About
What a rare opportunity to hear from the technologists who assist and guide students throughout their time at Sheridan College. Moderated by Gord Thompson, these four dedicated and committed educators, Janelle Guthrie (Textiles), Duncan Aird (Ceramics), Jason Cornish (Glass) and Christina Pupo (Furniture), discuss their careers and approaches to working with and supporting their students.
Co-presented by Sheridan College and Craft Ontario.
About Duncan Aird

Duncan Aird is a ceramic artist who has been producing functional pottery for over twenty years. He specializes in wood-firing, where the surfaces of his vessels are layered with history, movement and subtle decorative motifs. Aird studied at Sheridan College School of Crafts and Design, and then entered a six-year apprenticeship with Dundas potter Scott Barnim after which he opened his own studio producing tableware. He has participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions, both nationally and internationally. He has also taught at the Dundas Valley School of Art, held numerous workshops across the province, and is an adjunct professor and technician in Ceramics at Mohawk College.
About Janelle Guthrie

Janelle Guthrie is a textile artist and fibre consultant specializing in natural dyes and traditional felt making. She graduated from Sheridan College’s textiles program and began her career as a design and production assistant. Janelle has since shared her passion and knowledge by teaching natural dye and felting workshops throughout the GTA and in Barbados. Dedicated to community engagement, Janelle has collaborated with women’s shelters to utilize craft as a therapeutic outlet and has introduced the use of textile crafts in Childcare Centres. Her experience also includes the role of Coordinator at the Contemporary Textile Studio in Toronto. Janelle returned to Sheridan College 16 years ago, where she currently serves as the textile studio technologist.
About Jason Cornish

Jason Cornish, Glass Studio Technologist at Sheridan Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, is a graduate of the Woodworking program at Conestoga College and the Crafts and Design – Glass program at Sheridan College. He has managed the Glass Studio at Sheridan College since 1994. Jason has worked for a number of private studios, as well as designing and building glass equipment for Harbourfront Centre, Living Art Centre and a fully functional set for the Warner Brothers’ feature movie Three to Tango, and has been heavily involved in the Netflix series Blown Away. Jason opened Crystal Apex Awards and Design about ten years ago with Andrew Kuntz, which focuses on custom glass design and production.
About Christina Pupo

Toronto-based designer, maker and educator Christina Pupo graduated from the Craft and Design Program at Sheridan College in 2009, majoring in Furniture Design. Christina has worked for Toronto-based artists, assisting in the fabrication and installation of sculptures and furniture for corporate and private clients. She spent time as a sessional instructor and technician at OCADU in the Faculty of Design and is currently a Bachelor of Craft and Design Furniture Studio Technologist at Sheridan College. Christina has participated in various craft shows and exhibits across Canada including Capacity and Toronto Design Offsite Festival and has received scholarships to attend multiple workshops at craft schools throughout the United States.
About Gord Thompson

Gord Thompson is the Coordinator for the Bachelor of Craft and Design program and has taught ceramics, craft history and other Craft and Design courses at Sheridan College and the Ontario College of Art & Design University (OCADU) since 2003. He was a technician in the Ceramics Studio at OCADU from 2002-2011. Thompson has exhibited internationally and participated in artist residency as a potter making functional vessels. He works actively in the craft community, serving as President of the Board of Directors of Craft Ontario (2012-2014) and advisor to the Craft & Design Studio at Harbourfront Centre. Thompson sits on the Exhibition and Education Committee of the Gardiner Museum. He is the Senior Editor and Chair of the editorial committee for STUDIO, a national magazine of Craft and Design in Canada. Thompson is currently a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Communication and Culture at York University. He studied ceramics at Sheridan College from 1994-97 after completing degrees in Cultural Studies (BA, Trent University), Media Studies (MA, Concordia University) and the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology (MA, University of Toronto).