Sandra Meryl Ledingham

Sandra Ledingham is well known locally, nationally, and internationally for her award-winning works in clay, porcelain, and other diverse materials. She frequently returns to the motif of the wall, one of the most ancient and elementary components of our built environment. Her table-top walls reference architecture, while also posing questions about form, function, and aesthetics. Her approach is informed by her love and fascination with ancient and modern clay dwellings, which includes everything from ancient structures in the Middle East and Africa, to prairie soddies and modern day Earthships. Unlike many ceramicists who produce functional pottery, Ledingham's walls reject function entirely. They are not bowls or plates to be used--they are works of art to be appreciated on aesthetic and conceptual grounds. In dialogue with gravity and balance, her curved slab forms enclose space like a physical embrace, creating intimate, sheltered interiors. The transition between interior and exterior is uninterrupted, tracing the unbroken contours of her forms. Openings or windows in the surface function as viewing ports that allow a visual passage from one side to the next, interior to exterior, or vice versa. Surface markings add further aesthetic dimension, as well as a richer historical narrative. Characters and marks from a variety of modern and ancient alphabets--brail, cuneiform, Morse code, binary--punctuate Ledingham’s smooth, pristinely finished vertical surfaces. Calling to mind everything from ancient hieroglyphics to modern-day graffiti, they speak to a long tradition of walls functioning as mediums for communication.

Curriculum Vitae

EDUCATION

2022-1972 Professional Development Travel: Canada, UK, Japan, France, New Zealand, S.Pacific, Mexico, USA, Bahamas, Cuba, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Tunisia, Spain
1996/1985 - Banff School of Fine Arts - Residencies, Banff, Alberta Canada
1973/1972 - University of Regina Extension Dept. Ceramic Studies (Marilyn Levine)
1972 - 1970 - Art History: Sorbonne. Painting: ‘Centre American’ Paris, France
1970 - Bachelor of Arts, Sociology with a Fine Arts Minor. University of Regina, Regina, SK, Canada.

PROFESSIONAL TEACHING EXPERIENCE

2011-1980 Included: SIAST Media Arts, Art Gallery of Prince Albert: Gallery Educator, Concordia University- Adjunct Professor of Ceramics Portland Oregon USA,SIAST Applied Arts Dept. Head / Curriculum Development /Teaching Design, Drawing and Ceramics,University of SK-Art 115/215/315 and Art Education.

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

2019-Published Article CARFAC Magazine (Canadian) ‘Departures-Examining a Paradigm Shift’
2018-France Residency & Exposition. St. Quentin La Poterie. ‘ Departures’.
2019-17-Collaboration:‘Staele Kulkulcan’. Uayma Yucatan . Mexico
2017-Collaboration: Uyama Yucatan Mexico, ‘Staele Kulkulcan’.
2015-‘New Zealand Collaborations’ ( Invitational) Whangerei, New Zealand
2012-Saskatchewan Legislature Building, Regina, SK, Saskatchewan Arts Board Commission
2012-Saskatchewan Legislature Legacy Community Project, ‘Earth Dwellings Then & Now’ Lecture Tour.
2009-Solo Juror, SaskTerra Touring Exhibition ‘A Pair'
2003-Curriculum Development, SIAST Woodland Campus, Graphic Arts Program, Design 101
1991/1995/1997/2004- Publication of Articles, ‘The Craft Factor'
1985/1988/1990-Saskatchewan Craft Council Board
1986 - 2002-Curriculum Development, SIAST, Design & Ceramic Arts
1988/1990/1991/1993/1996/2003-Juror, Saskatchewan Art Board (Individual Assistance Grants)

