There are almost no words that can accurately describe the creativity, talent and inspiration that Janet Whitehead emits through her powerful words and art. The Kamloops potter, writer, artist and life coach has found the power to be able to capture her gifts and share them with the world. Her pottery, much like herself, is magical and oddly captivating and through her words and intuitive nature she is able to tell stories that engage the reader on a level that is not easily achieved.

For Janet, these gifts have led her down the road to where she is today. In addition to helping people all over North America with her coaching skills, Janet has been working on her own artistic projects. Her latest project will be showing at The Kamloops Art Gallery in The Cube and everyone is invited to come down and see the work.

The show revolves around a short story that Janet wrote in 1994 called The Demise of Noshud Hafta. This story she wrote as an exercise in exploring her own creative journey was meant to explore the effects of hidden limiting beliefs. The story helps readers to recognize the no’s, the should’s and the have to’s that limit their growth and prevent them from being all that they can be.

“For years I thought the story required a traditional illustrator in order for it to be published,” tells Janet. “I got over this ‘Noshud Hafta’ and realized that I could use my own resources to create the book out of clay. I combined a variety of pottery skills, unique clays, glazes and a lot of imagination and created page by page sculptural illustrations of the story.”

It is these sculptural illustrations that will be up for display in The Cube. The work is absolutely breathtaking and will be displayed in a way that the gallery visitor will be able to walk through the exhibit and essentially read the book through the art. The actual books of the story will also be on hand for a more literal view of the exhibit.

“The collection of sculptures embodies many of my favourite techniques and concepts.” furthers Janet. “From my love of Persian and Turkish metalwork to my fascination with ships and the mystical world of Fae. There are many small details and each piece tells a piece of the story.”
The book itself will be on store shelves soon and is almost as magnificent as the exhibit itself. The clay illustrations featured on each page make it more than just a book and the message and lessons make it more than just a story. A fabulous read, the story helps to erase those nasty Noshud Haftas from your thoughts and makes you think about your own preconceived limitations.

The exhibition will be on display at The Kamloops Art Gallery in The Cube until June 12 and will be held together with a show by Sheila McDonald called Living which is opening in the Gallery Under Glass.

Be sure not to miss this show, some of Janet’s inspiration may just rub off on you and change your life. To check out some of Janet Whiteheads other works of art or writing you can visit her online at www.musingsandmud.com and even get a free copy of one of her popular self-discovery workbooks Happy Revelly After by going to www.musingsandmud.com.freework.html
Tanya Orozco, freelance

Tanya Orozco