Meet Our Artisans
What better way to learn about Cape Breton Island than through the lives and work of its artisans.
The Centre is proud to represent hundreds of professional Cape Breton craft producers. Over 100 are featured in our Gallery Shop in Downtown Sydney, or grab a copy of our Artisan Trail Map and visit their studio yourself!
Alana Lea Wilson
Builder Burner Ceramics
Alana Lea Wilson completed her MFA at Pennwest Edinboro University and her BFA at NSCAD University. Her work explores ideas around memory and nostalgia, longing and belonging, and her ongoing search for a home. Her love of nature and travel are the biggest inspirations for the elements and repeating patterns she works with. Alana is also inspired by William Morris’ patterns and sees her tile installations as three dimensional wallpapers. She makes colourful ceramic objects for the home under the name builderburner ceramics and has done residencies in Canada, Australia, and the U.S. Over the years she’s worked as an arts administrator, a fire lookout, a tree planting cook, a tree planter, and as a barista in order to continue her studio practice. She has also received funding from the Canada Council for the Arts and Arts Nova Scotia. Currently she lives in Sydney, NS with her cat, Onyx and is grateful for her studio space and community in the Eltuek Arts Centre.
builderburnerceramics.com | buildingandburning@gmail.com
Linda Wright
Big Hill Pottery
Linda is a potter and visual artist who immigrated from Scotland in 1974. After graduating from Sheridan School of Craft & Design in 1985, she started her first studio in Hamilton, Ontario, then moved to Muskoka where she operated Northshore Pottery for almost 20 years. In 2009, Linda moved to Cape Breton and opened Big Hill Pottery near Baddeck. Linda loves to create with texture and form, putting much emphasis on the function of the item. A great deal of consideration is given to the total integration of each piece. All pottery can be used in the oven, microwave and dishwasher.
bighillretreat.com | lindajoycewright55@gmail.com
Mary Yurchesyn
Mary Yurchesyn
Mary was born on beautiful Cape Breton where she grew up on a farm just outside Sydney. Drawing and painting were interests from a young age and though her future career was in healthcare, her love of painting did not diminish. Mary worked in oil for about 30 years before she fell in love with watercolours, their luminosity and dynamic nature make them an exciting medium to explore. Now that she’s retired, she is concentrating on watercolours and has been voted in as an elected member of the Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour. Mary hopes to grow as an artist as she begins this new chapter in her life’s journey and hopes to inspire others to try this beautiful medium.
maryyurchesynart.com | maryyurchesyn@hotmail.com
Jitka Zgola
Jitka Zgola
Jitka spent many years as an occupational therapist consulting about care for persons with Alzheimer’s and is still invited to speak and present workshops throughout North America. Pottery is now a passion that she indulges, constantly experimenting and exploring new techniques to produce one-of-a-kind functional pieces – art that can be used every day. Most production takes place in the serene wintry months in her studio in Wreck Cove. True to its functional nature, Jitka’s stoneware is food, oven and microwave safe.
giverny@ns.sympatico.ca