#yegmaker

Simplicity has a story to tell—a beautiful one, with many interpretations. To artist Marion Mendoza, it’s the story of the prairies, the place she calls home and draws inspiration for her jewellery brand, Prairie Poly. Not only does Mendoza see beauty in the landscape’s simplicity, she sees the bright colours, bold patterns, and rich traditions that remind her of her roots—the places and people she loves. But art’s not the only passion that connects her to her surroundings. Community fills her soul, informs her path, and feels like home. This week’s “I Am YEG Arts” story belongs to Marion Mendoza.

Tell us about your connection to Edmonton and why you make it your home.

I am originally from Winnipeg but moved to Edmonton to complete my Education degree at the U of A. I always thought I’d go back to Winnipeg, but once I found a good community here and realized what an incredible arts and music scene it had, I never wanted to leave! It is also the place where my babies were born and where my closest group of girlfriends are.

How did you get your start as a jewellery designer/maker?

In 2018 my dad became very ill, and I went into a bit of a frozen state, completely thrown off. I knew the best way to take my mind off things and to help de-stress was to create something with my hands. So I started playing with clay, and very quickly this therapeutic form of de-stressing became a bit of an obsession, and that’s when Prairie Poly was born. I definitely never thought this hobby would have turned into what it is today. Although it started during a time of great sadness and loss, I am so glad that I kept going and decided to explore this medium even further. Still, to this day, it serves as therapy for me.

What inspires your design choices and the “story” that your jewellery tells?

All of the bold floral pieces I do are very much influenced by my mom, who has always loved plants and flowers, and by her sister, my Auntie Marge, who was a florist before she passed away years ago. I choose to create bright, unique and one-of-a-kind pieces because that is very much the person she was. She is always on my mind when I am creating, and I wonder what she would think of my work. I also enjoy creating textured, prairie landscape pieces because this land has always been my home, and I think about what it has done for my parents who immigrated from the Philippines. Some may see the prairies as boring, simple, and flat, but I see the complete opposite: this simplicity has such beauty to it and definitely has a lot of stories to tell.

Tell us a bit about the materials you work with and why you’re drawn to them.

I use polymer clay, and I am extremely drawn to it because it is so versatile and fun to work with. I really enjoy colour mixing, playing with textures, and—honestly—the possibilities for what you can do and make are endless! Over the last year, I have started using resin on top of the clay, which I have really fallen in love with because it tends to bring out the brightness in metallic clay and highlights the bold colours that I use.

What’s your favourite part of the creative process?

My favourite part of the process is creating all the small details in the slab (the main pattern on the base piece of clay) because this is the moment when things start really coming together. When I sit down and create, I don’t often have a big plan, so it’s really exciting to go with the flow and just see the details coming together.

What does community mean to you, and where do you find it?

Community to me means to find a sense of belonging or connection within a place, whether it’s a group, a club, with people you know, or don’t know. It’s that feeling where you know you have at least one thing in common, and it fills that small spot in your soul (fills it right up!), and hopefully any sense of loneliness begins to fade. For me, I find a sense of community in many different places—the non-profit immigrant serving sector (where I have worked most of my career), the local arts scene, and really anywhere I can make small talk with someone about anything. Once I feel that connection with someone, I feel right at home.

How did you become active in community advocacy? Does taking action come naturally to you, or is it a skill that emerged from a different strength?

Although I am an elementary school teacher by trade, I knew I always wanted to do something more that was not mainstream and wanted to advocate for students and young people in a different capacity. I started working in newcomer communities in 2009, and this was where I truly saw the complexities and challenges within bigger systems. From there, I knew I wanted to dedicate the rest of my career to helping and advocating for others.

I went on to work solely with newcomer and refugee families within Children’s Services, intervention and family violence cases. Currently, I work in two programs at a local non-profit: one with immigrant women, and the other with immigrant and refugee teen girls. Taking action has always come naturally because of the way I was raised. My parents taught me to speak up when something wasn’t right and to be proactive if I actually wanted to make a change.

Who is someone inspiring you right now, and why?

My biggest inspiration is my sister, Chris, who owns her own pharmacy in Winnipeg. She previously worked for a bigger pharmacy for 15 years before taking the plunge to become independent. Not only do I think she is brave for leaving something so comfortable, I really respect the fact that she focuses on building relationships with her clients. She also combines workshops dealing with self-care, holistic approaches, and other activities in her pharmacy that really bring out the community feel that is so different from your typical pharmacy.

