NBCCD student creates pop-up shop to thank friends and community.
When Jade Ansley moved to Fredericton and began studying at the New Brunswick College of Craft and Design in 2011, she found a warm, welcoming community that embraced creativity and the artistic spirit. Far from her home in Canmore, Alberta, she quickly fell in love with the city and the school she travelled to attend.
“The college radiates positive energy and support, and I knew I wouldn’t have been able to find that atmosphere at any other fine craft institute,” said Ansley in a recent essay for ArtsNB.
Having completed a diploma program in Jewelry and Metal Arts, Ansley will soon be returning to her home in Western Canada to further explore her career, but not before giving a little something back to the community she found so welcoming from day one.
Project A is a pop-up shop currently open on Queen Street in Fredericton in the former Room 2 Remember space near the corner of Carleton and Queen, across from Barracks Square. The project, organised by Ansley over the past three months, features the work of 18 artists, all recent students of NBCCD. A short-term retail experiment, Project A features brand new works of art and functional craft pieces spanning jewelry, ceramics works, textiles, surface design and fashion.
“Fredericton has the most supportive arts community available in Canada from what I’ve seen,” said Ansley. “My peers, supporters and faculty here have made me extremely confident about pursuing a career in the arts. As a professional, all I want to do is give emerging artists an opportunity to make their passion a reality. Leaving college of university can leave you feeling very alone, especially in the arts. I don’t want new artists to feel discouraged. There is a lot of help available out there if you look for it!”
Participating Artists include Allison Green (PEI, Surface Designer), Alyssa Donaldson (NB, Photography), Andrew Mccullough (NB, Ceramicist), Anna Mathis (NB, Textile Artist), Bill Robinson (NB, Jeweller), Cassandra Burrell (NS, Fashion Designer), Emily Mccumber (NB, Textile Artist), Gena Dennings (PEI, Ceramicist), Gina Solomon (NB, Textile Artist), Jackie Doucette (NB, Ceramicist), Jade Ansley (AB, Jeweller), Jen Mcinnis-Wharton (NT, Ceramicist), Jen Pilon (NS, Ceramicist), Judy Fitch (NB, Jeweller),
Julie Ann Rayner (PEI, Jeweller), Kristen Bishop (NB, Jeweller), Martin Jarman (PEI, Ceramicist), Patty Goodine (NB, Jeweller), Yalda Bozorg (Iran, Ceramicist), and Yeon Jung (South Korea, Jeweller).
Project A is open daily until May 30th, 2015.
