Getting back to normality.

Here we are well into the start of 2020 and I am only just finding time to write about the many happenings that have been affecting my thoughts, family, friends and life in general.

Since my last post in November 2019, my formal graduation happened in early December. 

At the same time, fires broke out across NSW and have been burning ever since. 

No time to sit and bask in the glory of graduation!

With family staying over Christmas (during the worst of the Blue Mountains fires), we were very focused on the fire paths and keeping our loved ones safe.

Meanwhile....

In Balmoral village, my mentors and friends Sandy Lockwood and Colin Todd, 

who I have been attending workshops with since 2015,  

https://www.sandylockwood.com.au  

had to evacuate their property and only just escaped losing their house and studio.

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/dec/20/resolve-and-sadness-behind-the-battlelines-to-protect-balmoral

Janine King and Steve Harrison are also inspirational potters, friends and builders of my mobile kiln. 

They lost their pottery studio and kiln building workshop.

 I am devastated for them. 

They work on self-sufficiency and living a green life and for them to lose their garden and studio is heartbreaking.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-12-23/steve-harrison-balmoral-nsw-bushfire-coffin-kiln/11822416

You can read more about their pottery life, garden, sustainable lifestyle and survival through the current fire season on Steve’s Blog 

https://tonightmyfingerssmellofgarlic.com

Here is a Go Fund Me link to help Steve and Janine rebuild

https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-rebuild-a-pottery-workshop?fbclid=IwAR3GvloNwuOM6mV3pRpKq-pDiv-mvqKA7jhs3Xr-PDJYjVr-NJeX3iQASko

Fellow potters and friends in Cabago and on the South Coast of NSW have also lost their studios, homes and equipment. 

you can help Daniel and Gabrielle here

https://www.gofundme.com/f/rebuild-pottery-studio?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet&fbclid=IwAR1uAGn_5mztOLlg-lXV1-S2h2AjkkdYglrhdHAmrBcrLuESrzj_FfTJHLQ

and 

https://www.facebook.com/ClayForAustralia/

was created by Vipoo Srivilasa so that the ceramic community could help fellow potters.

It has been a harsh season and our bags have remain packed ready for the fires to get closer to us. 

We have been amazingly fortunate so far. 

Now the rain is easing the tension.

I am starting to feel the joy of having my study ( and the fires) behind me and creativity in front of me.

Classes began here @lillipillistudio for 2020, on the 1st of February.

It has been a challenge to keep focused and prepare for classes in the heat of the fire season.

I have reduced my teaching load to 16 students this term.

It is more manageable than last years 24 students so I will try to keep this number in the future.

I am excited to welcome my studio assistant, Kellie Miles, who is a great help.

Classes are relaxed and full of enthusiasm, just perfect in my eyes. 

 Let's hear it for good people, creativity and rain!

Sadhana

2019 - Off to a galloping start and an even faster finish line

2019 has come to an end before I even had time to write a post to start the year.

Every year seems so full these days.
Is it just me or does life get bigger and fuller as we get older?
Certainly, the family expands and contracts and seems to be a living organism that is made up of many individuals breathing as a whole with a heartbeat that keeps us all working as a family unit.

I am pleased to announce that I have now completed my MA Vis Art/Ceramics!
It has only taken me six years!
Hahahaha
Well better late than never!
My priority is always my family but I try to have a little bit of "me time" in and around the time spent with my nearest and dearest.

It has been a great way to really think about what and why I make and do what I do.
I have no regrets about having taken on this study although at times over the years I thought I was crazy to have taken it on.
Now that it is done I am so pleased that I have spent this time focused on my work.


If you are interested in attending the graduation show opening or just visiting the exhibition
it would be lovely to see you.

ANU School of Art & Design Gallery Cnr Ellery Cres & Liversidge St, Acton ACT 2601 T 02 6125 5841 W soad.cass.anu.edu.au/gallery-exhibitions Gallery Hours  Tuesday – Friday, 10.30am – 5.00pm Closed Public Holidays.

The show extends into the workshops of the different faculties so ask about it when you visit.

Of course my sculpures embrace family life

I will share a taste of the making process here 

rather than the finished works so as not to spoil the exhibition.

Farewell 2018 you have been a noble year

Here is a bit of a photo journal 

to remind myself as much as anything 

and also to show my respects for a noble year.

A January outing for my husbands birthday

Various workshops at Sandy Lockwoods

                                     

 

2nd eldest Grand daughter starts school

A quick visit to Melbourne to go to the Pottery Expo

Where I purchased the lovely work of Katy Mitchell (below)

and Ana Maria Jensen @anamhj77  on instagram (below)

and then another trip to Melbourne only a few weeks later 

to support my husband who was participating in a TV quiz show

I so love the trams in Melbs

Wish our Blue Mountains trains ran like this

 and I am so much in love with the stained glass at the Melbourne Art Gallery

A birthday excursion with my eldest Grand daughter

while her parents were busy moving house

Sandy Lockwood's PhD exhibition at Woollongong Uni

was a great inspiration

and it was also lovely to see May Barrie's sculpture in the grounds

May was my mums long term friend from art school in the 1940's

A visit to dear dear friend Mieke 90+ years old 

I have BIG love for this inspirational woman/person/artist/gardener.

A visit to my son and his family near Ballina

Easter hat parade preparations

My first music festival at Byron Bay

and pleased to have been introduced to the music of 

 The California Honey Drops

Big Rain ...Big Mud....

 and we got nicely bogged at the festival 

which led to Michael getting splattered with wheely mud.

Special time hanging our with my brother in law listening to music

These two got quite relaxed

So wonderful to have time with my son and his family

                                         Spoiled rotten with home made hot cross buns
                                          by my daughter in law The Sour Dough Chick

Back to uni and so enjoyed a life drawing class using wire

and a serendipitous workshop with sculptor Clara Hali led to a whole new body of work 

(pardon the pun)

Special 90th Birthday for these special in laws

Farewell to Harry Kiln

and farewell to my little jewellery kiln

Welcome to my new Rodhe Kiln

"Betty"

She has fired 50 times now 

since she arrived in May

and doing beautifully

My little mobile Steve Harrison wood/gas kiln "Rocky" 

did a lot of hard work through the winter

We had several days of Raku workshops using him 

and now that i have the gas sorted out 

I have had several high fire reduction firings of my work

I have spent some time making

had a great visit with Benjamin Christianson

Mara did several gigs

Started going regularly to the ACO 

(Australian Chamber Orchestra)

with my in laws.

BLISS! 

Made lots of organisational bits and pieces in the studio 

to prepare for new students and lots of classes

                                                              Hung out with family

Had my Sister come and play in the studio

                                                            Had two 6 week terms of classes
                                                                     with 24 students
                                                                        in
                                                                      8 classes per week
                                                         

What a gorgeous bunch and 

they made a lot of pots!

                                                           The garden is doing well
                                        and I am looking forward to having more time in it in 2019.

A 40th year School reunion

eeeeek  getting old!

Some karaoke 

and Christmas baking

I bought a few more treasures over the  year

Roy Chandra



Cath O'Gorman

Rob Linigan

Simon Reece

Rachel Hannan

I think there was more but have lost track a little...

And some new tools to start the year
hand made by TroyBungartStudio.com