyone.
Jay received the Award of Teaching Excellence from the Toronto Board of Education. His art has won many awards in Canada and the US, and virtually all of his works are hanging on walls across North America. Sunbury Shores is the proud owner of one of his pieces – which is now framed and hung in our stairway as a permanent tribute to his many, many years with us.
Jay had artistic interests as varied as his education and experience, which include the prestigious, specialized art program at Central Technical School, and George Brown College’s Fine & Commercial Arts program, followed by several years in the advertising and design industry. His talents covered many media, from drawing and painting to woodcarving. Jay’s interests in wildlife, art and archaeology led to extensive travels through Africa, South America and Europe, which contributed to the wide knowledge and experience which informed his teaching.
With great kindness and generosity, his family established the Jay Dampf Memorial Scholarship Fund at his passing. This fund will help less advantaged students study at Sunbury Shores Arts & Nature Centre “and spread the good vibes and artistic opportunities that were what Jay was all about!”
For more information or to contribute to his fund, please contact us directly or you can Donate Here
Jenepher Hooper 1939—2015
Jenepher painted mostly in acrylics but was also an accomplished paper maker. She had a wide range of techniques that she would use to create wonderful works of art on her own handmade paper.
Jenepher first learned the art on weekend courses at Ottawa School of Art – using methods that echo traditionally made paper, but with a contemporary twist to become more of an art form. Many additional fibres providing texture and colour were added.
She experimented with using stencils to embed art within the paper itself and using over-painting, and other techniques to build layers in a landscape.
She became a regular student and studio user at Sunbury Shores, working closely with Jay Dampf to explore her painting style, whilst experimenting and sharing her knowledge and skills with paper creation. Her vibrancy and sense of humour and donation of some of her papermaking equipment ensure her memory will stay with us.
Mabel Ketcham 1949—2018
Born on September 7, 1949, to Frankie and Francis Ketcham, Mabel grew up and raised her family in Wilmington. In 1997, she began a new chapter of her life when she moved to Saint Andrews.
Mabel, known to many as Dee, was extraordinarily talented, not only as a businesswoman, but as a teacher, chef, and artist.
Mabel was extremely involved in her community; with her kindness and generosity helping to organize and host fundraising events, catering everything from weddings to art exhibits at Sunbury Shores.
For many years, she, like her mother Frankie, taught art classes for SSANC with great passion and enthusiasm. The kids she taught, in particular, will never forget her. She was a huge component of what made Sunbury Shores so special for many years.
Despite her health difficulties, she was a real presence and inspiration, not just to those who were lucky enough to know her, but to all who met her. She showed us all how to accept the pain and hardship life can throw at us, and push through it – never let one second go to waste in self-pity or ‘what ifs’.
Frances ‘Frankie’ Remer 1927 – 2019
Frankie and her late husband John first fell in love with the magic
of Saint Andrews in the early 1970s and made it their second home. Having been an artist at heart, Frankie quickly became involved with Sunbury Shores Arts and Nature Centre, serving on the board of directors in various capacities.
Frankie was loved and adored by everyone she met and embraced by the entire town as one of their own.
She became deeply active at SSANC in many ways: hanging artwork for exhibitions; making beautiful wildflower arrangements for openings; and offering classes, teaching drawing/painting and more; and of course encouraging every new artist she came in contact with.
Always interested in learning, she painted and printed images mostly of nature, which gave her creativity greater depth and meaning. She was a great favourite with students and the many people who worked and learnt from her, at the Centre. Not only was she was an important part of Saint Andrews life, but she was also an integral part of the Sunbury Shores family.
Dick Saunders 1928—2015
In 1956, Dick and Peggy moved to Canada where Dick completed his education with a Ph.D. from the University of Toronto. He was employed as a scientist by what later became known as the Federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans for his entire working life. He had a long career as a scientist with research and collegial relationships with scientists from all over the world. He was also a mentor to a number of young scientists.
Dick and Peggy made Saint Andrews their home and during his life, he was very involved in a number of community activities including Sunbury Shores and the Charlotte County Community Foundation.
He spent many hours at Sunbury Shores, working on his pottery – what is fondly known in the family as ‘Dick Ware’, sharing skills and knowledge with fellow students and instructors. Since that time, his pieces can be found in many Saint Andrews homes.
In recognition of his long connection with Sunbury Shores, the family very generously formed the Dick Saunders Memorial Fund. The purpose of the Fund is to support charitable activities or charitable organizations – specifically to support Sunbury Shores Arts and Nature Centre Inc. to be designated for its scholarship and bursary program to support art in nature. For more information about contributing to this fund, please contact SSANC directly.
