This was the second residential I have attended this year
as part of my Graduate Certificate in Visual Arts/Ceramics.
The title of this one was 'The Thrown Form' and
I am now all fired up to develop and expand
my creative relationship with my wheel.
It is not only the classes and demonstrations
that I find inspiring.
It is hearing about how someone, who has looked
at ceramics all their life, looks at the composition
of pots or a piece of sculpture and then how they
read the work. Fascinating!
The little tips that I pick up along the way
are as important as anything.
Now, this may seem of little significance
to most of my readers but I am often inspired
by the little things in life.
Like…..sharpening tools on a concrete floor.
slops and throwing leftovers
into a cotton cloth or a pillow case
which can then be transported to a
plaster batt as nice juicy lump to drain
and be wedged up.
I had never thought of using cloth before
but in brings everything together beautifully.
There was also the unexpected and happy discovery
that ANU's current artist in residence, JOHN PARKER
who usually resides outside Aukland NZ, was working in
the ceramic dept. while our course was on.
John was making pots and having black firings.
His exhibition was delightful and I was lucky
enough to watch him demonstrate how he creates
his textures.
He is an interesting potter check out these links to
see how he works.
http://www.johnparker.co.nz/philosophy.html
COMBED AND CUT WARE
One of his beautiful textural pots came
home with me.
Thanks John it is a treasure!
I did make lots of pots too and I had some major
breakthroughs YAY!
It is interesting to you learn from someone
who is a master at his craft and who has a strong voice
and style in his work.
So much to learn!
I find the trick is then to keep a check on
myself, making sure that I am not forgetting
who I am, that I am being true to my own practice
and making work that is an expression of myself
rather than clones of my teachers.
So it was great to go and have a look at the
'Gold of the Inca's' exhibition at the
National Gallery at the end of the week.
I then spent an evening carving some of the pots
I had made just to give them a bit of a Sadhana flavour.
I am lucky in my life to have had a few
wonderful teachers who have been major
influences in my craft.
All with very different approaches to their work.
I hope that I will have many more teachers in my life
as I can feel all of their influences when I am working,
ranging from Papa New Guinea, Korea,
America and Europe.
So, I will keep trying to express myself
with my own voice and delight in continuing
to learn from all the amazing people
that I am lucky enough to come into contact with.
