WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE?
What’s Your Favourite?
Ceramic artist and CAA Member Charley Farrero on Meacham’s small-town charm and his first encounter with a wood-fired kiln.
By Nicole Keen
A twist of fate introduced Meacham-based ceramic artist Charley Farrero to the medium that would become his life’s work. In 1972, Farrero’s then-girlfriend signed up for a pottery class, and he decided to join her. It wasn’t long before he had fallen for the creative process of building with clay. Born and raised in Paris, France, Farrero uses his sculptures to explore his identity, as well as larger political themes such as colonialism and injustice.
Charley Farrero, during the making of his ceramic piece, More Out There, Son..., offering a glimpse into his creative process. | PHOTO: COURTESY OF CHARLEY FARRERO
(From top) The Museo del Prado in Madrid was originally designed in 1785 by orders of King Charles III; the most notable feature of the Musée du Quai Branly in Paris is the Green Wall, made of 376 plants from around the world. | PHOTOS: TORVAL MORK/ADOBE STOCK; BJANKA KADIC/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO
What makes Meacham feel like home?
It’s a little bit of an artist town. There is a professional theatre — Dancing Sky Theatre. There is no distraction... and you have the big prairies just one block away. It’s a nice place to work.
You used to be a systems analyst — what prompted the career shift?
I became really curious in creating. I was always creating, even when I was just creating systems in computers. In ceramics, there is so much I can do with my hands, whereas before I was working with my brain.
Where in the world have you felt inspired?
At the beginning of my career, I went to a conference in [Kyoto,] Japan and did a tour of ceramics. I saw a big wood-fired kiln [in Bizen], and I said, ‘I’m going to build myself one of those.’ I built one at my place in Meacham in 2003.
Do you have a favourite art gallery?
In Madrid, the Museo del Prado. In Paris, the Musée du Quai Branly. In Canada, the Saskatchewan Craft Council Gallery. But I used to be chairperson [of the council], so I’ve got a certain bias.
Are there any other ceramic artists who have influenced you?
Jack Sures, a professor at the University of Regina, really inspired me in the ethics of [ceramic] work. He was my mentor.
What do you hope people feel when looking at your work?
I hope to see a reaction, positive or negative. They can be in awe, or they can hate it — as long as there is an emotional reaction. That’s what I want. That’s what we create for. CAA
Handcrafted by Japanese artisan Kiki Ando, this Bizen-yaki pottery is shaped from local clay and fired in a traditional wood-burning kiln. | PHOTO: NIPPON NEWS/AFLO CO. LTD./ALAMY STOCK PHOTO
A twist of fate introduced Meacham-based ceramic artist Charley Farrero to the medium that would become his life’s work. In 1972, Farrero’s then-girlfriend signed up for a pottery class, and he decided to join her. It wasn’t long before he had fallen for the creative process of building with clay. Born and raised in Paris, France, Farrero uses his sculptures to explore his identity, as well as larger political themes such as colonialism and injustice.
Charley Farrero during the making of his ceramic piece, More Out There, Son..., offering a glimpse into his creative process. | PHOTO: COURTESY OF CHARLEY FARRERO
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(From left) The Museo del Prado in Madrid was originally designed in 1785 by orders of King Charles III; the most notable feature of the Musée du Quai Branly in Paris is the Green Wall, made of 376 plants from around the world. | PHOTOS: TORVAL MORK/ADOBE STOCK; BJANKA KADIC/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO
What makes Meacham feel like home?
It’s a little bit of an artist town. There is a professional theatre — Dancing Sky Theatre. There is no distraction... and you have the big prairies just one block away. It’s a nice place to work.
You used to be a systems analyst — what prompted the career shift?
I became really curious in creating. I was always creating, even when I was just creating systems in computers. In ceramics, there is so much I can do with my hands, whereas before I was working with my brain.
Where in the world have you felt inspired?
At the beginning of my career, I went to a conference in [Kyoto,] Japan and did a tour of ceramics. I saw a big wood-fired kiln [in Bizen], and I said, ‘I’m going to build myself one of those.’ I built one at my place in Meacham in 2003.
Do you have a favourite art gallery?
In Madrid, the Museo del Prado. In Paris, the Musée du Quai Branly. In Canada, the Saskatchewan Craft Council Gallery. But I used to be chairperson [of the council], so I’ve got a certain bias.
Are there any other ceramic artists who have influenced you?
Jack Sures, a professor at the University of Regina, really inspired me in the ethics of [ceramic] work. He was my mentor.
What do you hope people feel when looking at your work?
I hope to see a reaction, positive or negative. They can be in awe, or they can hate it — as long as there is an emotional reaction. That’s what I want. That’s what we create for. CAA
Handcrafted by Japanese artisan Kiki Ando, this Bizen-yaki pottery is shaped from local clay and fired in a traditional wood-burning kiln. | PHOTO: NIPPON NEWS/AFLO CO. LTD./ALAMY STOCK PHOTO
(From top) The Museo del Prado in Madrid was originally designed in 1785 by orders of King Charles III; the most notable feature of the Musée du Quai Branly in Paris is the Green Wall, made of 376 plants from around the world. | PHOTOS: TORVAL MORK/ADOBE STOCK; BJANKA KADIC/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO
What makes Meacham feel like home?
It’s a little bit of an artist town. There is a professional theatre — Dancing Sky Theatre. There is no distraction... and you have the big prairies just one block away. It’s a nice place to work.
You used to be a systems analyst — what prompted the career shift?
I became really curious in creating. I was always creating, even when I was just creating systems in computers. In ceramics, there is so much I can do with my hands, whereas before I was working with my brain.
Where in the world have you felt inspired?
At the beginning of my career, I went to a conference in [Kyoto,] Japan and did a tour of ceramics. I saw a big wood-fired kiln [in Bizen], and I said, ‘I’m going to build myself one of those.’ I built one at my place in Meacham in 2003.
Do you have a favourite art gallery?
In Madrid, the Museo del Prado. In Paris, the Musée du Quai Branly. In Canada, the Saskatchewan Craft Council Gallery. But I used to be chairperson [of the council], so I’ve got a certain bias.
Are there any other ceramic artists who have influenced you?
Jack Sures, a professor at the University of Regina, really inspired me in the ethics of [ceramic] work. He was my mentor.
What do you hope people feel when looking at your work?
I hope to see a reaction, positive or negative. They can be in awe, or they can hate it — as long as there is an emotional reaction. That’s what I want. That’s what we create for. CAA
Handcrafted by Japanese artisan Kiki Ando, this Bizen-yaki pottery is shaped from local clay and fired in a traditional wood-burning kiln. | PHOTO: NIPPON NEWS/AFLO CO. LTD./ALAMY STOCK PHOTO