The inspiration for these vessels came from how rocks lay in a riverbed, steady but surrounded by the continuously flowing water. Similar to how we as individuals and communities try to navigate constant change.

They were first made by hand using a red clay and then covered in layers of coloured slips, starting with a white slip. I used paper-resist techniques on some sections. And, at a later stage, I scratched into the background of other areas.

The images used are native, non-native, and imagined flowers connected by a background of stitches and patterns. Each vessel has an oak leaf, symbolizing steadiness and heritage. These rocks were meant to represent our diverse communities. Each one is uniquely different while still similar to the others. They are about the role each of us plays, be it big or small, in creating and maintaining a community.

Eekta Trienekens
Artist
June 2026

About the artist
Eekta Trienekens grew up in the Netherlands, spent significant time in India, and came to Canada more than a decade ago, and she now works from her studio here in Kitchener. The contrasts between her experiences are of strong influence on her work, oscillating between a sense of belonging and otherness. She has degrees in Arts Education and South Asian Studies. She loves working with a variety of materials, but since 2016, ceramics has been her main artistic practice.

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