I remember when I was a teenager, and just discovering the world of clay, I happened upon an exhibition catalogue that spoke to my creative senses. It was a catalogue of a 1996 exhibition at the Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery in Waterloo. The artist was Peter Powning of New Brunswick. Peter’s work has been and continues to be a strong and constant influence in my work. He is a master of surfaces and skillfully combines different mediums effortlessly and beautifully. I remember flipping through that catalogue when I was a teenager and dreaming about having a catalogue of my own, of an exhibition of my work in a public gallery. Not only has that happened with this publication, but Peter Powning has generously written an essay for the catalogue. This is a highlight of my career, and something that I will always fondly remember.

Shane Norrie gratefully acknowledges the generous support of the Ontario Arts Council for this exhibition.