Little preview

I'm working on a sculpture duo - this is a little preview before they go off to the kiln for bisque.

Ready to go

I have added the findings to my pieces and now have brooches and necklaces ready for a market stall in a couple of weeks time. The 50 cent piece is just to give you an idea of their size.

Butterfly brooches

Brown bird brooches

Swinging Bird necklace - Porcelain on leather

Porcelain Bird Brooches

Porcelain Swinging Bird necklace on chain

Brown Swinging Bird necklace

Swinging Butterfly necklace

Acacia or Wattle

This last month of winter is not all dark and leafless here in Sydney.  The wattle trees are in full bloom and brightening up our grey cloudy skys.  According to the Australian Native Plant Society we have 954 of the 1200 genus of Acacia.  The next largest occurance is in Africa.  The wattle is our National Floral emblem and we call it wattle rather than acacia for historical reasons.  The first buildings of the English settlements were made using the very old 'wattle and daub' technique of interwoven branches coated in mud and the local acacia trees were the most useful and so the yellow flowering shrubs or small trees became known as Wattle trees.  Here are a few in flower now in my area:

small wattle bush

Wattle tree buds

Wattle tree flowers

another version of wattle.  I like the upright red branches.

In Situ

Following on from my previous post I thought I would show you how that pit fired pot is still being used in my garden as a water feature.
The clay was a mix of a grogged stoneware clay with about 20% of terracotta clay mixed in and a coating of terra sigillata after being burnished then fired.  I had put a hole in the base to take the water hose to make this simple fountain.

Sustainability for potters?

One of my teachers, Steve Harrison,  has an article in the latest Journal of Australian Ceramics #50/2 July 2011 (page 96) in which he reflects on ways in which sustainablity could be more broadly considered, for example, using internet technology for conferences to minimize travel and panels to discuss issues we potters/ceramic artists are likely to face in a low-carbon future.
This article was written after Steve had attended a wood firing conference in Tasmania in April and purchased carbon credits to off-set the air travel involved in travelling there from another State.
While I struggle with recycling my clay and slops, Steve and his partner, Janine, live the Good Life.
Have a look at their website (click on link below and look for the tab, Sustainability) and perhaps you will be able to pick up some suggestions to help lower your own carbon footprint.
www.hotnsticky.com.au

One of my early pots fired in a pit-firing at Steve's property at an alternative firing workshop.

Combined Exhibition at Hazelhurst Regional Gallery

Teachers and students - past and present - from the Ceramics Design Studio at Gymea TAFE Campus and the Sydney College of the Arts will combine their works in a great exhibition at Hazelhurst Regional Gallery.

Opening Night will be at 6pm on Friday 19 August 2011 and continues until 9 October 2011.

Hazelhurst is a great venue and it is quite a feather in their hat to have the main gallery which is usually used for travelling exhibitions.

Check out the links for more information about the gallery and the College and University.