PAST ARTISANS GALLERY

Anna Krop uses different mixed media materials with an eclectic combination of both contemporary and traditional art techniques.

“I always created organically shaped artwork and have been intrigued by the idea of applying this to custom canvas shapes. I’m fascinated by how they engage with interior spaces and architecture in new and unexpected ways. I have a deep urge to express my vision of the earth, from the shapes of The Rocky Mountains to fossil imprints or soft moss on tree trunks. My curiosity to explore different mediums and textures in abstract forms comes from my fine art background.” – Anna Krop

Jessica designs and makes all of her pieces. She sketches and creates paper models, digitizes the patterns and cuts with a laser cutter. She cleans, sands and edges the pieces and then adds colour and polish. Some pieces are hand-stitched together and others are rivetted, some both.

“I believe with all my heart and soul in the power of accessories. They can be empowering, comforting and expressive.” – Jessica Graham

Artisan’s Way Organics is a BC-based family-run business. The husband and wife team, Brian and Stephanie, run the entire operation of creating fun and unique nut butters and chocolate. What sets them apart is using a majority of organic ingredients.

Their products are fully vegan and gluten free, and they avoid all refined sugars, oils, and artificial anything – just good natural ingredients. When they do sweeten anything, they use dates and/or a little bit of coconut sugar. Their cacao comes fair trade from small family farms run in Ecuador and is a special variety that was once thought to be extinct until it was rediscovered growing wild in the volcanic mountain jungles of Ecuador. This variety is not as bitter as most cacao, so with this chocolate, you get the rich creamy chocolaty flavour of dark chocolate without the bitterness usually associated with it.

“We love travelling around and meeting people in new places. This will be our first visit to Calgary with the business but it’s not our first time around Alberta as most of our family lives in Alberta and Saskatchewan, so we are very excited to meet you all and bring our creations back to the prairies.” – Brian & Stephanie

Back of the Spoon officially started in 2017.  Artist Erin Chromik had been making perogie casseroles whenever she would host parties and making them for other friends and events. Always the star of the party, word quickly spread and people started to ask if they could buy them.  As Erin’s concept began to grow, she decided to make it official and start to cook out of a certified commercial kitchen.

“The name Back of the Spoon is an homage to my Grandmother who would always tell us to stir with the back of the spoon when boiling the perogies so we wouldn’t tear the dough. The Mushroom Dill idea came from mixing together a few of my grandma’s Ukrainian recipes. They were always touching on the plate, so I decided to combine them and create a Mushroom Dill Perogie casserole.” – Erin Chromik

Erin and her team create each tray of perogies in her inspected kitchen in Calgary.  They do everything from peeling potatoes to making dough and sauce to assembling each casserole by hand.

Founded by industrial designer Mark Griffiths, Barrington Griffiths Watch Company has been designing and hand-assembling mechanical watches in Calgary, Alberta, since 2010. Each piece reflects a dedication to craftsmanship and Canadian manufacturing rarely seen in the modern watch industry. From the precision-machined stainless-steel cases made in Leduc to the hand-stitched leather straps crafted in a Southern Alberta Hutterite colony, every watch represents a collaboration of local industrial design, precision machining, and artisanal handcraft. The result is a timepiece that blends rugged Canadian practicality with refined, timeless design — built to be worn every day, in every environment.

“Our story began with the Modern Classic, introduced in 2010 — a distinctive watch built around restored vintage Swiss pocket watch movements from the 1940s and 50s. Still available in very limited quantities, each Modern Classic is a piece of watchmaking history, individually restored, assembled, and tested by hand.

Our award-winning Sandon model — recipient of the 2024 Made in Alberta Award — continues that tradition of timeless craftsmanship, featuring a 24-jewel automatic mechanical movement, alongside the Viamastra and two new 34 mm models, the Sandon 34 and the Radian. Each watch is finished, assembled, and tested by hand in our Calgary workshop. Whether you’re searching for a meaningful gift or a lasting heirloom, a Barrington Griffiths watch celebrates the spirit of making things by hand — with care, precision, and pride, here in Alberta.” ~ Mark Griffiths

Chad Keen Pottery is a successful and unique offering in the province of Newfoundland. Chad creates functional ceramics based on the influence of his natural surroundings. His work reflects the natural beauty of Newfoundland. In some pieces, he incorporates found driftwood from the shores making them a truly unique piece.

Chad Keen makes ceramics using hand-thrown clay on a wheel. He creates his unique ceramics including mugs, bowls, plates, teapots and various other vessels. He strives to perfect his craft with new designs and techniques, while attempting to reduce waste by recycling and reusing all clay scrap and trimmings.

