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Ada Brzeski
From Paper to Clay: preserving traditional folk art
I have been potting now for almost 15 years. I found my voice in clay about 10 years ago when I started looking at my Polish culture and the colourful folkloric art works it has produced. These folkloric works in paper and embroidery can be very intricate and are produced mainly by women. I cherish this work and want to preserve the designs in clay so they are not lost to future generations. I taught myself the art of Wycinanki [Vee- chee-nan-kee] the colourful art of Polish paper cutting. This took me to Poland to study under Maria Stachnal, one of the greatest folk artists there. I use the paper designs in my ceramics like a paper resist. The design is applied to the greenware and painted with coloured slips. When the slip hardens, I remove the paper and the design is revealed. I make these pieces from the heart, drawing on my pride in Polish culture. I hope they bring joy to your table and an appreciation for old traditions.
Click on any image for more detailed view ...
Contact the artist if you wish to purchase any of these items.
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18C – Łowicz Flowers
Spoon Holder | White stoneware and coloured slip | Wheel thrown, paper resist, coloured slip, carved lines, clear glaze | 5 3/4" diameter | 6 oz each18C – Łowicz FlowersDescription : Spoon Holder
Price : $25
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18B – Łowicz Flowers
Spoon Holder | White stoneware and coloured slip | Wheel thrown, paper resist, coloured slip, carved lines, clear glaze | 5 3/4" diameter | 6 oz each18B – Łowicz FlowersDescription : Spoon Holder
Price : $25
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18A – Łowicz Flowers
Spoon Holder | White stoneware and coloured slip | Wheel thrown, paper resist, coloured slip, carved lines, clear glaze | 5 3/4" diameter | 6 oz each18A – Łowicz FlowersDescription : Spoon Holder
Price : sold
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17C – Kashubian Flowers
Spoon Holder | White stoneware and coloured slip | Wheel thrown, paper resist, coloured slip, carved lines, clear glaze | 5 3/4" diameter | 6 oz each17C – Kashubian FlowersDescription : Spoon Holder
Price : sold
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17B – Kashubian Flowers
Spoon Holder | White stoneware and coloured slip | Wheel thrown, paper resist, coloured slip, carved lines, clear glaze | 5 3/4" diameter | 6 oz each17B – Kashubian FlowersDescription : Spoon Holder
Price : $25
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17A – Kashubian Flowers
Spoon Holder | White stoneware and coloured slip | Wheel thrown, paper resist, coloured slip, carved lines, clear glaze | 5 3/4" diameter | 6 oz each17A – Kashubian FlowersDescription : Spoon Holder
Price : $25
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16B – Kashubian mugs – yellow flowers
Set of two | White stoneware and coloured slip | Wheel thrown, paper resist, coloured slip, carved lines, clear glaze | 4"h X 3 1/4"w | 1lb each16B – Kashubian mugs – yellow flowersView : Other side
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16A – Kashubian mugs – yellow flowers
Set of two | White stoneware and coloured slip | Wheel thrown, paper resist, coloured slip, carved lines, clear glaze | 4"h X 3 1/4"w | 1lb each16A – Kashubian mugs – yellow flowersDescription : Set of two mugs
Price : SOLD
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15B – Kashubian mugs – hearts
Set of two | White stoneware and coloured slip | Wheel thrown, paper resist, coloured slip, carved lines, clear glaze | 4"h X 3 1/2"w | 12oz each15B – Kashubian mugs – heartsView : Other side
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15A – Kashubian mugs – hearts
Set of two | White stoneware and coloured slip | Wheel thrown, paper resist, coloured slip, carved lines, clear glaze | 4"h X 3 1/2"w | 12oz each15A – Kashubian mugs – heartsDescription : Set of two mugs
Price : $80 for both
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14C – Flowers and Birds
Oval Tray | White stoneware and coloured slip | Hand built, paper resist, coloured slip, clear glaze | 10"l X 7 1/2"w | 1lb14C – Flowers and BirdsView : Detail
