PRAXIS: Enacting Ideas, Process, and Persistence
Barbara Banfield, Anke Dirks-Wehrmann, Sarah Hamelin,
Kim Ross, Laurie Spieker & Annette ten Cate
April 4 to May 31, 2026
Praxis can be defined as the exercise or practice of an art, or the practical application of a theory. Over the past twelve months, these six Canadian artists have embarked on a journey to create a new body of work through the FUSION mentorship program. Through experimentation, research, and collaboration, they have each worked to take their practice a step further, and supported one another along the way. Working to realize the ideas and visions that they had, they contributed to a community that pushed them further and produced the time and space necessary to take risks.
It has been an immense honour to lead this mentorship program for FUSION: The Ontario Clay and Glass Association. I have learned so much from the artists and I am impressed by the development not only of their art—the final iterations of which are presented here—but also the growth in their skills, techniques, and confidence. Congratulations to each of you and I look forward to seeing how these ideas continue to grow and manifest.
Peter Flannery
Senior Curator & Collections Manager
Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery
Most people walk into an exhibition and see the finished result—the work displayed on plinths or in cases. What they may not see is how it all came together: the questions that were asked, the repeated reshaping of work, the moments of doubt that may have crept in, and the point at which something finally clicked, and it all came together.
This exhibition brings that process into the light.
Since 2011, the Mentorship program has grown into one of FUSION’s most impactful initiatives. Led by professional artists, it guides, inspires, and challenges artists to dig a little deeper, try new directions, and explore different materials and techniques with support and encouragement.
This year, breaking from tradition, the mentorship is led not by a ceramic artist, but by Peter Flannery, Senior Curator at the Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery. His role reflects the idea that creativity in the arts belongs not only to makers, but also to those who shape how work is created, presented, interpreted, and shared.
What you see on these plinths and in these cases is not simply finished work. It is the result of a process: questions asked, risks taken, decisions made, conversations had, and a willingness to dig deep. It speaks to growth, aspiration, and the desire to create work that resonates with the maker and, hopefully, with you, too.
Lucie Grys
Executive Director
FUSION: The Ontario Clay and Glass Association
PRAXIS is presented in partnership with
FUSION: The Ontario Clay and Glass Association