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS

2022- Distance As Object, Intern. invitational generated by Stef Veldhuis. Utrecht Netherlands.
2022- I'd Rather Be in the Tropics Drinking Margaritas, 2 person show Handwave Gallery. Meachum. Sk.
2022- Art Now ( Represented by Art Placement Gallery. Saskatoon. Sk.
2021- La Guilde Montreal. Ceramic en Plein Assor
2021- Winchester Gallery Victoria Canada. 3 person show
2022-21- Korea International Ceramic Biennale. Yingge Museum. Soeul
2020-21- Taiwan Ceramic Biennale. Taipai . Taiwan.
2020- Black Lives Matter, Ceramic Congress. Virtual Exposition. Humanity, Juror Dr. Wendy Gers.
2020- Art Placement New Fall Works,Saskatoon. Sk.
2020-19 Fusion Art-COLORS 2020, Intimate ll. Palm Springs. California
2019-Address Assembly (Design Exposition curated by Kate Duncan). Vancouver. B.C. Canada
2018- France.St.Quentin la Poterie. Depart- Examiner Une Changement de Paradigme (Installation 2 person Exposition).
2018-Art Placement Gallery Saskatoon Sk. Represented by APG -Numerous Group shows.
2017 - Burlington Art Gallery - 1st Canadian Biennale (Material Arts). Invitational. Canada.
2017 - Shifting Glance (two-person exhibition: C. Forbes and S. Ledingham) The Gallery/Art Placement Inc., Saskatoon, SK
2017 -In-Between Space (solo), Handwave Gallery, Meachum, SK
2017 - Staele Kulkulcan, Collaboration Yucatan Mexico (2 Mayan artists/1 American/1 Canadian)
2017 -Dimensions 2017 (group, touring) Saskatchewan Craft Council Open Biennale, Saskatoon, SK
2016 - 21st SAMFA Ceramic Competition, San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts, Texas, USA
2016 - 2nd Annual Wearable Art Show, Merit Award (Headgear), Red Square, Saskatoon, SK
2016 - Group Shows (3), Mata Gallery, Regina, SK
2016 - Art Now (invited), Saskatchewan Craft Council booth, Saskatoon, SK
2015 - Dimensions(group, touring), Saskatchewan Craft Council Open Biennale, Saskatoon, SK (Innovation Award)
2015 - Paradise Perspectives (two-person), Gordon Snelgrove Gallery, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK
2015 - Tools, Medalta Art Gallery, Medicine Hat, AB
2015 - N.Z. Collaborations (exhibition and auction), Whangerei, New Zealand
2013-2012 - Continuum(group, invitational), Affinity Gallery, Saskatoon, SK, and HandWave Gallery, Meacham, SK
2012 - Saskatchewan Legislature - Legacy Art Commission (Permanent), Regina, SK
2012 - LEGACY - 8 Artists (group), Cumberland Gallery Exhibition, Saskatchewan Legislature, Regina, SK
2012-DECOY, Emma Collaborations International, Affinity Gallery, Saskatoon, SK
2012-1985-Numerous exhibitions including : Portland, Oregon / San Angelo, Texas /Montreal and other areas in Quebec / Minneapolis/Vancouver/ Germany/Winnipeg / New York and Boston.

REVIEWS AND PUBLICATIONS

2022 Korea International Biennale Catalogue
2021 Taiwan Ceramic Biennale Catalogue
2021 Galleries West, 'Minimalism or Maximalism' by Portia Priegert. Editor
2020 Saskapedia.com/visual-arts-in-saskatchewan
2020 CERAMIC Now magazine. Feature Artist. October issue.
2019 Article published CARFAC Magazine (Canadian), 'Departures-Examining a Paradigm Shift'
2012 100 Yr. Legacy Sask. Legislature. Regina Sk. (8 Artists) Catalogue
2008 'Clay In Western Canada' (MFA Thesis ) by Julia Krueger
1993 'Women Artists in Saskatchewan' (5th House Publishers) Saskatoon. Sk.
1991 'With These Hands',Video Series (Clay),Challenging Form (S.Ledingham / Mel Bolen)
Media House Prod. Produced by Gordon McLennan for SCN Canada

AWARDS

2022- Saskatchewan Arts Board. Purchase Award.
2021/2020- Sk. Arts Board. Micro-Grant awards.
2019- Fusion Art - Colours. 3D Award ( 1st Prize). 'Intimate ll', Palm Springs California 2020.
2016- Honorary Life Member of Saskatchewan Craft Council.
2016 - Merit Award, Wearable Art Show for 'RED Square' (Headgear) Saskatoon, SK
2015 - SCC Dimensions Innovation Award, Saskatchewan Arts Board
2002 - Purchase Award, Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science & Technology, 'Winter Blues/Caribbean Greens'
2002 - Purchase Award, Saskatchewan Arts Board, 'Passing of The Trio', Raku Vessel
2002 - Purchase Award, Saskatchewan Arts Board, 'Cup N Saucer 4 Pomp N Circumstance'
1985 - Purchase Award, China/Saskatchewan Government Exchange, 'Smoked Vessel'
1985 - Honourable Mention, 'Evolution' Canadian National Ceramic Biennial, Quebec
1985 - Purchase Award, Saskatchewan Craft Council,'Smoked Vessel'
1985 - Purchase Award, Saskatchewan Arts Board, 'Aurora Borealis Smoked Vessel ’
1983 - Purchase Award, Saskatchewan Craft Council, 'Trepidation', Porcelain Wall Sculpture
1983 - Purchase Award, Battleford Allied Arts Council, 'Smoked Vessel'
1983 - Best In Clay Award, Merit Award, Saskatchewan Craft Council, 'Smoked Vessel'
1983 - Purchase Award, Saskatchewan Arts Board, ‘Series in X’, 'Smoked Vessel'
1982 - Purchase Award, Status of Women (Sasha Hayman), 'Women Emerging' (Porcelain)
1981 / 80 / 77 / 76Sask Arts Board - Purchase Awards : '3Platters' / 'Plates' / 'Large Bowl'
1977 - Merit Award, Saskatchewan Craft Council, ‘Platter'