Tobias has been a working potter for 40 years. Some of his instructors included Harlen House, Hal Regar, Jack Surs, Marylin Levine, Santo Mignosa and Léopold Foulem.
TTomlinson2While Tobias has always known there was First Nations heritage in his family, it was only fifteen years ago that Tobias discovered that his great-grandmother was of Chickasaw Cherokee woman, and has been exploring his First Nations heritage. He has become quite involved in the Métis Nation of Greater Victoria. His heritage is easily reflected in his use of medicinal, herbal, and food plant forms as traditional design motifs that he carves into his ceramics. As well, he incorporates traditional Chickasaw Cherokee motifs from the four winged flying serpent to the medicine wheel. His colourful torch work beads, and fused glass reflect the story telling bead work of the Chickasaw people.
Tobias Tomlinson was born in Urbana, Illinois in 1949, and lived in several States before moving to Alberta, Canada where he completed his Bachelor Fine Arts Degree
- 1969-1971 — B.F.A. in Fine Arts with emphasis in Printmaking and Ceramics from the Univ. of Calgary, Alberta
- 1971-1973 — Jam Factory Pottery collective, Nelson, BC
- 1974 — Apprentice to a master potter in Grey Creek and Creston, B.C. using Native/found clay materials.
- 1974-1976 — Bach. of Education, University of Victoria, study area, Special Needs, Art Education, and Library Sciences.
- 1976-2005 — Sooke School District, various elementary positions; as well as the Clay Resource person.
- 2005-Contin. — Instructor at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, and consultant with pottery instruction with the Victoria School District
Exhibitions:
1980-con’t.
- 1992 — Garden Sculpture show, Urbana, Illinois
- 1994 — Drinking Vessels Exhibition, Santa Barbara, California
- 1995 — Creative Jugs-Circle Craft Vancouver, B.C.
- 1998 — Erotic Art Show- Open Space Gallery, Victoria, B.C.
- 2002 — Collective Ceramic Show- Gr. Vic. Arts Council
- 2003 – -2004-2005–Victoria City Hall Exhibition space
- 2005 — The Cone Box Project- B.C. Potters Guild
- 2006 — 2007–Look Show- awarded Univ. of Victoria Faculty Award
- 2006 — Artist of Conscience Show-Symposium on Art in Victoria
- 2007 & 2010 — Invited Guest member for the Fired Up! Potter’s Victoria, BC
- 2008 — Vasefinders International OnLine show
- 2009 — ”Compressed” Traveling Show, Courtney, BC, Canada
- 2009 – -GLTB show at Martin Batchelor Gallery, Victoria, BC
- 2009 — Metis Fine Art show CACGV, Victoria, BC
- 2009 — ”Illuminations Show”, Lighthouse Gallery, Houston, Texas
- 2009–2013 Sooke Fine Arts Show, Sooke, BC
- 2009–2013–Calling All Artists Show Emmanual Synagogue, Victoria, BC
- 2010–2013 First People’s Day Activities VNFC at Spirit Square
- 2010–2013–Sidney Fine Art Show CACSP, Sidney, BC
- 2008–2013–Look Show- Excellence in Craft Award (jewelry, pottery & Weaving)
- 2012-2013 “Back to the Land” exhibition AGGV
Guilds, Arts Groups, and Associations:
2001-con’t
- South Vancouver Island Potter’s Guild
- Island Artisans Association
- B.C. Potter’s Guild
- Craft Association of B.C.
- Community Arts Council of Greater Victoria
- Community Arts Council of the Saanich Peninsula
- Alternatives to Violence Project- Victoria AVP
Publications:
- Tozan Cultural Society 10th Anniversary (1995-2005);
- Fired Up! Contemporary Works in Clay; pub. 2009
- Yizkor: A Book of Remembrance; pub. 2010
- Back to the Land Book and exhibition Oct. 2012
- Akedah (Binding of Isaac) Project Chapbook Synagogue Emanuel, 2013