decades of friendship & collaboration
linda doherty | sharon reay | jay maclennan
mar 5 – 31 | 2026
craft council of bc
about the work
During the late 1980s/early 1990s, the fates of three ceramic artists (individuals with distinctly different work styles, backgrounds, and skill sets) converged at the Burnaby Arts Centre (which became the Shadbolt Centre in 1995). They were Linda Doherty, Sharon Reay, and Jay MacLennan. Over time, each took on different roles in the administration: Jay (Technician/Instructor), Linda (Instructor/Technician) and Sharon (Teacher/Program Assistant, eventually Ceramic Programmer). The friendship had already developed.
What followed spanned roughly 30+ years of working, playing, collaborating and creating partnerships and connections throughout the broader ceramic community – in the lower mainland, BC and beyond. Aside from the daily tasks inherent to each of their separate roles (of planning, preparing and implementing the ceramic programs) they sometimes entered exhibitions together and collaborated on specific pieces, each contributing their own individual skills. They were also often called upon to assist a variety of groups, guilds, or individuals with a vision for a specific project, or to locate artists to participate in an event.
This window installation shines a light upon some of the projects, events, and exhibitions facilitated by that team approach, through physical items displayed, images and written information. The three of them also welcome the opportunity to express their gratitude to all the other staff at the Shadbolt who support these endeavors: all the fabulous program staff, front office workers, custodians, theatre technicians, supervisors, etc. and, of course, to all the volunteers, individual artists and groups involved – proving again: It simply always takes a village. And, if you can have some fun along the way, well…that’s just a bonus!
Supporting Community Initiatives and Public Art Projects
It takes many hands to see a project or an event through to its conclusion – numerous volunteers, groups and additional City staff were also involved. These are just some of the highlights, that Linda, Jay and Sharon felt privileged to be able to participate in.
2000 – 2026 | Canadian Clay Symposium
In 1999, local potter Cathi Jefferson began a search for a lower mainland organization, willing to support and provide use their venue, to resurrect the ‘Malaspina Ceramic Seminar’, (a one-day event held in Nanaimo from 1975 – 1985), started by John Charnetski. The Shadbolt crew responded, the City of Burnaby supported it – and soon the ‘Canadian Clay Collective’ (a fluid group of volunteer ceramic artists, educators and enthusiasts was born. They gained further support from the North-West Ceramics Foundation, BC Potters’ Guild, plus 9 other B.C Pottery Guilds, who helped to fund initial startup costs. The event has repeated every 2 – 3 years (except for a Covid break), from 2000 to present. 26 years of bringing together local, national and international participants and clay artists to learn and teach, inspire each other and gather together to celebrate their love of clay.
2001 Burnaby Millenium | Clay Sculpture Project
Conceived by Keith Rice-Jones, with his wife Celia Rice-Jones, the project had Keith working with school children and involving community groups and individual artists to carve images of Burnaby’s Past, Present and Future on raw, clay flue liners, donated by Sumas Brick Works. Shadbolt ceramic staff assisted by transporting liners for carving and then back again to be fired.
They provided studio space for carvers (and assistance where needed). Photographer (Donna Hagerman) was hired to document all images, for future display. Then the City of Burnaby provided funding to erect the 3,14-foot poles at the West entrance to Shadbolt Centre.
2001, 2003 & 2005 Empty Bowls
Shadbolt ceramic staff was approached by Burnaby’s ‘Food First’ Committee, to help facilitate an ‘Empty Bowls’ Project, a fundraiser to help alleviate child hunger. Staff organized a timed ‘Bowl Throwing Competition’ (with required dimensions). Up to 15 local potters were enlisted to compete for donated prizes. Thrown bowls were bisqued, decorated by school children, glazed and fired by ceramic staff – then sold/auctioned at a ‘Gala’ fundraiser, with proceeds dedicated to School food programs.
2002 Lougheed Town Centre | Floor Mural Project
During a 2002 renovation of Lougheed Mall in Burnaby, Mall Manager Faye Hickey, approached Linda Doherty with a request to find artists to develop imagery for a ceramic floor mural, celebrating Burnaby’s unique culture. A strict timeline for the work, meant Shadbolt ceramic staff had to approach artists they were familiar with: Keith Rice-Jones, Celia Rice-Jones, Debra Sloan, Gillian McMillan, John Cloutier, Ruth Hoyem and Elora Penland.
A few meetings later, themes such as Dance/Visual Arts, Heritage Buildings, etc had been decided on by each artist. A circular paper pattern (allowing for clay shrinkage) was cut into 6 sections, plus 5 for dividing tree images – for a finished 22-foot floor mural. Staff assisted with organization, technical support and installation.
