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Erika Ferrarin

 Creating art is an escape from the pressures and limitations of my day-to-day life, to an oasis of inner peace where my mind is still and my body is in motion to 'create'- bestowing within me a feeling of contentment and belonging.

The bridging of my passion for clay and my knowledge of elements and principles of design, with my fascination for the simplicity of primitive tools and lifestyles of the amazing people I've encountered during my travels, allows my art to take on a life of its own - fueling me with an artistic energy to create.

Hand building with clay grants me the freedom to explore form, texture, visual space, illusion and perception. The clay's textures are emphasized with a technique by which the glazes and stains are applied and brushed off to expose, not only the handmade textures, but the beauty in the imperfections of the clay itself- its creases, cracks and indentations. While creating, I enjoy learning and exploring, allowing me to keep an open mind and embrace happy accidents that may occur during the process. The beauty discovered in mundane everyday objects intrigues me and propels me to deconstruct, repurpose and incorporate these found objects within my work to enhance the overall visual interest and symbolic narration.

Erika Ferrarin was born in Venice, Italy and immigrated to Canada with her family when she was four years old. Interested in art and design from a very young age, she attended the Interior Design program at Algonquin College, and is now the sole proprietor of Effe Disegno, a leading commercial design firm in Ottawa.

Erika grew up in a modestly privileged household as part of a young Italian family trying to survive in a new world. Through this experience she learned the importance of family, money and material assets - values that are evident today in her business, her environment, her life and her art.

In the late nineties, Erika started experimenting with clay as an artistic medium and since then has created a line of sculptural clay jewellery called Wearable Ceramics, has become an active member of the Ottawa Guild of Potters and has won the Fusion Design Award in 2007 for her jewellery and in 2008 for a series of hand built totems titled Totem City. After Erika's most recent pilgrimage to Ghana she started working on a collection titled Tribal Beings, inspired by the villages she visited and people she met.

Shows / Exhibitions

2008

  • 'Re Vue' Group Show- Arts & Architecture Gallery, Ottawa
  • 'Present' Group Show- Detour Gallery, Ottawa
  • Red Trillium Studio Tour [2006, 2007 & 2008], West Carleton

2008 & 2007

  • Ottawa Guild of Potters, Juried Exhibit

2006

  • Crown & Pumpkin Studio Tour, Ottawa

2002

  • Alumni Ceramics Exhibition, Group Show- Ottawa School of Art

Awards / Recognition

2008

  • Regional Contact CTV, aired May 3rd
  • Fusion Design Award, presented by Peta Hall

2007

  • Fusion Design Award, presented by Richard Gill

Gallery Presentation

  • Ben Navaee Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
  • Bittersweet Gallery, Burnstown, Ontario
  • Detour Gallery, Ottawa, Ontario
  • Arts & Architecture Gallery, Ottawa, Ontario
  • Studio Map

 

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