BIOGRAPHY
Shona Rae was a professional clay sculptor for nearly a decade before a series of dreams led her to begin studying goldsmithing and the metal arts in 1994. She received her Diploma in applied art and design from the Kootenay School of the Arts Cooperative in 1998. Shona received her BFA with distinction in the year 2000 from the Alberta College of Art and Design.
After nearly thirty years as a ceramist she has discovered that metal is clay and is enthusiastically applying that knowledge to her creative works. Shona was taught carving techniques from master carvers in the Artic when she taught a jewellery course in Kujjuraappic in the autumn of 2001. Now she passionately combines her sculptural carvings with constructed metal objects.
Shona returned to Calgary in 2002 after teaching jewellery and small object design at the Kootenay School of the Arts for two years. She runs a professional art practice, teaches part time at the Alberta College of Art and Design and is co-founder of INFLUX, a contemporary art jewellery gallery since 2004.
Shona Rae has won numerous awards and attention for her sculptural art jewellery in Europe and North America. She maintains a deep commitment to the study and creation of art, craft and design.
ARTIST'S STATEMENT
My lifelong fascination and study of fairytales, folklore, ancient religion and myth is a major influence in my artwork. I believe that in our urge to tell stories we seek to give order and meaning to our lives, explain natural phenomena, the complexities of life or to understand the human condition. I have made it my mission to reclaim fairytales and folktales for the adult audience so that we may gain wisdom and direction in our contemporary, hectic lives.
As much as possible I use materials that relate directly to the story and uphold the concepts that I am trying to convey. Such as the ptarmigan and caribou bones I found in the Arctic for "The Red Shoes" because the story deals with obsessive addictive patterns and I was witness to such behaviors while teaching there in 2001.
It is absolutely mandatory that I enjoy myself in the creative process and it is my sincere desire that you should have some fun as well in your viewing! Enjoy the journey, may it be radical, magical, heroic…
CONTACT
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