“At Cheddar Dogs, we’re on a mission to make tails wag and taste buds tingle! Nestled in the heart of Calgary, we specialize in crafting all-natural, preservative-free dog treats that are as delightful to look at as they are to devour. From our signature Cheddar Bites to whimsical creations like doggy pizzas and birthday cakes, every treat is handmade using locally sourced, vet-approved ingredients—think beet, spinach, and spirulina for those vibrant hues, no artificial dyes here! And come the holiday season, don’t miss our famous Christmas Advent Calendar—24 days of tail-wagging joy, packed with festive goodies your pup will go nuts for.” – Danielle Schule

Danielle is the proud founder and chief treat architect at Cheddar Dogs. What began as a labour of love for her own furry companion has blossomed into a community favourite, celebrated at local markets and events across Alberta. Whether you’re marking a special occasion or just want to spoil your pup with something extraordinary, Cheddar Dogs offers a delectable array of goodies that are sure to make your dog’s day. Come sniff them out—you’ll find that their treats are more than just snacks; they’re a celebration of the joy dogs bring into our lives.

ChopValue are the ones that recycle bamboo chopsticks and remanufactures them into home and office furniture and decor.  They – a six-member team – have been around for just under three years and currently source their raw material from 206 local restaurants, malls, and casinos.

They have standard products that they make, such as phone stands and coasters, but our favourite projects are inspired by their customers – if you can dream it, we can make it!  Currently, they are making custom benches and table tops – all from recycled chopsticks!

They are all inspired by being part of a company making a difference, and they are equally proud of the high-quality products they make.

“Making a Difference One Chopstick at a Time”

Cloverdale Forge focuses on preserving the craft of blacksmithing while designing for modern-day life. They work with clients to build architectural pieces for their home or cottage — they like to call it house jewelry – and offer a line of products to make living more fun, whether entertaining friends or chilling at home alone.

With over 40 years of combined metalworking experience, Matt Jenkins and Karen Rudolph use the traditional tools and techniques of blacksmithing to design for your modern-day needs. Dedicated to the creative process, they have developed a product line for your home and garden and work with clients to build custom-crafted works.

At Coal and Canary, we take pride in creating artisanal, small-batch candles that are hand-poured with the utmost care and attention to detail. Our craft blends traditional methods with contemporary design to ensure each product embodies the high-quality and aesthetic appeal that our customers love.

Each candle is designed and hand-poured in small batches at our Winnipeg-based facility. This hands-on process ensures that every candle is consistent in quality and appearance. After curing, candles are trimmed, labelled, and packaged by hand. We use eco-friendly and recyclable packaging to align with our sustainability values. Every candle undergoes a thorough inspection to ensure it meets our standards before being shipped to customers or retailers.

Coal and Canary remains a boutique, founder-led company that is deeply involved in every aspect of the creative and production process. As the founder and creative director, Amanda Buhse oversee design, branding, and product innovation, ensuring each product reflects the brand’s identity. Their team is a close-knit group of artisans who work collaboratively to maintain the personal, handcrafted essence that defines Coal and Canary.

Karen Rowell has always enjoyed candles, and in searching for a new hobby, she started creating unique candles and wanted to share her love for these products.  Karen hand mixes and pours concrete into molds, some have paint and bling right in the wet concrete, and some are hydro-painted after curing.  Her next step is to hand-pour 100% soy-scented wax into the concrete vessels or the wax melt molds.  The entire process is completed by Karen from beginning to end.

Artist Marina Ortman creates upcycled and new leather apparel and accessories. Her studio production carries a distinct design and look created by her. Her involvement in the design and production starts from scratching a design and bridging it to a final product. She also prints her artwork on fabric that they use for the production of t-shirts and accessories.

Fascapple Glass is a dynamic family-run business co-founded by Hayden, William, and Ian MacRae and Lydia Avery. Hayden MacRae original works and Fascapple glass home décor can be found across Canada, the United States, and in England and France. Each piece reflects the imagination, skill, and character of their Calgary studio.

Each piece Fascapple Glass produces is hand blown or hot-sculpted in their studio, using glass that comes from the Czech Republic.

“Creating a blown glass piece is like living a life unto itself. You must be committed physically and mentally. The process can demand patience, present twists and turns, disappointments, and highs.” – Hayden MacRae

“Our expert foragers carefully gather a variety of seasonal specialties including mushrooms, greens, berries, and spices from across Vancouver Island. Foraged with expertise and backed by science and a deep respect for the land, we source the finest ingredients and go to extreme lengths to ensure quality and respect of the land. We prioritize environmentally responsible foraging practices, focusing on areas that benefit from the regeneration of native flora.” – Benjamin & Célia

Each wild food product is carefully inspected, cleaned, and properly packaged at their facility. Everything is done by hand to preserve its taste, colour, and texture. Their artisans then process and package the goods into fresh, frozen, dried and preserved products.

Small batches are their signature – that way they can harvest a huge range of products without challenging the ecosystem.

Frostbites was born in the summer of 2010 with a promise of using predominantly locally grown ingredients to make their syrups, instead of the common artificially flavoured day-glo and flavoured ones. Frostbites became known for their fresh, unique, whimsical flavours.