People often give jewellery as gifts. What’s your favourite piece that you’ve been given, and who gave it to you?

I think my favourite piece of jewellery that I own is my engagement ring that my husband got me from a local artist in New York. It has layered metals, so it looks like grainy wood, and I’ve always loved it because it looks so unique.

You visit Edmonton 20 years from now. What do you hope has changed? What do you hope has stayed the same?

My biggest hope is that our houseless folks, especially those who suffer from mental health challenges, will all be in safer places. I also really hope that the arts and music scene in Edmonton not only stays the same, but becomes even bigger and better than it already is!

Want more YEG Arts Stories? We’ll be sharing them here all year and on social media using the hashtag #IamYegArts. Follow along!

Click here to learn more about Marion Mendoza, Prairie Poly, and where to find her work.

About Marion Mendoza

Presented by TIX on the Square

Sometimes, the thing you need is right in front of you — only you don’t know it. That’s not the case for Riyaz Sharan, a photographer and illustrator who sees potential everywhere. Whether he’s looking up at a skyline, through a camera lens, or even at a neon sign, finding beauty in the everyday is his passion. So too is sharing it. In this week’s Meet Your Makers, we had the pleasure of chatting with him about all things inspirational — from his love of everyday wonders to his gratitude for community. Meet this week’s maker, Riyaz Sharan.

TIX: There’s a real sense of place attached to your artwork. What story are you telling through your depictions of our city?

R.S.: The story that I am trying to tell is how unique and romantic Edmonton really is. Sometimes, a landmark or setting is overlooked, and what I try to do is to make the viewer smile or give a warm fuzzy feeling. My goal is to get the viewer to feel like they are sharing in the moment with me, whether it be in my photos or illustrations.

TIX: You recently transformed a series of Edmonton landmarks into six very popular puzzles. Why did you choose puzzles as a medium? Are there plans to grow the series?

R.S.: I chose puzzles as my medium because of the pandemic. No one was able to go out and about. A couple followers on Instagram reached out to me in early 2020 and asked if I would ever consider turning my illustrations into puzzles. I kind of shelved the idea, as I didn’t really know if it was a venture I wanted to go with. However, in the fall of 2020, even more people asked, so I did some research and decided to go ahead with the idea. What was meant for my small group of interested followers, turned into a very popular idea. And now having my products in stores is such an amazing feeling. The support by Edmontonians and people from around the world has been humbling… the stories I hear from people about how my puzzles and art brought their families together during the holidays meant a lot. Hearing about stories of peoples’ childhood memories, in particular with the neon lights museum illustration, and how certain signs meant a great deal to them—just a great feeling.

I do plan on getting more puzzles created; however, I need to get the inventory of what I currently have out the door. Ha! If anyone has a suggestion on what they’d like to see, I welcome their feedback. My plan is to have more puzzles in hand for spring/summer of this year.

TIX: How would you describe your artistic style?

R.S.: That is a really good question. I don’t really know how you would describe my style. Perhaps, contemporary? I envision an idea in my mind and draw it out until I like it. I like to use my photos as the stepping off point to help get the creative mind going. Sometimes, I have been inspired by other people’s photos shared on social media—that gets me creative.

TIX: There’s a strong creative community in Edmonton. Are there any local artists, photographers, or graphic designers who you look up to or who inspire your work?

R.S.: I love the Edmonton arts community. There is world-class talent all over this great city! There are so many creative people out there that I look up to or that have been very supportive to me. It’s too hard to name one or two. I feel like all the art that’s out there is so unique that it inspires me to challenge myself and draw inspiration from what is being created.

TIX: What advice would you give to up-and-coming graphic designers in our city?

R.S.: The advice I would give to up-and-coming graphic designers is to challenge yourself to think outside the box, no matter how crazy an idea may or may not be—just have fun. There are so many talented artists in Edmonton, reach out and ask to collaborate so you can learn new techniques or new way of thinking to allow creative ideas to flow.

TIX: Is there an illustration or project in your portfolio that you’re particularly proud of? If so, which one?

R.S.: Oh, gosh. There are so many projects that I have done that I am really proud of, but there are two that I need to brag about.

