Meet Toby Cote | Artist and Art Studio owner and formerly – Information Technology Application Developer,

We had the good fortune of connecting with Toby Cote and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Toby, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I am from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Canada. I have lived here all my life, except for 4 years when I moved to Calgary, Alberta, met my future husband, then we both moved back to Saskatchewan as that is where our families were from.

Family matters most. Its important, they are your lifeline, your support and a grounded-ness for where you belong. Family is the thread to our ancestors as well as our future legacy. My art is often historical, based on story, the Saskatchewan prairies and the nature that is ever present here. Family plays a big part in my art themes.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Borealis Boutique, the name of my art studio, speaks to the northern Boreal Forest of Saskatchewan. I live in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan It is diverse, yet not congested like other cities. There is a large local art network, many galleries, many beautiful Northern lakes and some great hot springs.

I am a fine Fibre Artist and Glass Artist from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. I was professionally juried in glass and fibre with the Saskatchewan Craft Council, and work in a variety of mediums including wool, cloth and hand-dyed fabrics as well as stained glass with copper foil construction, hand painted glass and sculptural creations using glass frits and powders.
Toby’s textile process could be described as painting with wool in an expressive manner, while her glass work could be described as painting with light and glass.

I am currently working on a Artisan Certificate from the University of Saskatchewan preparing for a grad show in November 2022. I often reference family history which reveals an ancestral presence.
I incorporate traditional fibre techniques including hand hooking, embroidery, sewing and stitching in my projects. I focus on landscape, portraits and sculptural pieces, connected by a common thread between past and present, demonstrating accomplished technical skills and a strong connection with the land and its people.
My art has been showcased in many exhibitions, and have won awards for excellence in craft in Dimensions 2019 and Focus on Fibre Art prizes as well as having a hooked rug piece belonging to the SkArts Board Permanent Collection. My work is held in various North American private collections. My glass works have been part of commission installations in Canada and the United States.

To find out more you can go to Toby Cote’s website at https://borealisboutique.com and visit her Etsy Shop at https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/Borealis1Boutique and Handmade House https://www.handmadehousesk.com.

One of the best pieces of advice I was given was: ‘Use all the pencils in the box’. Its great advice to not rush, use the best materials possible, the best technique for the job’. and always do your best work!

My brand is always evolving, incorporating different media. I like to explore new methods to create my vision of what I want to achieve.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Remai Gallery – a unique one of a kind gallery attracting world wide talent at River Landing. We would shop on Broadway Avenue, where some of the most eclectic, interesting shops are, then stop for lunch at the Broadway Diner – a 50’s style retro luncheonette. We would probably walk over the bridge and head downtown to one of the riverside parks and head to a local show at one of the downtown venues or heading over to Blanco Cantina on 8th’ street – the best Mexican food and entertainment.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Family matters most. Its important, they are your lifeline, your support and a grounded-ness for where you belong. Family is the thread to our ancestors as well as our future legacy. My art is often historical, based on story, the Saskatchewan prairies and the nature that is ever present here.

Website: https://www.borealisboutique.com

Instagram: instagram.com/@borealisboutique

Twitter: twitter.com/@Borealisboutiq

Facebook: facebook.com/@borealisboutique

Image Credits
I took all of the photos uploaded with the exception of #1 and #2 (Kevin Hogarth – Saskatoon), which I purchased as part of a package for an art exhibition.