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14B – Flowers and Birds
Oval Tray | White stoneware and coloured slip | Hand built, paper resist, coloured slip, clear glaze | 10"l X 7 1/2"w | 1lb14B – Flowers and BirdsView : Detail
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14A – Flowers and Birds
Oval Tray | White stoneware and coloured slip | Hand built, paper resist, coloured slip, clear glaze | 10"l X 7 1/2"w | 1lb14A – Flowers and BirdsDescription : Oval Tray
Price : $40
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13C – Kashubian Flowers
Serving Bowl | White stoneware and coloured slip | Wheel thrown, paper resist, coloured slip, carved lines, clear glaze | 9 1/2" diameter X 3 1/4"h | 2lbs13C – Kashubian FlowersView : Bottom and Side
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13A – Kashubian Flowers
Serving Bowl | White stoneware and coloured slip | Wheel thrown, paper resist, coloured slip, carved lines, clear glaze | 9 1/2" diameter X 3 1/4"h | 2lbs13A – Kashubian FlowersDescription : Serving Bowl
Price : $120
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12A – Blue and White
Shallow Bowl | White Stoneware and blue slip | Wheel thrown, paper resist, blue slip, clear glaze | 13 1/2" diameter X 2 1/2" h | 4lbs 6oz12A – Blue and WhiteDescription : Shallow Bowl
Price : $120
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11A – Lady with Bird
Plate | White stoneware and coloured slip | Wheel thrown, paper resist, coloured slip, clear glaze | 10 1/2" diameter | 2lbs 4oz11A – Lady with BirdDescription : Plate
Price : $80
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10A – Black Bird
Plate | Brown stoneware with white, black and red slip | Wheel thrown, paper resist, coloured slip, clear glaze | 11 1/2" diameter | 2lbs 10oz10A – Black BirdDescription : Plate
Price : $80
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09D – Black and Red Plates
Plates -set of two | Black stoneware and red slip | Wheel thrown, paper resist, red slip, clear glaze | 9" diameter | 1 lb 8oz each09D – Black and Red PlatesView : Front plate II
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09B – Black and Red Plates
Plates -set of two | Black stoneware and red slip | Wheel thrown, paper resist, red slip, clear glaze | 9" diameter | 1 lb 8oz each09B – Black and Red PlatesView : Front plate I
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09A – Black and Red Plates
Plates -set of two | Black stoneware and red slip | Wheel thrown, paper resist, red slip, clear glaze | 9" diameter | 1 lb 8oz each09A – Black and Red PlatesDescription : Plates - set of two
Price : $120 for Both
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08A – Black, White and Red
Serving Plate | White stoneware and coloured slip | Wheel thrown, paper resist, black slip and red mishima flowers, clear glaze | 12 1/2" diameter | 4lbs 4 oz08A – Black, White and RedDescription : Serving Plate
Price : $120
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07A – Blue
Black and Blue Plate | Black stoneware and blue slip | Wheel thrown, paper resist, blue slip, clear glaze | 9" diameter | 2lbs07A – BlueDescription : Black and Blue Plate
Price : not for sale
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06A – Yellow
Black and Yellow Plate | Black stoneware and yellow slip | Wheel thrown, paper resist, yellow slip, clear glaze | 9" diameter | 2lbs06A – YellowDescription : Black and Yellow Plate
Price : $70
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05A – Green
Black and Green Plate | Black stoneware and green slip | Wheel thrown, paper resist, green slip, clear glaze | 9" diameter | 2lbs05A – GreenDescription : Black and Green Plate
Price : $70
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04A – Red
Black and Red Plate | Black stoneware and red slip | Wheel thrown, paper resist, red slip, clear glaze | 9" diameter | 2lbs04A – RedDescription : Black and Red Plate
Price : $70
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03C – Diamond Pattern III
Black and White Plate | White stoneware and black slip | Wheel thrown, paper resist, black slip, white snake glaze (not food safe) | 11" diameter | 2lbs 12oz03C – Diamond Pattern IIIView : Detail of snake scale glaze
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03A – Diamond Pattern III
