Welcome to the Deep River Potters’ Guild
Deep River is not only the home of Canada’s nuclear pioneers and the one-time home of four Nobel Prize winners, it is also home to the oldest continuously operating potters’ guild in Canada. Come take a peek inside!
Video by Tiffany Orpana
-
Our Space
The guild is located in the heart of Deep River, alongside the Whistle Stop and Bowling Congress, at the Deep River Community Centre. We welcome members 24/7 from all over the Ottawa Valley – from beginners to professionals. The view from the 3 large picture windows of the Ottawa River provide year round inspiration for our members.
-
Our Facility
The guild is equipped with 2 kick wheels, 4 electric wheels, a slab roller, spray booth, an extruder, many tools, 2 electric kilns, 1 gas kiln and 1 Raku kiln (used seasonally). Members enjoy 24-hour access to the facility 7 days a week when classes are not in session. Introduction to Pottery classes, family classes, workshops, and skills clinics are held frequently to help ongoing development of our members.
-
Our Community
Discover a vibrant pottery community where creativity thrives and artistry blossoms. Join passionate artisans and enthusiasts alike in exploring the timeless craft of pottery. Whether you're a seasoned potter or a curious beginner, our community welcomes you to delve into the rich traditions and innovative techniques that shape our craft. Connect, learn, and create alongside fellow pottery lovers who share your passion. When our potters are not creating they work collaboratively to operate the guild, meet for socials, facilitate outreach programs and organize pottery sales.
We are not the first to make pottery in Deep River
Although this club has been operating for almost 70 years, this is not the first time that pottery has been made at Deep River. Our ceramic tradition in Deep River goes much farther back in time. Around 2500 years ago, First Nations people were making and using pottery at Indian Point across the Ottawa River from what is now the town of Deep River. In the early 1950’s an archeological dig unearthed the Indian Point pot – one of the most important archeological finds from that time – Vinnette I – simple undecorated pots that signal the emergence of pottery culture in North America. The Indian Point Pot is often on display at the Museum of Civilization in Ottawa.
The Deep River Potter's Guild was officially started at a public meeting on July 13, 1954, when the town was still under construction.
The first regular meeting of the Ceramics Club, as it was called then, followed on September 22, 1954, with Mrs. Tomlinson as the chair. The next day, the club hosted a general lecture on the history of ceramics and finally on Friday Sept 24 Mrs. Ethel Leacock, who taught ceramics in Ottawa schools, gave a demonstration and lecture.
The newly formed Ceramics Club met in what was the former film projection room, upstairs in the now demolished upper part of the Community Centre. One of the perks of potting there was listening to any visiting music or theatre presentations as the projection windows were open to the gymnasium below where the shows took place.
In 1972 the downhill part of the Community Center was demolished and the club moved to its present quarters, on the east side of the Community Centre. A major advantage of the move was that we no longer tracked dusty footprints all the way down the stairs, which the janitor stoically washed down several times a week. Once when the club was broken into, the thief unwittingly left a lovely, clear set of footprints which were carefully examined by the police, though it never did lead to their capture.
The Ceramics Club name was officially changed to the Deep River Potters’ Guild in the 1990’s (editor’s note: other sources says late 70’s) to minimize confusion with pottery making and painted ceramics, which were very popular at that time.
As times have changed, the guild has changed with it. Most of the manual kick wheels have been replaced with electric wheels. Kilns have been upgraded to our current configuration of a gas reduction kiln (installed thanks to a Trillium grant in early 2000’s), two electric oxidation kiln and an outdoor Raku kiln.
In the early 2010’s, we installed windows along the back wall of the workroom and the throwing room, to take advantage of the amazing view of the Ottawa river and the mountains. What an improvement!
The guild has continued to welcome potters, new and experienced, school children and clubs. We take part in community sales and events and find other opportunities for our members to showcase their work. The future will bring challenges, and we will work together as a guild and flourish.
Land Acknowledgement
The Deep River Potters’ Guild is located within the Algonquin Land Claim Settlement Area. This area is the Traditional Territory of the Algonquins of Ontario, comprised of ten Algonquin Communities, which include the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation, Antoine, Kijicho Manito Madaouskarini (Bancroft), Bonnechere, Greater Golden Lake, Mattawa/North Bay, Ottawa, Shabot Obaadjiwan (Sharbot Lake), Snimikobi (Ardoch) and Whitney and Area.
The Algonquins of Ontario and the Governments of Canada and Ontario are negotiating towards a modern-day Treaty that will recognize and affirm the existing Aboriginal and treaty rights of the Algonquins of Ontario. These negotiations have been underway since 1991.The Settlement Area that is the subject of these negotiations encompasses 36,000 square kilometers covering much of eastern Ontario, including the National Capital Region, all of Renfrew County and most of Algonquin Park.
The closest reserve is that of the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation located approximately 50 km southeast of the Deep River Potters’ Guild Location.