31 July 2013
28 July 2013
Very little wet clay this week
this week has had very little wet clay for me. On Tuesday I threw a couple of bowls in the morning but then it was over to Cronulla to help glaze bowls for the Port Hacking Potters Empty Bowls Project.
Time is coming up fast, the event is on the 24th August and I am hoping lots of Aussie potters will contribute a piece of their work for the Silent Auction. If you would like to contribute just email to pottersgroup@hotmail.com and you will be sent details for delivery.
We have bowls signed by celebrities such as Karl Stefanoic, the TV presenter, Ruby Wax the comedienne, Kathy Lette the author, other actors and presenters plus members of the local football team, The Sharks. In addition to that we have paintings and prints by local artists. It should be a good day.
And to finish off here's a little Photoshop image taken some time ago of the Lilly Pilly fruit in our yard. Then I'll link over to Mud Colony and see how other potters have faired this week.
We have bowls signed by celebrities such as Karl Stefanoic, the TV presenter, Ruby Wax the comedienne, Kathy Lette the author, other actors and presenters plus members of the local football team, The Sharks. In addition to that we have paintings and prints by local artists. It should be a good day.
And to finish off here's a little Photoshop image taken some time ago of the Lilly Pilly fruit in our yard. Then I'll link over to Mud Colony and see how other potters have faired this week.
20 July 2013
Stephen Benwell talk at Wollongong Art Gallery
Yesterday I visited the Wollongong Art Gallery. My very patient non-potting husband took me, which was much more comfortable than me driving myself and dodging the coal carrying trucks in my tiny car.
The weather wasn't very pleasant but improved while we were there...
I was surprised to see lots of Coral Trees in bloom along the Mt Ousley road. Guess its that time of year though they seem to be flowering early to me.
The Wollongong gallery runs some good exhibitions and has a competition specifically for women artists of the Illawarra area. They also have an interesting permanent collection of ceramics.
But yesterday's visit was to hear Stephen Benwell speak about his work... in particular the work in this exhibition: Diorama..
he spoke for an hour with slides of his work from the 1970's to this year.
Some of the things he said that I will remember.. "clay likes to be thin - it is more likely to crack when thick"
"ceramics is both painting and sculpture in one". I'm paraphrasing so don't hold me to the quotes.
He is a hand builder and it was so interesting to see slides of his early work, the influences of his trip to Greece and his talk of the changes to the way he works and that his ideas for his work often last for a 10 year period (he started young). He has worked in earthenware (for colour), stoneware and porcelain at different times. He readily admits to perusing books for influences as he knows his interpretation will be different to the original.
As you can see here, the name of the exhibition reflects the layout of the works...
each artist has a space in the wall to show their interpretation. Stephen Benwell's exhibit was about antiquity and the shards and broken statues and how they are valued. As the gallery card says, the work draws on the rich tradition of the museum display, cabinets of curiositites and dioramas.
The gallery was crowded and I didn't get to see Penny Byrne's work so I might have to visit again - it runs until 10 November so I have a chance.
Some other well known artists from the ceramics world were there to support Stephen...
The other exhibits in the gallery were also worth a look -
After a good look around my chauffeur took me to lunch and then we had a walk along beside the water... it was too cold to linger for long but nice to get some fresh sea air...
it was a very enjoyable day and I will be inspired to get back to some hand building as soon as the Empty Bowl Project is done.
Remember to check over on Mud Colony for other potty bloggers or see my further updates on my Facebook page.. Anna's Ceramics.
The weather wasn't very pleasant but improved while we were there...
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| Heading south at the top of the escarpment |
 | |||
| trucks must use low gear down Mt Ousley |
I was surprised to see lots of Coral Trees in bloom along the Mt Ousley road. Guess its that time of year though they seem to be flowering early to me.
 |
| Missed this exhibition |
 | |||
| Wollongong Art Gallery |
The Wollongong gallery runs some good exhibitions and has a competition specifically for women artists of the Illawarra area. They also have an interesting permanent collection of ceramics.
But yesterday's visit was to hear Stephen Benwell speak about his work... in particular the work in this exhibition: Diorama..
he spoke for an hour with slides of his work from the 1970's to this year.
Some of the things he said that I will remember.. "clay likes to be thin - it is more likely to crack when thick"
"ceramics is both painting and sculpture in one". I'm paraphrasing so don't hold me to the quotes.
