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PORTFOLIO
 Studio SuretteStudio Surette was conceived in 1975 when Richard and Susan moved from Ontario to the Eastern Townships of Quebec to pursue their careers as potter and weaver. Over a period of several years they worked in different media including ceramics, textiles, wood, stone, paper and basketry, the echoes of which can be seen in their Raku production that has occupied them exclusively since 1987. Their youngest daughter, Akycha Surette who is a recent graduate of Concordia’s Faculty of Fine Arts, has lately joined the studio after many years of apprenticeship. Amun Surette, their son has elected to pursue his vision of an organic furniture design using stone, metal and wood. The technical expertise of Richard is enriched by and enriches the academic interests of Susan who has recently completed a Master’s degree in art history on Canadian ceramics. This family affair leads to a great deal of lively discussion regarding the nature of art and craft, social connotations of the object, responsibilities of the artist, the role of design, the interplay between historical continuity and creative innovation and of course, the never-ending debate about the balance between art and business. Through the marriage of Eastern aesthetics with a North American cultural heritage, these artists seek to express the unique experience of living in a multi-cultural society that constantly renews itself by drawing upon diverse influences. They are inspired by a land whose profound richness in textures, forms and materials is, itself, a metaphor for the society in which they live. The individuals of this society, and their myriad negotiations for physical, spiritual, economic, political, and social survival are an inspiration for their works. Their themes deal with a wide range of concepts, from the intimate and personal sensual relationship between the functional object and the user, to political and social commentary. Essential to all these works is the reciprocal interaction between the human body and its environment where each shapes and is shaped by the other. The works of Studio Surette are found in private, corporate, and public collections. Their works are exhibited throughout Canada and the United States in galleries, museum boutiques, and fine craft exhibitions.
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