Giving back to the community—One thing about me is that I like to give back to the community when and where I can. The community has supported me so much with where I am today that I like to give back. With fundraising efforts being a challenge in 2020, I was able to fundraise in total over $1,500 for WWF Canada, Rainbow Refuge, Santa's Anonymous, and the Christmas Bureau. This was by sales in posters, greetings cards, and puzzles.

Neon Lights Museum—This illustration is something I’m most proud of. When you look at the illustration, you cannot tell if it’s real or not. It took me over 80 hours to complete.

TIX: Are there any upcoming projects you’d like to tell us about?

R.S.: I am trying new techniques with my illustrations and showcasing wildlife. Also, I am doing illustrations from around the world that I have taken photos of during my travels. My most recent piece was an illustration of the City of Calgary that was shared by Mayor Nenshi. To see what I am up to, follow me on Instagram @ryzshrn.

Want more? Visit rssdesigns.ca and tixonthesquare.ca for the latest from Riyaz and other great artists.

Artist Bio

Presented by TIX on the Square

What do a process engineer and a ceramics artist have in common? Everything. Just ask Jennifer Jong, who by day, designs, experiments, and uses creative thinking and problem-solving to understand the “whys” of a process and, by night, applies those same skills to clay. The results? JYJ ceramics, a collection of handmade, small-batch pottery that celebrate the beauty of functional objects. In this interview, Jennifer chats with us about her personal esthetics, a love of possibilities, and the process of letting go. Meet this week’s maker, Jennifer Jong.

TIX: Tell us about the first time you worked with clay. Was it a natural fit from the start?

J.J.: The first time I worked with clay, I was living in Houston and took a class for something to do in a new city. I enjoyed it, but it didn’t really click until I moved back to Edmonton and started taking classes a few years later—I’m not sure what happened, but I fell in love with clay and over the years, took as many classes as possible—eventually registering for two classes a week!

TIX: I’ve heard small-batch, handmade pottery described as “imperfect by design.” What do you want people to know and appreciate about handmade ceramics?

J.J.: The thing I love about handmade ceramics is that every part of the piece you get to hold has been considered by the artist. Every little bump is smoothed by hand. Every bottom is hand sanded. Each piece spends hours and hours with me through each step of the process and is truly unique. And while they may be part of a collection made to look similar, no piece will really ever be exactly the same.

TIX: What’s your favourite part of the creative process?

J.J.: My favourite part of the creative process with ceramics is the chance to constantly experiment. Since I have no formal education in the discipline, I learned the basics in adult/community classes, and that was sort of it. Over the last 1.5 years since I’ve been renting a space at The Shop Art & Ceramics studio, I’ve had the freedom to try more time-consuming things that community classes didn’t afford me. This has opened things up to try—things like plaster mold-making and slip casting, as well as making my own glazes. My background is technical, as I am a process engineer by trade, so having the time to experiment, adjust, retry, alter, and understand the why of what happens in ceramics is right up my alley.

TIX: Your designs seem to celebrate two very different esthetics: vibrant florals with bold geometric patterns and very elegant black line drawings. How do they each represent your sensibilities?

J.J.: In general, I always like to think my personal aesthetic is modern with a lot of clean/straight/sharp lines and clean angles. It shows in the way I decorate my home, and I think it also appears in the shapes I make. I believe that’s why I’m drawn to the geometric patterns and also the cut glass shapes that I like to make molds of and slip cast. The florals come from my love of plants/colour/flowers, and I adore the juxtaposition of pretty florals layered with almost stark geometric patterns. I like to think that they represent my logical/practical side with my love of just beautiful things. I realize about myself that I like things to be practical and orderly, which is why I always gravitate to making functional ceramics, rather than say, sculptural work, but I like to toss in the florals and colour because practical doesn’t mean it can’t be beautiful to look at!

TIX: What’s a project or technique you’d love to explore more?

J.J.: I would love to explore more glaze-making and firing techniques. Our studio has an electric kiln that fires to mid-range in an oxidation atmosphere. I’d love to have the chance to experiment with high firings/reduction atmosphere firing, soda firing, salt firing, and wood firing. There are magical results you can get using other firing techniques that I think would open up a whole new world of ceramics for me. Glaze-making goes hand-in-hand with experimenting with kiln firing, as there are so many variables that can change what a glaze can do in a different atmosphere. I get excited and overwhelmed thinking about the possibilities!

TIX: Who’s an artist inspiring you right now?