He is a hand builder and it was so interesting to see slides of his early work, the influences of his trip to Greece and his talk of the changes to the way he works and that his ideas for his work often last for a 10 year period (he started young). He has worked in earthenware (for colour), stoneware and porcelain at different times. He readily admits to perusing books for influences as he knows his interpretation will be different to the original.
 |
| Stephen Benwell at Diorama exhibition, 19 July 2013. Wollongong Art Gallery |
As you can see here, the name of the exhibition reflects the layout of the works...
each artist has a space in the wall to show their interpretation. Stephen Benwell's exhibit was about antiquity and the shards and broken statues and how they are valued. As the gallery card says, the work draws on the rich tradition of the museum display, cabinets of curiositites and dioramas.
The gallery was crowded and I didn't get to see Penny Byrne's work so I might have to visit again - it runs until 10 November so I have a chance.
Some other well known artists from the ceramics world were there to support Stephen...
 | ||
| Janet De Boos, Michael Keighrey, Stephen Benwell, Lynda Draper and Robyn O'Donoghue |
The other exhibits in the gallery were also worth a look -
 |
| Gallery 1 was showing "Me, the Road & I" narratives of refugee passage and identity |
 | |
| part of the same exhibit, I thought of my friend Sadhana when I saw this weaving, love the shadow... |
After a good look around my chauffeur took me to lunch and then we had a walk along beside the water... it was too cold to linger for long but nice to get some fresh sea air...
 |
| there is a coal carrier on the horizon |
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| the lookout below the lighthouse is always popular |
 |
| a shy little wren is perched on the fence post |
 | ||
| he flew off when I tried to get closer... |
it was a very enjoyable day and I will be inspired to get back to some hand building as soon as the Empty Bowl Project is done.
Remember to check over on Mud Colony for other potty bloggers or see my further updates on my Facebook page.. Anna's Ceramics.
13 July 2013
Teapots OK
Teapots are OK to go to the Sydney Teapot Show. That is a relief - you can never be entirely sure until they have emerged from their last firing.
I'll have 3 to submit this year...
here are some peeks
1) is a celedon glaze with black underglaze decoration
2) has red underglaze decoration and a clear glaze
and 3) has orange underglaze and tissue print decoration
I hope they find new homes. I will be delivering them around the 25th July and the exhibit opens on Friday 2 August 2013 at the Inner City Clayworkers Gallery in Glebe, Sydney at 6pm if you can make it there.
The show runs until 1 September 2013 but the sales at the opening are quite good usually so best to get in then if you are in the market for a new teapot. Of course not all are functional. Many are hardly recognizable as teapots but always a wonderful range of clever, fun interpretations of the themes.
Quite happy with my other results...
Maybe I should consider finding a satin semi matt glaze for these?
the black and white contrast worked well on this one...
Mud Colony is open for you to add your blog post if you are a potter who blogs or just drop over to see what the others have been up to this week... click here :^)
I'll have 3 to submit this year...
here are some peeks
1) is a celedon glaze with black underglaze decoration
2) has red underglaze decoration and a clear glaze
and 3) has orange underglaze and tissue print decoration
The show runs until 1 September 2013 but the sales at the opening are quite good usually so best to get in then if you are in the market for a new teapot. Of course not all are functional. Many are hardly recognizable as teapots but always a wonderful range of clever, fun interpretations of the themes.
Quite happy with my other results...
 | |||
| My boxes are all shiny and the colours stayed bright |
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| wheelthrown slipped and carved porcelain vase |
the black and white contrast worked well on this one...
Mud Colony is open for you to add your blog post if you are a potter who blogs or just drop over to see what the others have been up to this week... click here :^)
06 July 2013
Waiting for the kiln to cool
Tomorrow I hope to unload the kiln and bring home some goodies that have been hanging about for a while...
it includes 2 teapots hopefully for the Sydney Teapot Show...
plus these:
also in the firing are more bowls for the Empty Bowls Project I an involved with, check the Facebook page for updates of the project here
Mud Colony is open for another day if you would like to join us with your blog post, or just drop by to see what the others have been up to this week...
it includes 2 teapots hopefully for the Sydney Teapot Show...
plus these:
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| wheel thrown boxes with hand formed flowers and underglaze decoration |
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| two water etched porcelain vases |
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| the bottle at the back here |
Mud Colony is open for another day if you would like to join us with your blog post, or just drop by to see what the others have been up to this week...
Vale Gwyn Hassen Pigott
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| This image of my church candle holders is my acknowledgement of the passing of a star of the Australian Ceramics world, Gwyn Hannsen Pigott. |
An interview here at Craft Australia will give you some idea ... click here
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