Whitehead, Jinny
Item
Maker Name
Whitehead, Jinny
Studio name
Studio 3, Murgatroyd Bldg.
Marks
Biography
Jinny Whitehead was born in Calcutta, India, raised in the UK, and immigrated to Ontario, Canada in 1985, moved to Vancouver in 1995. She became involved with Potters Group in Vancouver's West End, and, with Pia Sillem and Joan Barnet, formed Studio 3 in the Murgatroyd Bldg., and also shared a wood-fire kiln on the Sunshine Coast.
Jinny became deeply involved with the Potters Guild of BC, acting as an exemplary President from 2005 to 2012. She had a vision for the Guild, she was organized, capable, and determined, and turned the Guild around during a critical time. Jinny also served on the North-West Ceramics Foundation.
In 2005 Jinny successfully guided the PGBC through their 50th Anniversary. She organized celebrations, events, and exhibitions all over the province, culminating in a catalogued exhibition, TransFormations, held at the Burnaby Art Gallery, curated by Dr. Carol E. Mayer, Darrin Martens, and Hiro Urakami.
In 2011 Jinny facilitated the digitization of the Potters Guild of BC’s historical newsletters that date back to 1965. She worked with Linda Lewis (computer) and Debra Sloan (history), and the project is known as Arch-BC, ‘Archival Records of Ceramic History in BC’, the title penned by Linda. The computer system was arcane, and Jinny and Debra spent hours together uploading names and events, while Linda patiently untangled their entries. The ceramicists of BC have Jinny to thank for this important project that now forms a basis for our history. The newsletters are researchable and can be found on the UBC History Digital Program website - and over the last 15 years have often been accessed by curators and collectors. https://bchdp.arcabc.ca/islandora/object/arch-bc%3Aroot
It was while working on ARCH-BC, in 2011 2012, that Jinny began to suffer the first symptoms from her coming illness.
Jinny’s practice was about making sculptural and handsome hand-built vessels, formed like giant shapely pinch pots, and they were often thoughtfully combined with found pieces of driftwood. She also made a video on how she developed larger forms from her pinched bases, and shared this at many events. She loved working manually, slowly, and mindfully.
Jinny made many important contributions to the development of ceramics in BC, and the community has felt the loss of her capabilities for many years now.
Jinny became deeply involved with the Potters Guild of BC, acting as an exemplary President from 2005 to 2012. She had a vision for the Guild, she was organized, capable, and determined, and turned the Guild around during a critical time. Jinny also served on the North-West Ceramics Foundation.
In 2005 Jinny successfully guided the PGBC through their 50th Anniversary. She organized celebrations, events, and exhibitions all over the province, culminating in a catalogued exhibition, TransFormations, held at the Burnaby Art Gallery, curated by Dr. Carol E. Mayer, Darrin Martens, and Hiro Urakami.
In 2011 Jinny facilitated the digitization of the Potters Guild of BC’s historical newsletters that date back to 1965. She worked with Linda Lewis (computer) and Debra Sloan (history), and the project is known as Arch-BC, ‘Archival Records of Ceramic History in BC’, the title penned by Linda. The computer system was arcane, and Jinny and Debra spent hours together uploading names and events, while Linda patiently untangled their entries. The ceramicists of BC have Jinny to thank for this important project that now forms a basis for our history. The newsletters are researchable and can be found on the UBC History Digital Program website - and over the last 15 years have often been accessed by curators and collectors. https://bchdp.arcabc.ca/islandora/object/arch-bc%3Aroot
It was while working on ARCH-BC, in 2011 2012, that Jinny began to suffer the first symptoms from her coming illness.
Jinny’s practice was about making sculptural and handsome hand-built vessels, formed like giant shapely pinch pots, and they were often thoughtfully combined with found pieces of driftwood. She also made a video on how she developed larger forms from her pinched bases, and shared this at many events. She loved working manually, slowly, and mindfully.
Jinny made many important contributions to the development of ceramics in BC, and the community has felt the loss of her capabilities for many years now.
First name
Jinny
Last name
Whitehead
Career dates (start and end)
1995
Date of Birth
May 9, 1952
Date of Death
September 25, 2025
Place of Birth
Calcutta, India
Place of Death
Formal Education
Major Exhibitions
2005 - TransFormations, Potters Guild of BC 50th Anniversary. Burnaby Art Gallery, curators - Darren Martins, Carol Mayer and Hiro Urakami
Affiliated organizations
Personal Website
www.jinnywhitehead.com
Tag
Links to Further Resources
www.nwcf.ca
Arch - BC
https://bchdp.arcabc.ca/islandora/object/arch-bc%3Aroot
https://bchdp.arcabc.ca/islandora/object/arch-bc%3Aroot
Source
Debra E. Sloan
Linked resources
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