Ceramics: An Environmental Journey With Clay

Heather Ruthig’s hand painted bowl entitled Sentinel.

By Jim Giles

Ceramics, from the Greek keramos, meaning “of or for pottery”, is one of the most ancient industries on our planet. Humans appear to have been producing ceramics for at least 26,000 years, starting with figurines for ceremonial purposes. Remnants of ancient works, created by numerous civilizations, have been found in many parts of the world. The first functional pieces were vessels for storing water and food about 12,000 years ago. The Chinese contribution to ceramic art was in every conceivable way uncontested - including technical sophistication - for the next 11,000 years.

Ceramic artists shape and mold their works from clay, frequently using a potter’s wheel and other tools. Pieces are fired once, then again after glaze is applied, in kilns, special furnaces that cure and harden the material at very high temperatures. Those working with ceramics not only require a wealth of knowledge, patience and painstaking skills, but equally important they need the perception to cope with failure because of the myriad mishaps that can occur during its processes.

Heather Ruthig loves working with her hands and learning new skills. For 25 years, she built props at the Stratford Festival. She also delved into welding, carpentry, sewing, upholstery, creating everything for the stage from furniture to masks. “My time at the Stratford Festival allowed me to learn from so many great artisans. It taught me new techniques and to be flexible to design something specific for a show,” explains Ruthig.

Ruthig grew up on a farm in Oxford County, later studying Fine Arts at the University of Guelph. She now devotes all her time to ceramics. She reflects that the skills acquired working at the Festival allowed her to accelerate her learning in clay.

For many artists working with clay can not only be a practice in patience but in learning to let go of perfectionism. Ceramic arts for others, like Ruthig, can be profoundly grounding and encourage a deeper understanding of one’s self and the world.

She feels fortunate to be part of the St. Marys’ Zenfire Pottery founded by Angela Patterson. “In five short years, Angela made a welcome home for local artists and potters to explore clay. I love working there. It keeps me in touch with the community in St. Marys,” proclaims Ruthig. Her journey with ceramics led her to a solo show in 2021 at the St. Marys Station Gallery, featuring her tarot card designs.

Ruthig lived near the Thames River in St. Marys for more than 20 years and gazed at the river every day. Water has consistently been a significance for her, she says, and has always had an awareness of ecology. Ruthig and family now live rurally near Woodham ON. Fish Creek is just down the road from their home and Ruthig frequently walks along the creek for inspiration.

Ruthig shares her excitement about being a part of an exhibition alongside 15 local artists in Stratford entitled River of Dreams, featuring creative explorations of the Avon River. She created a large, hand painted bowl for this show entitled Sentinel, featuring three brook trout of different ages in clean water, contrasting a polluted landscape on the vessel’s exterior. The bowl’s base is inspired by spores, which Ruthig learned helps restore soil through a process called phytoremediation.

Why Sentinel for a title of her bowl? “The sentinel species, such as the brook trout, serve as environmental indicators, warning of potential hazards,” Ruthig explains. “Many area rivers, including the Avon, have suffered significant environmental damage due to the effects of industrial use and agricultural runoff. In 2013, the Upper Thames Conservation Authority (UTRCA) reintroduced brook trout from a wild source into its tributaries. I connected with Erin Carroll, an aquatic biologist from UTRCA, who invited me to observe a fish count. Notably, the presence of fish of various sizes indicated successful reproduction, reflecting the improving water quality. Local conservation efforts include remediating riverbanks and planting native flora. I was inspired by all of this!”

Ruthig’s unique functional and sculptural artwork is displayed at Zenfire Pottery in St. Marys, Our Stōr(y) in Stratford and the Micak Gallery in Aurora.

Visit www.heatherruthig.com for her elaboration and ecological connection, which she says, “combines the magical meaning of plants and botanical science to create modern and thoughtful, sculptural and functional ceramic art.”

River of Dreams exhibition runs at Our Stōr(y), 7 George Street West, Stratford from November 1 to November 29 (closed Mondays).

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