Denise Fournier, ceramist

Description

Denise Fournier is a native of Lyster in the Bois-Francs region of Quebec. She did university studies in communication and andragogy. In 1976, she learned about ceramics in Timmins, Ontario. She took master classes in raku and Korean traditional methods, Onggi and Buncheong, at Alfred University, New York, with internationally renowned ceramists Wayne Higby and Kang-Hyo Lee.

She has been creating unique pieces and mini-series at her ceramic workshop in Lochaber in the Petite-Nation since 1995. Her pieces are handcrafted with raku clay. Her favorite glazes are developed from wood ash accented with glass gleaned from the seashore. She also uses raku and smoke techniques for specific works.

She also used the technique of smoking for the Iroquoian-inspired pots that are found at the Parc Oméga longhouse in Montebello. The artist works a lot on the integration of ceramics and culinary art. It offers Pottery and Cooking workshops, a single art! during which the student learns the shaping of clay, enamelling and cooking (tapas and Japanese cuisine). The lessons end with a meal served in the rooms made by the students.