Our Mission
At the Nova Scotia Potters Guild, our mission is to foster a vibrant community of potters dedicated to promoting the art of pottery throughout our province. We strive to inspire creativity, share knowledge, and nurture the development of pottery skills at all levels. Through workshops, exhibitions, and community events, we aim to support and elevate the craft, creating opportunities for learning, collaboration, and cultural enrichment. Our commitment is to build a thriving pottery community where passion and craftsmanship flourish, enriching the lives of our members and the broader community.
Nova Scotia Potters Guild Executive COuncil
Darren Rowles, President
“It’s an absolute privilege and honour to lead the Nova Scotia Potters Guild! I’m bursting with excitement to guide and grow our vibrant community of incredibly passionate individuals.
Together, we’ll spark innovation, ignite inspiration, and deeply connect through our shared love for pottery. I am wholeheartedly dedicated to preserving our cherished traditions while eagerly diving into the thrilling opportunities that await us!”
Email: nspgpresident@gmail.com
Instagram: @cymraegceramics
Amy Noel, Vice President
“We have such a wonderful group of potters here in Nova Scotia. I'm excited to be able to help the President grow this community even more. I aim to support all of our creative potters, building projects and programs for you to utilize. Let's do something great together!”
Email: amyderrah@gmail.com
Instagram: @amyscotiapottery
Carol Morrow, Treasurer
As Treasurer, I keep track of the Guild’s funds, and make payments as required.
I prepare year-end financial statements to present to the membership at the Annual General Meeting.
Address: Box 731, Lunenburg, NS B0J 2C0 Email: nspgtreasurer@gmail.com
Phone: 902-634-3977
Meggie Richards, Secretary
As Secretary of the Nova Scotia Potters Guild, I manage records, coordinate meetings, and ensure smooth communication within the Guild. With a passion for pottery and community building, I’m committed to supporting the Guild’s mission and fostering collaboration among members
Instagram: @blushingpolarbear
Sharon BRooksby,
Membership Coordinator
As the Membership Coordinator for the Nova Scotia Potters Guild, I focus on member engagement, recruitment, and retention.
I work to foster a welcoming and inclusive community by streamlining processes and maintaining clear communication, ensuring every member feels connected and valued within the Guild.
Email: membership.nspg@gmail.com
Instagram: @pottery_junkie
Kirsten Nichols,
NSCAD representative
I was asked to serve as the NSCAD representative as I am studying here. My hope is to keep the Guild informed about what is happening, as best I can, at NSCAD and let folks at NSCAD know more about the Guild and our ongoing projects.
Email: Kirstennichols@nscad.ca
Instagram: @marks_she_makes
Aislinn Scott,
Social Media Coordinator
I am so exited to join the NSPG as Social Media Coordinator to help promote both the value of the Guild, as well as its members! I believe in the value of community, which is what drew me to apply for this role, and I am excited to foster this community through our social media. I am a mom of two small children, work in marketing by day, and by night (and weekend), I am a hobby potter who also enjoys painting, yoga, and meditation.
Instagram: @aislinn.Scott
Email: nspg.socials@gmail.com
Natalie Burns,
supply coordinator
I’m delighted to be a member of the NSPG board and being the Supply Coordinator. As the Supply Coordinator it is my responsibility to ensure our group orders run smoothly.
Email: nataliecburns@hotmail.com
Courtney Ordway,
Events Coordinator
Courtney is excited to be joining the Nova Scotia Potters Guild to continue to help grow the events and programming portfolio.
She is the Business Development and Program Manager at Build Nova Scotia, and the owner of Halifax’s newest bridal boutique, Kind Bridal. Her love of events is only matched by her passion for creating opportunities for small businesses to flourish.
Sheri White, Mentorship leader and Past President
I am excited to be working with Darren and Amy and the rest of the board and I look forward to helping our guild continue to thrive as we have for the last 30+ years.
