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BORGSTROM, Mary

Born
Saskatchewan, 1916
Died
Provost, Alberta, 2019
Biography synopsis
During the 1960s, while living in the rural community of Provost (Alberta), Mary Borgstrom, a self-taught artist, was introduced to pottery. She became interested in primitive pottery through her experience in working with local clays which she dug herself, and early techniques that she discovered through trial and error. In 1966, she participated in a pottery workshop in Edmonton that she described as inspirational in terms of primitive techniques. Beginning in 1969 she showed her work regularly in group and solo shows in Canada and the United States, and by the 1970s, she had won national recognition for her work. In 1971 she exhibited at the Canadian Guild of Handicrafts in Montreal. Of the twenty-five pieces she showed at the Guild, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts acquired three. In 1976 she was invited to participate in the Arts and Culture programme at the Olympic Games in Montreal. In addition to various Canadian collections, Borgstrom's work is held in collections in Japan and England. Mary Borgstrom continued to work at her ceramics practice into her nineties.
Media used
Ceramics
Pottery
File & Archive locations
Calgary Public Library, AB - Arts Department
University of Calgary Library, AB
Alberta Culture and Community Spirit - Arts Branch
Edmonton Art Gallery, AB - Library
Vancouver Art Gallery, BC - Library
National Gallery of Canada, ON - Library and Archives
Montreal Museum of Fine Arts / Musée des Beaux-Arts de Montréal, QC
BIBLIOGRAPHY

Writings about
Alberta Art: Works from the Alberta Art Foundation. Edmonton: Alberta Art Foundation, 1975
"Mary Borgstrom Pottery at the Canadian Guild of Crafts, 2025 Peel St., to Nov. 13." Montreal Star 27 Oct. 1971: 53
"Mary Borgstrom's Art Chosen for Display in Japan." Provost News 10 Jan. 1979
Archbold, Alexander. The Potter's House : Mary Borgstrom's Art & Life Uncovered n.p.: Aniseeker, 2020
Curiosity Incorporated. Mary Borgstrom - Potter 20 Feb. 2019
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGXFhhpaTc4
Fletcher, Elva. "Passion for Pottery." The Country Guide (Winnipeg) Mar. 1973: 48-49
Koenig, Jean. "Lively Art Event." Edmonton Journal 22 Feb. 1975
Lewenstein, Eileen and Emmanuel Cooper. New Ceramics. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1974
McMullen, W.B.. Alberta Art: Works from The Alberta Art Foundation. Edmonton: Alberta Art Foundation, 1975
Tivy, Patrick. Potters are a bit too fired Up." The Calgary Herald 2 Jan 1987: C8
Townshend, Nancy. A History of Art in Alberta, 1905-1970 Calgary, Alberta: Bayeux, 2005
Verbicky, Elaine. "Deft Hands create Life in a Piece of Alberta Dirt." The Calgary Herald 26 Jul 1971: 29

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