In 1967 Judi Dyelle
graduated with honours and
became an Associate of the Ontario College of Art. She was awarded
the Lieutenant
Governor’s Medal of Excellence. A Canada Council
Grant allowed her to
spend a year and a half travelling in Japan and studying
with Tatsuzo
Shimaoka. Upon her
return to Canada, she began teaching pottery in Toronto and has
continued in Vancouver, Montreal and Victoria. She has exhibited
and given numerous workshops in Canada and the United States. She
was invited to participate in an International Ceramic
Festival and
exhibition in Mokpo,
Korea.
Her work is in many private and public collections throughout North
America, China, Korea, Japan, Australia, Denmark, Iceland, Germany
and England.
Most of the work she
produces is wheel thrown, using a porcelain clay that she makes
herself. It is fired, in a reducing atmosphere, to cone 9 - 10
(1280 - 1305 centigrade) in a propane gas kiln. Many of the pieces
are pierced, cut or textured before glazing. Her extensive study
and love of Oriental ceramics can be seen in the variety of forms
and glazes that she has developed. She also enjoys using low
temperature local clays as the base for several of her metallic
glazes.
She feels that the most
essential thing about her work is the form. Whether it is
handbuilt, wheel thrown or a combination of the two processes, the
form is the underlying factor. The finishing process of glaze, slip
or firing is an embellishment to it. She has continually studied
and researched various ancient cultures and it is from these
sources that she draws her inspiration. It is her hope that the
work that she produces will have a timeless quality to
it.
Since 1984, she and her
husband, Robin
Hopper, have owned
and operated ’Chosin Pottery
Inc., in Victoria,
B.C., Canada.