The Arts Centre at Cedar Hill is debuting a new exhibit from one of its former employees, showcasing his talent with an array of vibrant pottery pieces.
Tom Severson will have his unique 3D and 2D ceramic artwork on display at the centre’s main gallery from Sept. 30 to Oct. 12, kicking off with a reception on Thursday, Sept. 29 from 7 to 9 p.m. The exhibit, titled Inspired/Connected: Works by Tom Severson & Friends, is in recognition of Severson’s 18 years with the centre.
“I was initially the pottery technician and then became a programmer in 2011,” said Severson. “I was working with instructors and students, developing programs and mentoring until I retired in 2015.”
Severson spoke fondly of his time with the centre, highlighting his relationships as a mentor to students as being more “full circle” than a hierarchy. In that same spirit, Severson said some of his artistic friends are also being featured in the exhibit, illustrating his connections to his peers.
“A lot of them are former colleagues that I worked with, and some are students going back 15 to 20 years,” he said. “It’s a real blend of people from my time spent in Victoria.”
Severson is primarily known for his ceramic work, but he said his artistic style often incorporates imprinted imagery in the clay to give it his signature look.
“It’s really evolved,” said Severson of how he developed his spin on pottery. “Little by little, I began introducing other materials into found objects. These are things I would find, oftentimes on the road, like crushed cans, parts from cars, cutlery.
“They were flattened from weeks and months of vehicles running over them to the point they were unrecognizable, but yet still had some familiarity.”
Severson’s exhibit runs Sept. 30 to Oct. 12 at the Arts Centre at Cedar Hill, located at 3220 Cedar Hill Rd. The centre is open Monday to Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., with shortened hours (9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) on Oct. 10 for Thanksgiving.
For more information, call 250-475-7121 or email artscentre@saanich.ca.