A Visual art instructor from Red Deer college is riding high today, after being officially recognized as one of the top ceramists in the world.

Trudy Golley has taught Ceramics and Visual Fundamentals at RDC since 2000, and was honoured this year to be inducted as an official member of the International Academy of Ceramics (IAC), an international organization that represents the interests of ceramists worldwide.

“The IAC membership represents 74 countries across all continents, and this prestigious induction and honour recognizes Trudy’s expertise and vision, reflects the high-calibre instruction available to RDC students,” says Dr. Jane MacNeil, Dean of School of Arts & Sciences and School of Creative Arts. “This is not only a well-deserved recognition of Trudy’s accomplishments but also enhances the intellectual and cultural environment of RDC.”

Golley was first introduced to the IAC in 1999 when she participated in an art exhibition in Waterloo, Ontario, which opened up a number of persona and professional doors for her.

“There is an incredible amount of networking that happens at an IAC Congress. Being an educator, I’m always interested in how ceramics is taught around the world, and I can have those in-person conversations with artists from many different countries,” says Golley. “There’s usually a showcase of global ceramic work, including from the members of the host country, as part of a large museum exhibition. It is always interesting and great exposure to see things first hand rather than in a photograph.”

In 2019, Golley was nominated by three artists and colleagues whom she admires and found out in October that she was officially an IAC member. She was expected to make her membership debut at the 2020 IAC Congress, scheduled to be held in Finland this year, but had to be postponed due to COVID-19.

Along with making connections with colleagues and participating in international exhibitions, Golley’s membership will let her vote on IAC matters, and there is also the potential for future opportunities for RDC learners’ facilitated by her connection to, and membership in, the IAC.

You can click here for more information on RDC’s Visual Arts Program.

Photo credit to Paul Leathers, courtesy of RDC.