Leanna Carlson

Discipline: Visual Arts
Homebase: Prince George
Languages: English
Grant Eligibility: Eligible to apply for AIC

Leanna Carlson is a ceramic artist that has been working with clay and studying the science of it for over 30 years. She runs a successful teaching studio in Prince George, BC. She has shown her work in the U.S. and China, and is an international award winning artist. For Leanna, the materials themselves are an important part of her expression. Leanna does one or two classroom residencies each year in Prince George area and will collaborate with teachers to design a program and apply for the AIC grant. Listed offerings are examples of past projects and Leanna collaborates with partner teachers/schools to combine their skills and knowledge to bring the best learning experience to the students as possible.

Classroom Residency(ies)

Clay & Pottery - A Global View

School Year: 24-25

A 12 session program that we implemented in a Grade 4/5 classroom at Ron Brent Elementary School in Prince George BC. Two of the sessions included very unique field trips. The first trip was to a local river to dig clay. The final field trip was to Leanna's back yard "primitive fire pit" to fire some of the pottery. The project was an opportunity to instruct students on the science and applications involved in making items out of clay, ranging from the initial harvesting of natural clay, the use of tools, and glazing and firing. It also takes a global approach by examining the history and techniques of clay-use from four distinct cultures. Ron Brent Elementary is an inner-city school that draws from an economically-challenged neighbourhood and has a high proportion of Indigenous students. The project was developed collaboratively by Leanna Carlson (Potter / Clay Artist), Stacey Kelsh (Grade 4/5 Teacher - Ron Brent Elementary School), Nancy Alexander (School Counsellor - Ron Brent Elementary School) and Sean Farrell (Executive Director - Community Arts Council of Prince George & District). The project also included an Aboriginal cultural component which was supported by staff from the School District 57 Aboriginal Education Department.

Simple Classroom Plan

School Year: 24-25

I will bring the supplies, including the clay to the class and demonstrate building a project. The students then make their pieces and are encouraged to add their own creativity. If the teacher wishes, we can plan the projects to fit with their syllabus. The projects normally include applying the first layer of surface color to the pottery. We can use the school kilns or I take the work home to the studio to fire in the kiln. Sometimes it is appropriate that I add another layer of glaze if they objects are meant to be functional and need to be food safe, dishwasher and microwave safe. When the pieces are finished, I deliver the projects back to the teacher. As you can see by my other offerings, we can tailor the projects and include layers of components for the students to learn while they are working with the clay. Possible components we can add to this plan are: Field trip to a ranch to dig clay. This trip is one half hour each way and we spend about an hour going in and out to the clay. A field trip to Carlson Pottery Studios to view the various types of kilns. Soda kiln, electric kilns and raku kilns)

The Seven Sacred Teachings with a Clay Perspective.

School Year: 24-25

2022/2023 During this residency, Leanna collaborated with Darrin Huzar, the Indigenous Education Teacher at Pinewood Elementary School to incorporate the universal Seven Sacred Teachings into this art to reflect the valuable Indigenous perspective of the Anishinaabe First Peoples. The Dakelh framework includes 5 core Dakelh ways of knowing and being: Self Identity, Respect, Truth & Honesty, Responsibility and Community. These overlap "the 7" Teachings of Respect, Love, Courage, Honesty, Wisdom, Humility, and Truth. Leanna's role was to teach the students: 1. to bring the teachings they learned with Mr. Huzar to become 3 dimensional representations with clay. 2. to design a "place for all" bringing the values of the 7 Teachings to their pieces. 3. to dig clay and bring that connection to the earth as well as process and test the clay to make a functional clay body of which objects could be made.

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