J.J.: There is a Japanese ceramic artist, Shigeki Minami, that Danny Ross from EAC and TIX actually shared with me over Instagram (@minamishigeki) whose work I am fascinated by. He carves intricate geometric patterns into beautiful porcelain forms, and his work is breathtaking.

TIX: What has pottery taught you about yourself?

J.J.: I’m not so sure if it’s something it has taught me about myself or if it’s more what pottery has taught me, but it would be to learn how to be capable of letting things go. What I mean by that, is that ceramics is a long process with so many chances for failure along the way, so over the years I’ve learned to be okay with losing things along the way, even after spending hours working on them, and knowing that a failure along the way doesn’t mean a complete failure (It can sometimes take weeks for a piece to make it from a raw lump of clay to a finished, functional piece!). Perhaps what it has taught me about myself is that I really am often interested in the process as much as I am about the final result.

Want more? Visit jyj-ceramics.square.site and tixonthesquare.ca for the latest from Jennifer and other great artists.

Artist Bio

Presented by TIX on the Square

Few things are more powerful than our stories. They’re how we make sense of the world and our place in it. This week, we profile an artist who does just that — connects people to their memories through visual art. His name is Jason Blower, and you’ve likely admired his work or visited his online home, Snow Alligator — a whimsical collection of art and décor that takes its cues from Jason’s own story: a childhood of imaginative play, a spirit of positivity, and the desire to create communities from memories. Meet this week’s maker, Jason Blower.

TIX: Architecture, skylines, and the history behind city landmarks are strong themes in your work. Why do those narratives speak to you?

J.B: My Father has a grand knowledge of the history of the city, and as a kid I was often quizzed on names of places or told tales of what happened or used to be there. As I got older and talked to friends, I realized how many people know the history of places around the world, but barely grasp the history of our city—which is important. How are we to understand ourselves and the culture of the city if we don’t know or understand the choices of our past. I focus on so much of that to highlight that idea and for us to reflect on our own memories and choices of living in this city.

TIX: There’s also a lot of joy and humour in your work. Why are they important to you and your storytelling?

J.B: I suppose it’s because of my rose-coloured-glasses look at life. I tend to look at the positives and see life as an adventure. Frame of mind is so important in the pursuit of life because the “world” is an unforgiving place—it’s hard and there are setbacks, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t also beautiful and full of fun, too.

TIX: You’ve described your work as having a warm, mid-century modern aesthetic. What about that style suits your artistic strengths and sensibilities?

J.B: I think that the eras that grew out of the end of the Second World War were such a time of re-vigour—the change in the status quo and the feeling of optimism that came from the abundance that post-war offered. This was reflected in the artwork, design, and cartoons of the time. The simplicity of the style is appealing and easy to understand. Mixing the optimism and simplicity of the aesthetic, I think, brings back nostalgic feelings of youth. And most of us miss the days of our more carefree youth.

TIX: Tell us how your storybooks and comics evolved. Had you always wanted to combine writing with illustrating?

J.B: Oh, yes! Imaginative play was the foundation of my childhood. Action figures, running around in the ravines roleplaying, and reading comics were what nurtured me growing up. That sort of play evolved into games of “what if” and just built upon themselves until you were only making up your own stuff and no longer just copying things that you had already seen. For a long time, my artwork has been just glimpses into the stories that are in my head, or they have

been the explorations of figuring out the right stories. The storybooks and comics have just naturally evolved from single images, to a series of images, to a thread of images that are telling fuller stories.

TIX: In one of your blog posts, you talk about how the art on people’s walls says a lot about them. What does the art in your home say about you?

J.B: Oh, this is clever! I don’t have any of my own work up on the walls. I think that’s because I see them in my head all the time, so to have them on the walls would be redundant. Seventy percent of the art on my walls is that of my fellow art school friends, things we did in the final years of school. It takes me back to those days when we were learning and trying out so many new things. The other 20% is of artists I really admire. Their work is my own north star and reminds me of the path that I am on and the destination that path will take me. I suppose that’s true of all people—they have things up that say who they are or have been and want to be. The last 10% is of travel artifacts, visual journals that tell the adventures of where I have been.

TIX: In addition to buying artwork, how can people support artists and the art community?