Email: sheriwhite@urnsongpottery.com
Instagram: @urnsongdesign
Judy Gordon, Mentor and Past President
As Past President of the Guild, I work with the Board to assist our members in any way I can to further the clay arts in Nova Scotia.
As clay artists, we work mostly in isolation, and we benefit from connection with each other through our love of clay. Community building through workshops, firings, shows, food or just having an opportunity to talk pots and share our passion for clay. I’m happy to share any knowledge I may have acquired over my 20 plus years working in clay.
Email: turnaroundpottery@gmail.com Cell: 902-430-8661
Instagram: @Judygordan9051
Sharon Fiske, Mentor and Past president
My passion in life was to become a self-employed production potter. This would allow me to have the equipment and materials I would need to make ART on the side! This is how I began, in 1980.
During my affiliation in the guild for the past 30 years I have talked with a vast amount of members about a myriad of ideas and topics. The lines for communication are always open. Call, text, email about any questions or problems or ideas you may have.
“We are all about the clay community.”
Enthusiasm, knowledge and I still have the PASSION !
Email: sharonfiske@gmail.com
Phone: 902-471-8429
Instagram: @fiske.sharon
Carol Smeraldo, Mentor
Email: smeraldocarol@gmail.com
Phone: 902-434-1336
Gerri Frager, mentor
"I serve as a community-based representative, a potter, a person with some skills and more opinions which I’m happy to offer to the collective, inclusive of brainstorming strategies"
Email: gernwp@gmail.com Phone: 902-802-1062
NOVA SCOTIA POTTERS GUILDHISTORY • 1991—PRESENT
The Nova Scotia Potters Guild has been a vibrant and valued part of our provincial arts community since 1991. The Guild was formed by an enthusiastic group of potters who wanted to learn and teach and enjoy one another’s company. We are all about education and support for anyone in the province working in clay. The Guild supports work from production to one-of-a-kind; covers topics from artistic and technical support to business operation; and opens the channels for sharing information. Our members, cover a wide range of profiles from internationally recognized ceramic artists to those who are just beginning to work with clay. We share our news and skills through meetings, workshops and our newsletter, The Dish.
PROJECTS
Throughout our history, we have initiated exhibitions throughout the province in all categories – open, juried and curated. They have been presented in public, private and commercial galleries, including the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia and our public gallery for craft, the Mary E. Black Gallery. Shaping Space, a celebration of Lantz Clay was presented in 2009 at the Mary E. Black Gallery and a catalogue was produced to document the project. The Guild Show - Work by the NS Potters Guild was displayed at the Craig Gallery in Dartmouth in 2005. Lieutenant-Governor Myra Freeman hosted the Guild’s Crowning Achievements exhibit at Government House in 2004–2005. In 1996, The Year of Earth and Fire, the Guild organized numerous displays, sales, public hands-on workshops and clay related events in collaboration with business, government and other organizations. Exhibitions included: From the Ground Up (opened at Mary E. Black Gallery and travelled around the Province); Metre2: The Art of Tile (Dartmouth Heritage Museum); An Invitation to Dinner – Contemporary Nova Scotia Dinnerware (Dartmouth Heritage Museum); and Potters of Our Past (Art Gallery of Nova Scotia). Ceramics Monthly Magazine covered these shows at the Dartmouth Heritage Museum.
WORKSHOPS
Excellent workshops have been presented by Guild members who have generously shared their expertise. The Guild has also worked with the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design University’s Ceramics Department to bring nationally and internationally known ceramists to Halifax. Our workshops have dealt with raku, gas, wood and smoke firings, mould making, big pots, photographing techniques and health concerns. Some of the well recognized artists who have instructed the Guild are: Les Manning, Jim Robison, Robin Hopper, Cathi Jefferson, Randy Brodnax and Joan Bruneau.
LOOKING FORWARD
The Guild continues to encourage the creation of fine ceramic work, to build awareness among the public of the value of this work, and to offer clay artists resources to strengthen their art form and to grow as artists.