Black and White Plate | White stoneware and black slip | Wheel thrown, paper resist, black slip, white snake glaze (not food safe) | 11" diameter | 2lbs 12oz03A – Diamond Pattern IIIDescription : Black and White Plate
Note : Not For Moist Food Use
Price : $90
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02C – Diamond Pattern II
White Plate | White stoneware and white slip | Wheel thrown, paper resist, white slip, white glaze | 11" diameter | 2lbs 12oz02C – Diamond Pattern IIView : Detail
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02B – Diamond Pattern II
White Plate | White stoneware and white slip | Wheel thrown, paper resist, white slip, white glaze | 11" diameter | 2lbs 12oz02B – Diamond Pattern IIView : Detail
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02A – Diamond Pattern II
White Plate | White stoneware and white slip | Wheel thrown, paper resist, white slip, white glaze | 11" diameter | 2lbs 12oz02A – Diamond Pattern IIDescription : White Plate
Price : $90
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01A – Diamond Pattern I
Black and White Plate | White stoneware and black slip | Wheel thrown, paper resist, black slip, clear glaze | 11" diameter | 2lbs 6oz01A – Diamond Pattern IDescription : Black and White Plate
Price : SOLD

Biography
Ada Brzeski started pottery about 15 years ago under the tutelage of Anne Chambers.
Mainly self-taught, Ada’s passion for clay led her to join the Ottawa Guild of Potters. She became involved in the organization as event coordinator and treasurer. She attended intensive pottery courses including ones at Haliburton School of Arts, Lunenburg School of Arts (with Walter Ostrom), Alfred University (with Bruce Cochrane) and La Meridiana in Tuscany.
Much of her work is inspired by her Polish roots and the colourful folkloric art works of that culture. She taught herself the art of Wycinanki [Vee- chee-nan-kee] the colourful art of Polish paper cutting. She studied in Poland under Maria Stachnal, one of the greatest folk artists there.
She shares a studio with three other artists at Studio Space Ottawa of which she is a founding member.
Her work is available at the Wilno Craft Gallery in Wilno, Ontario. She also sells through the Ottawa Guild of Potters’ biannual sales. Pieces may also be purchased by contacting her directly.
Artist Statement
Preserving traditional Polish folk art in clay
“Fragments from clay vessels and objects have been the chief remnants left from prehistoric human activities. Ancient peoples are studied mainly through the clay artifacts – or shards thereof - that remain. From the ceramic fragments that survived, we draw inferences about cross cultural borrowing, trade, migrations, and the degree of sophistication of different societies.”
From The Craft and Art of Clay by Susan Peterson
Will our digitized culture survive millennia as pottery shards have?
How will future historians reconstruct the lives of today generations from now?
My goal in clay is to preserve culture; more specifically, my Polish culture. About ten years ago I became interested in Polish folkloric art. Polish homes were decorated with Wycinanki (colourful paper cuttings). I taught myself how to make Wycinanki [Vee- chee-nan-kee], researched traditional Polish designs and developed my own. I travelled to Poland and studied under Maria Stachnal who is regarded as one of the greatest folk artists in Poland, creating colourful works for over 50 years.
In my ceramic work, the Wycinanki becomes a stencil which is placed on a leather hard plate then covered with a colored slip. When the slip hardens, I remove the paper and the design is revealed. The plates are bisque fired then fired again with a clear glaze, making them food safe.
Polish traditional dress and table linens were intricately embroidered. The Polish region of Kashubia is known for beautiful flower designs which I have also started using in my pottery. These designs can be seen here in Ontario in the town of Wilno, painted on houses and barns. The same paper resist process is used as well as some mishima and sgraffito.
Each piece is unique because the paper cutout can only be used once.
Studio Space Ottawa
ada.brzeski@gmail.com Click here to view my OGP GalleryClick to contact me via ...

