Board of Directors

Cindy Hoppe

Chairperson

​I was born and raised on a farm west of Saskatoon. I attended the University of Saskatchewan and worked for 3 years on a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree that focused on painting. I was also learning crafts by helping my mother attend markets as a teenager in the beginning the Saskatchewan Craft Council. I married a farmer north of Biggar, Saskatchewan and continued exploring craft mediums.

I have a deep appreciation of the beauty and durability of wool and silk and restrict myself to these materials for my fibre art. Mom and I supported each other artistically, technically and emotionally in our exploration of this medium. I am self-taught and would describe what I do as painting with a sewing machine.

I have been a Board member of the SCC for about 12 years. I have been Chairperson for the last several. Before my work with the SCC, I had experience in other boards from health districts to school boards, RM Council, Lutheran Church boards, and more. The SCC is in a time of transition, and I would like to help with that. During my time with the SCC Board, I have participated in board development, policy development, organizational development, ad hoc and standing committees, as well as served on other boards.

David Freeman

Vice Chair

David Freeman began  playing Guitar in 1970, learning to repair his own instruments in 1974. In 1980 he completed Lutherie Training and began TIMELESS INSTRUMENTS. His Choice to build all-fretted string instruments reflects his interest in multi-media art. His artistic background includes pottery, drawing, sculpture, farming, and raising a family. In 1986 David began teaching a seven week Lutherie Training Course.

Presently, Freeman offers Lutherie Training, Mail-order Lutherie Supplies, and custom-built string instruments for a global cliental through his company Timeless Instruments.

David has been a Village councilor in Tugaske for one term. David has also sat on the Vocational Schools  Advisory committee  to the ministry of Advanced Education & Immigration. David served on the SCC Board from 2001 to 2003 and 2014 to 2017. He is currently in a second term. He is also the Saskatchewan Representative for the Canadian Crafts Federation.

Lori Steward

Board Secretary

Lori Steward brings a diverse skill set the Board of Directors of the Saskatchewan Craft Council which includes a technical, scientific background; she holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Computer Sciences from the University of Québec. In addition to her extensive work in the settlement sector helping newcomers to Canada achieve full and successful lives, she has worked as a programmer analyst and graphic designer. She is currently the Community Connections Manager of the Global Gathering Place.

Lori has an interest in fine craft and is looking forward to a future in which she has more time to pursue this avid interest. In the meantime, she is hoping that her work with the SCC will dovetail with her interest in settlement by empowering newcomer makers to pursue fine craft in Saskatchewan.

Ms. Steward lives in Saskatoon with her husband and two daughters.

Tammy Bryant

Tammy Bryant brings a variety of experience to the SCC Board. She has volunteered on various Boards and committees and has experience participating in and organizing charity events. As a designated accountant, her background working in industry and with a number of not-for-profit organizations, will bring additional business experience to the SCC Board.

Tammy is a potter living and working in Regina. Her love of colors is reflected in her work but she also enjoys exploring and using various alternative firing techniques. Her work is mostly functional, sometimes decorative but always unique!

Mark Wells

I have been making jewellery in one form or another since 2002, when I first started making chainmail. Slowly I’ve transitioned into more traditional types of jewellery while still striving to develop a personal style. My specialty and favourite type of work is piercework (fretwork) pieces which use multiple layers to create a sense of depth, especially when representing landscapes from my travels. I am mostly self-taught (through books, videos, internet communities, and extensive practice), but I have also attended several classes and workshops with experienced jewellers, whenever the opportunity presented itself.

I have been a member of the SCC since becoming a juried craftsperson in 2016. I have participated as a juror, evaluating new prospective members on a few occasions. I have also participated in the SCC’s professional practices courses.

I believe in the mission of the Saskatchewan Craft Council — to support the development of fine craft and craftspeople. I want to ensure the continued viability of the organization and ensure that it remains a resource for its members.

Sheila Schmutz

I joined the SCC in 2015 and was juried in April 2018.  I use wild Canadian fur to trim wool hats and some mittens, capes, and jackets in support of Northern Peoples under the logo “Wear Our Heritage”.  I retired from the University of Saskatchewan in 2016, having been a professor who studied genetics in cattle and dogs for many years, including coat color.

I live with my husband and 6 dogs near Grandora and enjoy another piece of land near Alvena which is enrolled in the Treaty Land Sharing Network.

I have volunteered for the Board to give back to the organization because I have benefitted greatly from the opportunities provided to participate in Wintergreen, Craft Is…, and Dimensions.   I read the SCC newsletters regularly with great interest.  My work is a bit atypical and yet I have found a community of artisans that accepts and fosters me within the SCC.

Trudy Berscheid

From an early age, Trudy learned to make items that she could use on a daily basis — to wear or to use in the home. Her appreciation for the touch and feel of natural fibres has led her to use wonderful fibres and fibre blends that are perfect for their intended use. Using relatively simple structures, the focus of her work is on colour and texture in textiles.

Sherry Luther

Penny Candy Jewellery is the business name of Sherry Luther. Her work features enamel on copper earrings, pendants, and pins. Each piece is handmade by sifting powdered glass onto copper, layering to create designs and effects, and fusing it to the metal with a kiln and/or torch.

Sherry has been a big fan of the SCC since she moved to Saskatoon in 2003. She has direct experience with the organization, as she worked as the Financial Officer from 2008 to 2012 and was the Executive Director from 2012 to 2014. She then went on to work with Creative Saskatchewan as their Export and Industry Development Manager. This role included overseeing funding provided to Saskatchewan’s industry associations, of which SCC is one. Sherry has extensive accounting experience, and her last role before retirement was Financial Officer at Meewasin Valley Authority, where she worked for 5 years.

Tyler Bogdan

Tyler Bogdan is a self-taught ceramic artist whose practice explores the intersection of craft and technology. Working primarily in slipcasting, he creates original molds that merge traditional ceramic techniques with contemporary digital tools. By incorporating 3D modeling and 3D printing into his process, Tyler investigates how technology can expand the creative potential of clay and challenge expectations of handmade work.

Still early in his artistic journey, Tyler continues to develop his practice through experimentation and small craft sales, where he shares his evolving collections with the public. His work embraces repetition, variation, and surface design, balancing function with a sense of play.

As a queer artist and new member of the Saskatchewan Craft Council, Tyler values experimentation, individuality, and community. He is eager to learn from and contribute to Saskatchewan’s vibrant craft community while continuing to refine his voice as a maker.