Eva Ennist, A.O.C.A.

Eva Ennist, an artist and arts educator, has traveled and studied extensively in North and Central America, Europe and Southeast Asia for the past 35 years.

She is currently an Assistant Professor and Head of Fibre at the Ontario College of Art & Design has been teaching part time in the fibre studio of the Material Art & Design program since 1983. Ennist has also taught art (mixed media and fibre) and lead teacher workshops in numerous schools in the GTA, as well as other post secondary Institutions such as O.I.S.E., Sheridan College School of Craft & Design and Haliburton School of Art.  

Ennist has received grants from the Ontario Arts Council to create and exhibit her own work in mixed media/fibre art, as well as grants to work as an Artist in Education. Her work has been exhibited across North America and is found in many private and corporate collections. She is currently represented by David Kaye Gallery in Toronto where she recently (March, 2010) had a solo exhibition of new mixed media sculpture.

Jean Johnson, C.M.

Born and educated in Toronto, Jean Johnson has been a passionate advocate of contemporary craft at Harbourfront Centre since 1979 as Coordinator of the Craft Studio, (1979 - 91) and Craft Projects Manager (1991 - 2008). Jean retired from Harbourfront Centre in February 2008. Projects included conferences, lectures and workshops on marketing, craft theory, history and critical writing, commissioning for craftspeople, public art, with national and international guest artists. An important project was the publication of the papers presented at the conference, `Exploring Contemporary Craft History, Theory and Critical writing’, held at Harbourfront Centre in 1999, by the Canadian Museum of Civilization.

Curated exhibitions since 1979, include the `Fishing Baskets of Asia Pacific’ (celebrating Canada’s Year of Asia Pacific 1997) which traveled across Canada, as well as exhibitions for the Canadian Museum of Textiles, Toronto, the Art Gallery of Windsor and Harbourfront Centre.

Jean Johnson has been awarded the Order of Canada (1993) for her work with the Canadian crafts community; The Mather Award & Honourary Life Member, Ontario Crafts Council (1994); Doctor of Fine Arts, honoris causa, Nova Scotia College of Art & Design, (2000) and Honorary Fellowship, Ontario College of Art & Design (2001).

Judith Tinkl

Judith Tinkl has been an exhibiting fibre artist or quiltmaker for over 40 years. She has also had a varied career since graduating in Drawing and Painting from OCA in the mid 60s. Judith worked in exhibition organization, the production of early directories of craftsmen in the 60’s and 70’s.

As a volunteer in various organizations she has been president of the Ontario Crafts Council and Surfacing, the Textile Printers and Dyers, and was part of the early Contemporary Gallery activities at the Textile Museum of Canada and more recently was a member of the exhibition committee there.

Tinkl was an Assistant Dean from 1996 to 2004 at the Ontario College of Art & Design where from 1990 she had been a faculty member and associate professor until her retirement in 2009.

Judith and spouse Viktor Tinkl operate Tinkls’ Gallery during the summer months near Sunderland, Ontario.

She recently had an exhibition Piece by Piece (to May 23, 2010) on view at the Visual Arts Centre in Bowmanville.