Why did you choose
jewellery?
I never thought I
would study jewellery in school. I started out in sculpture. I then learned
that NSCAD University (Halifax) had a very strong jewellery program, I enrolled
hoping to gain confidence in technique and design.
Where did you learn
your craft?
After NSCAD
University I pursued metals for three years as a resident at the Harbourfront
Centre for the Arts (Toronto) and then obtained an MFA in Designed Objects from
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
List three words that
describe you as an artist.
Restless,
curious, contradictory
What inspires
your work?
I love nautical history, visual data, new-age mysticism (from a
skeptics perspective)
If you could invite a few people (living or dead) to your studio for a day, who would you ask and why?
Teal Swan (mystic/oracle), Stacy Schiff (Author of The Witches, and Cleopatra,) Gram Parsons (musician). I wouldn’t know what to say to them, and if they would get along. Teal Swan is a spiritual leader. I’m skeptical of her powers, but fascinated by how somebody becomes a “spiritual leader” Gram Parsons died in 1973 when he was 27. He’s my favourite. He called his musical style, “Cosmic American Music”, so he would probably get along pretty well with Teal. Stacy Schiff is just a brilliant author, so she could make sense of the crazy scene.
In terms of jewelers, I would love to meet Svenja John, I am a huge fan of her work, and also the late Lily Yung, she was so ahead of her time.
What is your most
precious tool?
Parallel pliers,
calipers, I love my saw frames because I did so much piercing during my time at
Harbourfront that my hand print has worn off the paint of the wooden handles.
Why is the Ottawa
Jewellery Collective important to you?
The
OJC welcomed me when I was new to Ottawa. I had no professional connections
here in terms of jewelers, so I was eager to meet the group. I’m happy that
there are many different types of makers represented. I think that’s very
important.
What part of Ottawa
and surrounding areas do you call home?
I
actually live on Lindsay Street.
As a Canadian Designer, has Canadian culture or environment influenced your work?
I would say yes, very much so. I’ve moved around quite a bit with my partner who is in the Canadian military. I’m from Nova Scotia, so that is imprinted on me, but I consider myself lucky to have also gotten to live in the prairies and in Ontario. Although we’ve had influential jewelers here for decades, the field is so small and the country is so vast, I think that a National concept of “jewellery” is still undefined. It still feels like everyone is making their own rules. Canadian jewelers are industrious and adaptive, good examples being Gillian Batcher’s Jewel Envy in Toronto, Caitlyn Purcell’s Periwinkle Café/Bn’B/studio in Cape Breton, and Megan J. Hazel in Regina who just made a body of work from the copper dome of the Saskatchewan Legislative building. It might be a cliché (in the context of our National identity) to say that I’m inspired by that sort of pioneer spirit, but it’s true.
Where can we find your work?
L.A. Pai Gallery
(Ottawa), The Yvette Moore Gallery (Moose Jaw), Craft Ontario (Toronto)
Website www.annalindsay.com
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