Carney, Gail Eleanor Jenson
Item
Maker Name
Carney, Gail Eleanor Jenson
Biography
Gail Eleanor Carney was born in Medicine Hat, Alberta, and raised in nearby Redcliff. She was introduced to science through her father, and to art through her mother, who had studied under Henry Glyde at what is now AUArts in Calgary. Gail received her BFA from the University of Calgary with an emphasis on ceramics. During one summer, she studied with Marilyn Levine, who became an important mentor, and with Leopold Foulem. Darcy Margesson and Paul Mathieu were fellow students who became life-long friends. She also studied lithography with John Will, whose influence she felt throughout her life. She continued studies in printmaking at the Vancouver School of Art (VSA) and taught printmaking and ceramics at the Shadbolt Centre, at that time (1978) called the Burnaby Arts Centre. Influential as a teacher, Gail helped establish professional standards for the program, inviting Hank Murrow from Oregon to build a top hat kiln that put the centre on the ceramics map in BC.
After VSA/Emily Carr Institute’s move to Granville Island, Gail worked as the studio technician in Ceramics from 1983-1999. She became the technical services manager in 1999, a position she held until her retirement in 2008. Sally Michener, an instructor in Ceramics, recalled Gail as an essential part of the teaching team, responsible for ordering materials, caring for the equipment, and giving technical demonstrations as required. Students recollected her humour, helpfulness, and respect shown to all, but they also remember her as running a “tight ship.” She was known for assigning a “Pig Sty Award” to any student who did not properly clean their work station, and she would call out to students “Goodnight you slaves to Clay!” as she left each evening. Those who worked with Gail, had her as a teacher, technician, or mentor describe the tremendous influence she had on their lives as artists. Much of her work was behind-the-scenes, such as her tireless efforts to improve kilns and equipment at the Shadbolt, so countless people benefitted from her work without knowing. As a measure of the community’s enormous respect, Gail was paid a special tribute at the 2015 Canadian Clay Symposium.
Shortly after her retirement in 2008, an old illness reappeared, which prevented her from working in ceramics. Nonetheless, she continued to inspire and support the ceramics community. She found creative release in the production of complex and colourful quilts, and she became involved with the Neufeld Institute, a charitable organization created by Dr. Gordon Neufeld based in Vancouver. The Institute develops and presents online courses for individuals responsible for the welfare of children throughout the world. In 2009, she assumed the helm of the Directed Studies program, focusing on the facilitator training program. Although not formally educated in psychology, she was well-respected by her professional colleagues. In the words of founder Gordon Neufeld, Gail “was an artist with the mind of a scientist,” highly regarded for the sharpness of her intellect, the breadth of her knowledge, her ability to critique, and her critical thinking. It is a mark of this unusual and remarkable woman that she was able to combine her love of creativity and art with a deep understanding of science and human nature.
After VSA/Emily Carr Institute’s move to Granville Island, Gail worked as the studio technician in Ceramics from 1983-1999. She became the technical services manager in 1999, a position she held until her retirement in 2008. Sally Michener, an instructor in Ceramics, recalled Gail as an essential part of the teaching team, responsible for ordering materials, caring for the equipment, and giving technical demonstrations as required. Students recollected her humour, helpfulness, and respect shown to all, but they also remember her as running a “tight ship.” She was known for assigning a “Pig Sty Award” to any student who did not properly clean their work station, and she would call out to students “Goodnight you slaves to Clay!” as she left each evening. Those who worked with Gail, had her as a teacher, technician, or mentor describe the tremendous influence she had on their lives as artists. Much of her work was behind-the-scenes, such as her tireless efforts to improve kilns and equipment at the Shadbolt, so countless people benefitted from her work without knowing. As a measure of the community’s enormous respect, Gail was paid a special tribute at the 2015 Canadian Clay Symposium.
Shortly after her retirement in 2008, an old illness reappeared, which prevented her from working in ceramics. Nonetheless, she continued to inspire and support the ceramics community. She found creative release in the production of complex and colourful quilts, and she became involved with the Neufeld Institute, a charitable organization created by Dr. Gordon Neufeld based in Vancouver. The Institute develops and presents online courses for individuals responsible for the welfare of children throughout the world. In 2009, she assumed the helm of the Directed Studies program, focusing on the facilitator training program. Although not formally educated in psychology, she was well-respected by her professional colleagues. In the words of founder Gordon Neufeld, Gail “was an artist with the mind of a scientist,” highly regarded for the sharpness of her intellect, the breadth of her knowledge, her ability to critique, and her critical thinking. It is a mark of this unusual and remarkable woman that she was able to combine her love of creativity and art with a deep understanding of science and human nature.
First name
Gail Eleanor Jenson
Last name
Carney
Date of Birth
1947
Date of Death
2015
Place of Birth
Medicine Hat, Alberta
Place of Death
Studio location
Formal Education
Major Exhibitions
1995 Artists & Community in Celebration, Burnaby Art Gallery, Group, invitational, Celebrating Opening of the Shadbolt Centre
1990 Smiley Face Madonna and Cigar Stride Gallery, Calgary
1989 "Paper Dolls" "Dolls on Paper Refrigerators" Curated by Carol Denny , booklet, grunt gallery, photos, Donna Hagerman, facilitated, Bill Rennie.
Clay figures and drawings. Sponsored by grunt gallery and Pitt International
Clay figures and drawings. Sponsored by grunt gallery and Pitt International
1975 “History of Ceramics in Alberta” show at ACA
1975 “Five Calgary Ceramists” at the Glenbow Art Museum
1975 Solo (title?) Dandelion Gallery, Calgary, Alberta
Links to Further Resources
http://www.bcpotters.com/newsletters/2015_3_aprPGBCNewsletter.pdf
https://www.gillianmcmillan.com/blog/tag/gail-carney/
https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/vancouversun/obituary.aspx?n=gail-eleanor-carney&pid=177240165
1990 http://www.stride.ab.ca/smiley-face-madonna-and-cigar-baby-gail-carney/
https://neufeldinstitute.org/tag/gail-remembered/
http://artcollection.uleth.ca/objects/13195/rabbit-checker-board?ctx=aa30ed17-a878-469a-86d2-363d63bb6036&idx=1
https://e-artexte.ca/id/eprint/1935/
Alberta University of the Arts: https://www.auarts.ca/our-campus/library
Alberta Potters’ Association: https://www.albertapottersassociation.org/contact-1
http://artcollection.uleth.ca/objects/13195/rabbit-checker-board?ctx=aa30ed17-a878-469a-86d2-363d63bb6036&idx=1
Source
Amy Gogarty