Winner
Decorative Tile by Voyager Art & Tile
Made in Red Deer County
$50 to $416
voyagertile.ca
The best way to experience Alberta’s stunning nature is to get out there and experience it first-hand. The next-best way is to savour its beautiful landscapes through arts and crafts. At least that’s what Dawn Detarando and Brian McArthur of Voyager Art & Tile do.
Detarando and McArthur draw inspiration from their experiences in nature, using drawings made and photographs taken during their time outdoors to create decorative tiles depicting Alberta’s prairie landscapes, mountains, lakes, flora and fauna.
The duo has hundreds of designs that are depicted on six-inch square tiles as individual works of art, which can be displayed on wooden easels, framed or used architecturally in homes and commercial spaces. This line of tiles has been in development for many years, with Detarando and McArthur first going into business together in 1999. The years of skill and product development have resulted in works of art that capture the beauty and uniqueness of this province.
Detarando and McArthur carve their unique tile designs onto a plaster mold before pressing it into terra cotta clay sourced from Medicine Hat. Once the tiles are fired in the kiln, they glaze them individually, taking great care to give each one a consistent, eye-catching, colourful design.
How does the duo continue to generate new ideas? By taking time each day to enjoy the great outdoors. “Even when we are working hard, we have a dog that gets us out most days, and during the warmer weather we like to take our coffee breaks on the porch to listen to the birds,” says Detarando. “We really are inspired by the beautiful landscape around us, and are always looking for a new adventure, where we can create a new piece of artwork to add to our line of tiles.”
What the judges said: “I could automatically identify the difference in terms of craftsmanship in their work. Their originality and uniqueness is unlike anything I have ever seen.” Nichole Windblad
Craft Category Runners-up
Pyrography Collection by Jennea Frischke Jewelry
Made in Calgary
$200 to $895
jenneafrischke.com
Creator Jennea Frischke has over a decade of experience creating hand-drawn and handcrafted fine jewellery, and her Natural History Pyrography Collection is the pinnacle of craftsmanship. This collection was born from her love of nature, and the awe Frischke experiences while outdoors is evident in her pieces. In the spirit of being an Alberta business, her designs represent various animals that call Alberta home, such as beavers, barn owls, herons, deer and more.
These reversible pieces of wearable art utilize techniques such as woodworking, metalworking, ceramics, pyrography and painting. The product starts with Frischke hand-drawing an animal image into salvaged wood before burning her outline into place. On the back of the pendant, Frischke adds a “surprise” that represents the animal, such as a feather or anatomically correct skull. No matter what the inspiration, the result is a one-of-a-kind piece that will be cherished for years to come.
Soda Fired Botanical Pitcher by Wax and Wane Fine Art
Made in Calgary
$200
waxandwanefineart.com
Lael Chmelyk of Wax and Wane Fine Art has always found pitchers, and their connection to humanity, alluring. “They are made to contain and deliver, much like the female body,” she explains. “I am drawn to understanding my relationship to my body and others through vessels.” To further this connection, Chmelyk decorates her Soda Fired Botanical Pitchers with quilt patterns disrupted by natural botanicals as a means of rewriting traditional narratives of femininity.
Chmelyk describes her Soda Fired Botanical Pitcher as a collaboration between her and the kiln. While most artists who soda fire their work don’t decorate the work until it has been fired, Chmelyk plans and manipulates the design beforehand so that the kiln can decide where the magic will happen in the firing process. As such, no two pitchers are completely alike — just as no two women are completely alike.
Fruit Loops Natural Candle by Naturacare
Made in Calgary
$16 to $38
naturacare.ca
The Fruit Loops Candle by Naturacare is made with soy and infused with a blend of lemon, lime, grapefruit, orange and lavender. But this candle has an air of nostalgia for childhood, with the addition of corn cereal notes that are sweetened with vanilla and blended with warm sandalwood, reminiscent of the beloved Froot Loops breakfast cereal. Vitor Jambo, the one-man show behind Naturacare, spends hours making the toppings, from hand making molds, to perfecting the colours, and finally placing the loops on top of the candles one by one.
Jambo, who has a strong connection to his holistic side, received his Reiki master certification from Mount Royal University and infuses each of his candles with Reiki to increase their vibrational energy in a unique synergy of business and wellness.
