An exploration in texture.
The studio ‘of Cabbages & Kings’ is a working studio in Canmore, Alberta, with two generations of potters. John Borrowman, who has been making his living with clay since 1974, was joined by his daughter Katie in 2005. Together they work on several studio lines, as well as each producing their own distinctive and colourful lines of functional and one-of-a-kind pieces.
John Borrowman
John was a full-time studio potter from 1974 through to 1997, when he began what he expected to be a short hiatus from the studio in order to focus on developing the Quest Gallery of Canadian Craftsmanship in Banff, Alberta, which he owned and operated for many years, and The Avens Gallery in Canmore, Alberta which he sold in 2010. John is now back in the pottery studio on an occasional basis, as he splits his time between making pots and serving as mayor for the Town of Canmore.
His original training with clay took place in Ontario from 1971 - 1974, when he apprenticed with Diane Creber and Ken Cumberland at Wilton Pottery; and studied under Robin Hopper, Roman Bartkiw, and Roger Kerslake at Georgian College.
John relocated to Alberta in 1975 with his wife Lynn, where he shared workspace with Tony Bloom at Stonecrop Studios for many years. He opened Notch Hill Pottery in the interior of British Columbia in 1980, which he & Lynn operated for several years prior to returning to Canmore in 1985.
John worked out of Stonecrop again until 1991, when he opened his own pottery in Canmore - 'of Cabbages & Kings'. John's daughter Katie, who has been making her living as a production potter since 2005, now runs the studio. Together, she and John work on several studio lines, but John's time in the pottery is limited by his municipal involvement.
John looks forward to being back in the studio full time when he retires from political life.
Katie Borrowman
Katie grew up around pottery, working during her high school years in her father’s studio ‘of Cabbages & Kings’ in Canmore, Alberta. She is now sharing the studio space, and making her living as a potter.
Katie studied at art school and spent a year apprenticing to a goldsmith in Canmore, before settling in to clay as a medium.
She has been working full time in the pottery since September of 2005, and has developed a colourful line of functional pottery that she sells from the studio as well as several other locations in Alberta and elsewhere.
Her work is primarily wheel thrown, using a high firing stoneware clay. The glazes that she uses are all food safe, and her pottery is microwave, dishwasher, and oven friendly
(photos by Alexis McKeown)
