Lynne Sofiak
Like many long term Yukoners, Lynne came north for a summer holiday in 1972 and found herself captivated by the beauty and seclusion of the Yukon wilderness. Her career in pottery began on a birthday in the late Seventies when she received a lump of clay, and a challenge to pursue her long-standing desire to create pottery. The addiction and fascination of working with clay soon took hold, and continues to be a source of satisfaction for Lynne, and the many people who enjoy her work.
Mainly self-taught, Lynne has attended numerous workshops with internationally recognized potters, who have contributed to her understanding of the complex nature of clay and to the development of her personal style.
Lynne is committed to producing functional ware, which is also aesthetically pleasing. She can often be found absorbed in one of the many stages of her medium, from the rhythm of throwing which allows the responsiveness of the clay to guide her forms, to the ritual of tending her propane-gas kiln, which she built herself. The pieces are glazed and decorated freehand with metal oxides, producing colourful and spirited designs. The interplay of the oxides with the richness of the glazes create patterns that hint of flowers and birds and insects all in the same stroke.
The spirit of inquiry is a vital force in recent one-of-a-kind works, which include form alterations and the multiple layering of clay slips, glazes and oxides using numerous application techniques. Some pieces have their form extended through the addition of various roots and vines which have been gathered locally.
Dedicated to the pursuit of her vision, Lynne responds from the heart to interpret the northern landscape.