Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Pottery Marks of Prince Edward Island - Carl Phillis

Having studied under Ron Arvidson, at Holland College School of Visual Arts, Carl Phillis worked in both ceramic sculpture as well as being a potter. With his father, Christopher Phillis, who is also a sculptor working in metal they have executed sculptural commissions that included both media. One prominent one in located in Confederation Landing, on the Charlottetown waterfront. CBC Artspots featured Carl on their site. Carl Phillis Four Acre Farm Winsloe RR#9 Prince Edward Island.

Sadly, on Dec 4, 2019 Carl Phillis died at the age of 61. His obituary was published in the Guardian in the December 06, 2019 edition.

PHILLIS, Carl E. Peacefully passed away at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital on Wednesday, December 4, 2019 of Carl E. Phillis of Charlottetown, age 61 years. Son of Christopher and Valerie Phillis. Brother of Paul Phillis. Loving father of Eliza and Thomas (Amanda). Predeceased by his brother Peter Phillis. Carl was a talented potter, sculptor and respected member of the Arts community. He was a member of A. A. and walked with others on their journey to sobriety. Resting at MacLean Funeral Home Swan Chapel from where the service will be held on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. Interment in the Peoples Cemetery. No visiting hours by personal request. Online condolences may be made at www.macleanfh.com

CBC also published an article on Carl's life and his work.

P.E.I. artist Carl Phillis dies at 61

'Carl was a real artist in the truest sense. He didn't do it for money. He did it for love'

Carl Phillis died at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital at the age of 61 on Wednesday. (Submitted by Gus Hillstrom)

Island artist Carl Phillis has died at the age of 61.

According to his obituary, Phillis died at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital on Wednesday. He leaves behind his parents and two children.

Phillis was a potter and sculptor, with installations sprinkled about Charlottetown. Many of them are abstract sculptures that feature painted pieces of machinery, metal and ceramics. 

Friend Gus Hillstrom believes Phillis' last installation was for a historic Charlottetown property that he used to own.

"He used to walk by every day on his way down to Confederation Landing where I used to play Frisbee," Hillstrom said of how the pair met.

"A lot of days we were stopping, have great conversations and he was asking me about what was going on with me."

Honouring a P.E.I. inventor

At the time, Hillstorm was renovating and restoring the property at 66 Prince St. which was originally built by Watson DuChemin.

Gus Hillstrom stands in front of what he believes to be Phillis' last public sculpture, a dedication to 19th century P.E.I. inventor Watson DuChemin. It's titled 'A 19th century story in the 21st century.' (Nicole Williams/CBC)

DuChemin was a builder and inventor in the 19th century. His most famous inventions are the egg-carton and a type of roller bearing blocks. He also built several organs on P.E.I., including the one used at the Indian River Church.

Hillstrom said the story of DuChemin inspired Phillis to create a sculpture in honour of the inventor. Using various materials from the property on Prince Street and some of his own materials, Phillis installed the piece on the property's lawn last month.

Hillstrom said Phillis titled the piece A 19th Century Story in the 21st Century.

One of Phillis' sculptures located by the Charlottetown Farmer's Market titled 'Unlocking History'

"He didn't want any money for it. He just wanted the people to have it and I said 'why do you do this Carl?' He said 'the reason why I do this is for two reasons. I do it for the Lord and I do it for the people.'"

Work was 'always colourful. They make you happy'

Hillstrom said he didn't know Phillis as well as others but that he "was such a lovely, lovely man."

"When I learned last night that he passed away, I said 'I need to help tell his story and draw attention to this beautiful piece,'" he said.

This installation by Phillis can be found on Richmond Street across from Trinity United Church in Charlottetown. (Nicole Williams/CBC)

Though much of Phillis' work was abstract, "they're always colourful. They make you happy," Hillstrom said.

Some of Phillis' other work can be found on Richmond Street across from Trinity United Church, Confederation Landing and The Charlottetown Farmer's Market.

A sculpture by Carl Phillis and his father Christopher called 'Celebration - Then and Now' can be found at Confederation Landing in Charlottetown.

Hillstrom said it was easy to sum up Phillis' legacy.

"Carl was a real artist in the truest sense. He didn't do it for money. He did it for love and I think that shines through in his work." 

A service will be held for Phillis at the MacLean Funeral Home's Swan Chapel on Saturday Dec. 7 at 11:00 a.m.


Pottery Marks of Prince Edward Island - Island Stoneware - Cindy & Darryl Lentz


The potters of Island Stoneware, include owners Cindy and Darryl Lentz located in Borden-Carleton PEI. Right Off The Batt Pottery was the original name of the operation when it was located in Kinkora, but with an expansion and relocation to a new facility, a rename took place in 2014 as well.  All work produced is signed with one studio mark. They explain the derivation of their mark on their website,

Our mark is a representation of the Chinese symbol meaning “together” or “shoulder to shoulder”. We’ve combined it with our last name to express how we work together as one. Every piece of our pottery has been created, in some way or another, by both our hands so a small portion of both of us goes into our pots and eventually into your home.

The website of Island Stoneware includes photographs of their work.


Cindy and Darryl Lentz
Island Stoneware Inc
156 Borden Avenue
Borden-Carleton, PEI
C0B 1X0 Canada
Phone: 902.855.2529
Fax: 902.855.2526
Toll Free: 1.888.734.2529

In 2012 a profile was written on Cindy and Darryl with pictures and video of their pottery and studio.
Update:
In 2016 Cindy and Darryl sold Island Stoneware to Chris Palmer a Summerside entrepreneur who operated the manufacturing facility with the help of staff. Chris entered political life and became a cabinet member under the Liberal provincial government of Premier Wade MacLauchlan and he sold the business to a couple that operated the business under the ownership name Perry Niessen Studios Inc. which combining the family surnames of Randy Perry and his spouse, Jamie Niessen. 

The Journal Pioneer indicated in January 2019 that the operation had moved to Summerside. As the change in name and change in ownership since this blog post was initiated has shifted, a new blog post has been created to follow Island Stoneware under the ownership of Perry Niessen Studios Inc.

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Pottery Marks of Prince Edward Island - Index

Pottery has traditionally been marked with the place of production as well as a means of identifying the potter or the studio where it was made. Many studio potters include the year as well. Requests from collectors for information on their PEI pottery items has grown into a blog about Prince Edward Island potters.

Village Pottery in New London, PEI continues to be a big part of our family life; founded by my wife Daphne Large in 1973 it is now owned and managed by our daughter Suzanne Scott, while Daphne and I continue as active potters within the business. My interest in the field developed when I worked as a leather instructor at Holland College School of Visual Arts in 1972, worked with both Barry Jeeves and Ron Arvidson, who were instructors in the pottery studio. They both influenced a generation of potters including myself. I began compiling information on current and historic potters on Prince Edward Island after getting questions by email sent to the Village Pottery address and decided to post the responses in blog format.

Local collectors of Island pottery including Gary Carroll, Tom Banks and Catherine Hennessey have all been generous with sharing their collections with me and providing photographs, which is much appreciated.

This listing is not complete, and we welcome additional information and images or edits that you notice which need correcting. Your suggestions help it grow. You can contact the author via email -- Ian Scott, Charlottetown, PEI

The current listings include, (in no particular order):

Jaiden Carragher Pottery, PEI

Jaiden Carragher has the following accounts for her pottery work: Instagram account - The Spacey Artist Facebook account - The Spacey Artist...