Curatorial thoughts:

Developing a new exhibition such as this, is the supreme pleasure of my role as Executive Director. I have known for some time that quite a few Alberta Craft Council members do some form of figurative work. It took a chance encounter with several long-time members, sipping wine at an opening, for me to realize that this figurative phenomenon had great exhibition potential.

Brenda Malkinson was describing her new process for stain-painting and firing figurative images on glass.

Ross Bradley was talking about his new sculpted clay figures. And Karen Cantine was musing about a pair of rare grey pearls that were inspiring her to design a silver mermaid pin. I was listening, thinking, AHA we have an exhibition here.

I pursued the idea, tentatively at first, then with more excitement. I quickly discovered that at least 20 senior, professional members of the Alberta Craft Council were thinking and working figuratively. Now, I am quite certain that there must be more, and we simply don't know about them - yet. Our loss.

This exhibition - and all the Council's exhibitions - celebrates the diversity, creativity and sophistication of Alberta's fine craft scene. The pieces in this exhibition are not just the most original and accomplished work in Alberta - they are as good as it gets anywhere.

Tom McFall