Joe Stefiuk

Joe Stefiuk

Courtenay, B.C.

Joe has been playing with clay for over 60 years, so you could say it is his passion. He was born in Nelson, B.C. and raised in Vancouver. His firs interest in clay was in Grade 9. He earned a Bachelor of Education with a Double Major in Art, Ceramics and Painting at the University of British Columbia. His clay instructor was Stan Clarke, with direct influences from Glenn Lewis. He taught junior and high school art for 32 years and since his retirement 20 years ago, he has concentrated mainly on this art form.

He recently has been developing his version of Vancouver Island wild life, bears, wolves,cougars, owls and whales. He also makes functional ware, mugs, yunomies, shooters and bowls, mostly in porcelain using traditional glazes in non-traditional ways. A new slab roller has allowed him to produce more delicate items. He fires a Cone 10 gas and Soda Kiln and has attended many symposiums and workshops over the last forty years. Retirement after 32 years from the teaching profession allowed him the freedom to travel and pursue clay interests. He has been fortunate enough to spend time in England and Japan and visits too many of their potteries has been a delight - Mashiko, Shigaraji, Tokoname, Seto and Tajimi.

The works viewed and collected from these two countries have influenced his present work. The opportunity to audit the Ceramics Program at North Island College with Alan Burgess and Gordon Hutchens has been very productive for him. Access to the various kilns has created a wide variety of work from Cone 10 Reduction to Building and Firing Soda Kiln and participating in a Wodd Firing in an Anagama Kiln.

Exhibitions and Galleries-

1991- Mask Show - Arts Alliance- Courtenay, B.C., 2004- Became Memeber of the Potters Place and Gallery-Courtenay, B.C., 2006- B.C. Potters in a Box- Traveling Show- CVAG- Courtenay, B.C., 2007- The Fire and the Mask - CVAG- Courtenay, B.C.,  2007- Exchange Exhibit with Tajimi Japan,  2009- Art in the Garden - Curator and Participant- CVAG- Courtenay, B.C.,2010- Arbutus Gallery Hornby Island,  2013- Wickaninish Gallery at Wickainish Inn Tofino.