J.B: Oh, by far, being an advocate is the most supportive way that people can support the arts community. The arts is what makes us human, without it we would be living in total utility. Living to just live is not much of a life. So to share the things that make you happy, what they mean to you, and demonstrate a life worth living is the best way for other people to see and appreciate the same things in life that you value.

TIX: What are you currently working on?

J.B: Currently I am working on completing a series of 12 Alberta landscape paintings, writing and development of a handful of storybook and graphic novel ideas, and a rotating list of commercial client projects.

Want more? Visit snowalligator.com and tixonthesquare.ca for the latest from Jason and other great artists.

Artist Bio

Presented by TIX on the Square

Sewing, screen printing, designing, pattern-drafting, knitting — there isn’t much that Shauna Force doesn’t do, and do well. Lucky for little ones everywhere, she’s refocused that creativity on turning her artwork into a beautiful line of illustrated, screen-printed, and hand-sewn home and baby textiles. That labour of love is Fenwick & Co., a new hub for the new phase in this incredible artisan’s path. Meet this week’s maker, Shauna Force.

TIX: You describe your product line as “designed with parents and baby comfort in mind.” What do you hope parents will appreciate about your design choices?

S.F.: By parent comfort, I’m thinking more of the psychological side—knowing that your little one is in good quality, natural fibres, made using socially responsible practices. Choosing locally made doesn’t hurt either.

As for baby comfort, I just tried to choose super soft, cozy fabric they can move in and a nice wide waistband so there is no pressure on the tummy. I find a nice fitted cuff is great for putting under winter-wear gear and sliding into boots without riding up.

TIX: Have both form and function always been paramount to your design sensibilities?

S.F.: I tend to gravitate towards making things that have function and, hopefully, function well. Like Marie Kondo says, “does it spark joy?” I think the things we surround ourselves with should be appealing and enjoyable to look at, as well as use.

TIX: You’ve added pattern-drafting and sewing to your new phase of work. What’s a new life skill you’re bringing with you, too?

S.F.: New life skill, hmmm… parenting? Does that count? Haha. I have been playing a lot with watercolours. I really love how they have the ability to be so fluid and soft. I have worked a lot with just black ink for illustration screen print designs, so the flexibility and versatility of watercolours is fun to explore.

TIX: The shop local movement has resonated with a lot of consumers this past year. How does that support translate to you as an artist, as well as to the local economy?

S.F.: The shop local movement has been growing steadily over the last few years, but this pandemic seems to have made everyone more conscious that if you don’t use it, you will lose it. And, sadly, we have lost many local businesses in the past year.

The support here has been really great—especially around the holiday season—we just need to remember to make it an all-year thing. As an Edmonton-based artist/maker, any money I make goes right back into our local economy and keeps other small businesses alive. I try to support local businesses whenever possible because I know how much every dollar means to them.

TIX: How have you grown as a creative person throughout your career. What’s changed, what’s stayed the same?

S.F.: I have always loved creating wearable things. I have dabbled in so many mediums, from sewing clothing and bags, to jewellery-making and knitting. What has changed is my perspective. I now also like to dress up my surroundings by making home goods, and I can’t resist making things for tiny people. They are just so much cuter.

TIX: On days when you just can’t get started, what’s your favourite way to procrastinate?

S.F.: With a wee one in the house, some nights I don’t get as much sleep as I would like. I find that it is hardest to get started on those days, so if I can, I give myself the gift of procrastination in the form of naps.

TIX: What are you currently working on?

S.F.: Oh, so many things—I really have to remind myself that sometimes less is more. I want to make all the things! I’m currently working on a new print for the baby joggers, a new tea towel print, and just for fun, I’m making a felt animal mobile.

TIX: Who’s an artist inspiring you right now?

S.F.: I have really been loving watercolour lately. I really admire artists like Gloria Ho. She paints beautiful watercolour animals, and I have many of her prints around the house. I also just came across this gal who works under the name Peak Paper Co. She does the most amazing pet portraits, and who doesn’t love a good pet portrait!

Want more? Visit fenwickandco.com and tixonthesquare.ca for the latest from Shauna and other great artists.

Artist Bio

Shauna Force has been a life-long maker. But when she became a mother, her decision to turn her creative attentions toward designing, screen-printing, and sewing baby and home goods was a natural progression.

Her company, Fenwick & Co., focuses on quality, natural fabrics that are comfortable and easy to care for. She hopes that people will enjoy her new offerings as much as she loves making them.