*Artists in Attendance

Ciji Crighton's Artist Statement:

My paintings began as a channel to work through my over consumption of images. I used the same advertisements that initially overwhelmed me; of women in full wedding industry regalia, confident in their bride-hood. In each piece I began to introduce elements of me; of my history, of our wedding, of our future. They became personal despite their ubiquitous sources.

The strangers in each painting undergo their own transformations as well. As young girls they are likely not planning weddings, yet the consumer interprets them as representatives of the wedding industry. In paint, they suffer my skills and failures in representation, over which I make them bear my hopes and expectations, and sometimes, my disappointments.
 

Ciji Crighton is a University of Manitoba graduate with a BFA Honors in painting. Her works have been displayed at cre8ery, Ace Art, GoSA, Degree’s Diner, Outworks, and the Woodlands Gallery. Ciji’s focus is on portraits, and she is currently wrestling with the issue of strangers we invite home.

Christopher Miller's Artist Statement:

Christopher Miller is a local artist who has been interested in various mediums since childhood. He began attending class at the Winnipeg Art Gallery, and has been developing his skills at the University of Manitoba Fine Arts department since 2004.

During his education within the faculty, he has achieved a dual major in both photography and ceramics, studying the latter under Kevin Stafford, Steve Grimmer, and Grace Nickle. In 2009 Christopher flew to China to study at the Jingdezhen Ceramic Institute under Bob Anderson, Jay Lacature, Melissa Mencini, and Li Chao.

Christopher is also developing his skills with silk screening at Martha Street Studios in Winnipeg. He has shown ceramic works locally, and in Jingdezhen, China.

I am fascinated by the roots and concepts behind Chinese ceramic decorations, commonly known as Blue and White motifs. During my recent travels through China I was able to experience first hand Chinese Imperial ceramics and the magnitude in which they were produced, as well as their effect on work produced today.