Jon David Sawyer 1955—2012
Born in Toronto in 1955, Sawyer studied glassblowing at Georgian College of Applied Arts and Technology in Barrie, Ontario. Upon graduation in 1977, he apprenticed to glass artist Marty Demaine. “Demaine Studio in Mactaquac, New Brunswick, was the first private one-man studio in Canada. After starting studios in various places, in 1987 Jon Sawyer started a one-man glass blowing studio in Saint Andrews.
He ran his glass operation with Kathy. Jon did all the blowing, with Kathy responsible for practically everything else.
Through the years Sawyer’s style evolved, with the biggest change being from doing ‘hot trails ‘or Art Nouveau-style work to a more organic style, using the influence of the ocean and his environment. He claimed the colour and shapes of the ocean surroundings influenced his way of looking at nature. “The soft shimmer of moving water and the tough hardness of granite boulders–glass can be both of these opposites.”
Besides his highly sought-after ocean forms, the Jon created exotic speckled bowls, glistening goblets, and elegant vases, covered in unusual glazes and decorated with enamel highlights, fluted edges, and curious slits and holes – all with a sophisticated sense of balance and proportion.
Sawyer has enhanced his formal training with studies at the Hot Glass Summer Series at Canada’s Alberta College of Art and the Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, in Maine. He was artistically connected through organizations such as the New Brunswick and Nova Scotia Crafts Councils, and the Glass Art Association of Canada and the United States. He was a highly talented and valued instructor at Sunbury Shores over a number of years, inspiring many to explore the art of glass.
Juliette Scheffers 1973—2019
Juliette graduated from NBCCD in Fredericton in 2000. She stayed on to teach and studio tech for two years. In 2002, she set up her clay studio in Harvey, NB. Juliette’s specialty was crystalline glazes on high-fired porcelain clay – the first in the Maritimes to be successful in this difficult process. Crystals in the glaze are developed by manipulation of the kiln atmosphere. The fluidity of this glaze adds to its complexity.
Juliette’s passion and know-how are demonstrated in her one-of-a-kind works, but also in her functional pieces. Her journey in clay has been published in the Globe and Mail, Telegraph-Journal, and the Daily Gleaner. She has participated in several shows in various galleries throughout the world. Juliette has received a Travel Grant (2013) and a Mid-career Creation Grant from ArtsNB (2016).
She taught ceramic classes at Sunbury Shores several times – always with hugely positive feedback of her skills, warmth, and generosity.
‘It’s the technical challenge of this glaze that keeps me fascinated. A small alteration in temperature or application or form changes the final results dramatically. Nothing about this work is easy. It is not for everyone. However, for me, opening the kiln after a firing is like Christmas morning each and every time. No two pieces are alike. They are truly one-of-a-kind”. So was Juliette…
Tom Smith Sr. 1933 – 2015
Born and educated in the United States, (BFA, Pennsylvania State, MFA, Alfred University, New York), Tom Smith moved to Fredericton, New Brunswick in 1971 to become an art instructor in NB schools. He then taught at the University of New Brunswick in the Faculty of Education, before deciding to pursue sculptural ceramics full time. Tom became one of Canada’s best-known ceramic artists, receiving numerous awards for his work. In 1992, he received the prestigious Strathbutler Award for Excellence in New Brunswick, and in 2012, the Eidlitz Award from SSANC. In 1999, Smith was elected to the Royal Canadian Academy of the Arts.
Although many of his pieces were functional, it is the formal elements or sculptural concerns which dominated his work. According to Tom, he was intrigued by “the existence of the object in space and the idea and nature of containment. The vessel as a three-dimensional object allows and invites endless exploration in form and content”.
The texture of the surfaces was also critical. “I get excited about a tear in clay as opposed to a cut . . . the mark of a broken piece of wood into the clay as opposed to a brushstroke of colour on the surface”. Colour was used primarily to enhance the form and involved sophisticated and often experimental glazes.
Since 1982, he concentrated on Raku, a ceramic process developed in 14th century Japan utilizing a wood-fired kiln. Many of his pieces incorporate an oriental aestheticism in conjunction with a very North American-inspired use of the natural landscape.
In addition to his ceramic work, Smith continued to produce an ongoing body of two-dimensional work, which complemented his ceramic work in mood, tone, inspiration and aesthetic preoccupations.
He participated in numerous group and solo exhibitions and his work is represented in both public and private collections around the world.
Tom was heavily involved with Sunbury Shores over many years, leaving a rich legacy for so many to draw on.