Pour a little into your next drink, buttercream frosting, and dessert for an instant ticket to flavour town. Their cordials instantly jazz up any recipe with bright, fresh flavours that keep food exciting.

Since 2013, GROOM has been dedicated to developing their signature formulas using carefully selected, eco-friendly, natural ingredients.  Their inspiration stems from the rich tradition of men’s grooming, nourished by scientific innovation in body care.

They make a full line of personal care dedicated to men. This ranges from beard care, shaving care, body care (shower gel, deodorants, soaps), hair care (styling products, shampoo, conditioner) and skin care (wash, moisturizer, serums). Every product has its own protocol, but they can be grouped into a few types: fatty blends, water-based blends, gels, emulsions and soaps.

“In our industry, the choice of ingredients has a huge impact.  They are the heart and soul of our products and are carefully selected for optimal efficacy, as well as their environmental impact.  Each ingredient we use comes from renewable sources and entails minimal ecological impact.

We take pride in manufacturing our products in-house at our Montreal workshop, with thorough attention to detail.  This is why we are confident in guaranteeing the exceptional efficacy of all our products.

At GROOM, we believe authenticity and simplicity are the best expressions of elegance.

Ryan has had the opportunity to evolve and mature his craft and perspectives through shared experiences with family, friends, and colleagues.  This past year, he decided to pivot – no longer wanting to paint as a hobby but to pursue art full-time.

“My dream has always been to have the time and freedom to really explore where my art could take me professionally, mentally, and spiritually.  I’d love for you to be a part of this journey with me.” – Ryan Groot

Ryan handcrafts surfboards, snowboards, and skis from reclaimed wood, shelving, etc. He uses multiple techniques to create the original artwork, including pouring, splatter art, and hand painting.

Helena designs, creates, knits, crochets, hand dyes, and sews all of her one-of-a-kind pieces. She works with natural fibres, exotic yarns for shawls and scarves, and upcycled fabrics for hip huggers.

“I love creating fun, timeless, and practical fashion accessories for women of all ages and shapes. Every year I update my collections and invent new products to add to the line.” – artist Helena Cernigoj

Born and raised in Calgary, Hew Jonsson has been working as a full-time Artist/Maker since January 2022 and has been producing a mix of traditional woodwork and three-dimensional art pieces that you have to see to fully appreciate. Hew was the kind of kid that grew up taking things apart to figure out how they worked, and then trying to put them back together. Which was sometimes successful! He has always been fascinated by how pieces connect together to work as one and wanted to explore that interaction in different ways, so why not use wood?

“There’s something about wood that’s always spoken to me. I think it’s because you’re allowed, if not encouraged, to pick up and touch things made from wood and I love that. Wood is such an amazing thing, the warmth it holds, the way each species has its own weight, depth, colour variation and smell promotes that urge to touch. From the practicality of a table to the function of a cutting board, the beauty of a figured bowl to the haunting feeling of a life-size wooden skull peering at you… there’s a form of woodwork that can speak to everyone. Nothing compares to the versatility, beauty and character that you can find in this amazing natural resource.” – Hew Jonsson

From the heart of Calgary, Alberta, a beautiful tradition of candle-making thrives, bringing together the art of craftsmanship and the purity of nature. Handcrafted beeswax candles are not just a source of light; they are a celebration of the natural world and a commitment to sustainability. Each candle is lovingly made using local beeswax, ensuring that every flicker of flame carries with it the essence of the surrounding landscape.

“My family has a long history as farmers in northern Alberta, from where I still have vivid memories of the amazing flavourful fresh food brought to the table.” Jason Nichol

Jason has always been inspired by good quality fresh food. This is how he approaches the product that he brings to market, which incorporates quality real ingredients that people will appreciate, enjoy, and experience.

Infusion Soy Sauces are a culmination of his background and his appreciation for quality, innovative products that give people a lasting impression through experiences with his product.

“The most important piece to any success is the support from family, friends, and community. Where would we be without such amazing support!” – Jason Nicol

“My art is an expression of my Inuvialuit heritage and the lessons I’ve learned living on the coast of the Arctic Ocean. Growing up in Tuktoyaktuk, I learned the art of carving from my family and began creating art at a young age.
My style of carving is unique, evolving from my views and experience of Inuvialuit traditions and beliefs including hunting and fishing, travelling, and watching wildlife in the Arctic.

As an Inuvialuit, my traditions and art styles are different from many other Indigenous communities. After moving
to Calgary, I continued to create art using the materials I had available. With little traditional materials to carve with, I began making beautiful jewelry from the pieces left from carving antlers, Ivory, and Muskox Horn.

As an urban Inuvialuk, I am constantly learning how to balance my traditional way of life with modern living. It is important to me that I pass on my knowledge to my daughters so that they can continue to learn and celebrate our heritage through art. My goal is to create art that not only celebrates my culture but also creates a connection between the viewer and the Arctic environment. Through my art, I hope to share the richness of my culture with others and keep the legacy of my great-grandfather alive for future generations.” – Priscilla Boulay