deborahgowerceramics

While the Gold Coast turned on the sunshine yesterday at Benowa, I had the pleasure of playing with clay with some little people at the Gold Coast Potters Market day.  Little fingers crafted coil pots, bowls, plaques and amazing creatures that stretched the bounds of their imagination (and mine).  Thank you to my little clay brothers and sisters for making the day a special one.  Happy clay days Debby  xxx

My Poppy is beginning the first leg of a long journey to France to be placed at the
gravesite of my relative Ernest Ainscow who died in WW1 and is buried in Trois
Arbres Cemetery Steenwerck.

Thank you so much to the students of Saint Monica’s in Cairns who generously offered to hold a Eulogy Service at his gravesite, during their visit to France in 2014.  Ernest sent some flowers home to his sister Lucretia during WW1 and he always asked about friends and family and mentioned his beloved Cairns whenever he wrote.

So to have the Cairns students visit his gravesite almost 100 years since he died and pay their respects to a young man (19) who gave his life to protect his family and friends is, to say the least, appreciated more than they can imagine.  Thank you Saint Monica’s Cairns, Safe Journey to you all and Safe Journey to my little poppy “Lest We Forget”

Happy clay days

Debby

Visiting the Mullumbimby RSL yesterday I was happy to bring one of my Poppy Wreaths down for a selfie photo shot as part of the Australian Ceramics association Clay Selfies Photo comp http://australianceramics.wordpress.com/2013/12/11/clayselfie/

2014-2018 remembers Australia’s participation in the First World War and the sacrifices made by Australian Defence Personnel and their families.  https://www.awm.gov.au/1914-1918/

More details coming later this year about these important celebrations.

and don’t forget to visit http://frogpondsrock.com/2014/02/sunday-ceramics-5/ where Tasmania’s Kim Foale and friends keep you up to date on ceramic happenings in their part of the clay world.

happy clay days

Debby

  Practicing Artists Network  is a non-profit incorporated association committed to furthering and promoting visual arts in the Byron Shire and surrounds.   14-28 February  at Lennox Art Space 4/64 Ballina St, Lennox Heads 2478  PAN will be having an exhibition of inspiring mixed media pieces.

Yes that’s one of my Banksia pots on the flyer.  Please come and check out more creative art pieces by some very talented Northern Rivers artists.

Happy clay days

Debby x

Its Changeover at the Art Cube in Mullum today.  I love my curating job.  I had the pleasure of meeting up with local artist Bruce Pringle and installing

Navigator by Bruce Pringle,  3 February 2014 – 3 March 2014 at The Art CUBE, Foyer, Byron Shire Council, Mullumbimby

Mullumbimby, NSW, 3rd February, 2014

Bruce Pringle is a blacksmith and metal artist based in Byron Bay, New South Wales. He specialises in traditional forged decorative iron, iron and Stainless Steel jewellery, stainless steel utensils, knives, bronze casting and sculpture for both exhibition and commission.

“I use a strange clay, of terrible purpose, malleable to the instincts of art.” says Bruce. His work has gained international recognition over the last 30 years and he continues to pursue higher levels of excellence in the blacksmithing and sculpture fields. Bruce is widely recognised as one of Australia’s leading artistic blacksmiths and metal sculptors, whose work has been described as “Music in Metal”

Bruce’s piece NAVIGATOR is inspired by the Pacific Marshall Islanders’ stick-maps of palm frond and shells.  This piece is about knowing in our bones how we come to be in this place. The flight of birds, winds on water and deep currents in thought, triangulate with dreams and stars to bring us home.”

Welded steel and gold leaf $1,850.00

You can see more of Bruce’s work at www.hammerandhand.com.au or http://www.brucepringle.com/ and can contact him at bruce@brucepringle.com

For Further Media Information Contact :

CUBE curator: Deborah Gower   Gowerpdr@bigpond.com

It’s been a very busy new year for me.  January I have spent a week at Australian National University Canberra getting inspired and learning so much at a Glaze Development Intensive.  With the other eager to learn potters we were expertly guided by Master Potter Greg Daly through the maze of Glazes, fluxes, oxides, Glass Formers and stabilizers.  You can check out all the ceramic adventures that happen at ANU through their fb Page https://www.facebook.com/pages/ANU-Ceramics-Workshop/140461206033615?fref=ts  Personally I have been exploring some Cone 03 Oxidised Glazes and adding a hint of foaming texture to my work.  So time to make some more test tiles and do some more testing. Happy clay days FB

Debby

Well Christmas is upon us and it is time to wish everyone a Very Merry Christmas.  Hope it is a healthy and happy one for each and every one of you.

It has been a very full year with highlights being trips to Jindgezhen, China – World capital of Fine Porcelain and a trip to UK for British Ceramics Biennial.

I have met some wonderful new friends and said goodbye to old friends (until we meet again on the other side).

Sharing the love of art and ceramics by volunteering at the Tweed Regional Gallery and the Lone Goat Gallery, Byron Bay has also made for a full and rewarding year.

Thank you for your kindness over the last year and I hope that the New Year brings creativity and peace to you all.

Happy Clay Days

Debby x

Northern Rivers Master Potter,  Bob Connery passed away yesterday surrounded by his loving family.

I can hear him now asking the angels exactly how they got their wings to glisten like that and wondering if there was a way he could replicate that glow in a glaze.

Occasionally in life, someone crosses your path and you know you will always be a better person because of having met them.  I was privileged and honoured to volunteer and work with Bob at Stokers Siding Pottery.  Bob was patient, a natural teacher and he had an innate curiosity about everything. He taught me so much.

My days at Stokers were filled with learning and laughter both with Bob and his wife Julie and when his family and friends visited. My heart goes out to his family and especially dearest Julie. In our ceramic world and our local world he will be missed. His family and his pottery remains his legacy to us.

My first piece of Bob Connery Reduced Lustre.

Rest in Peace Bob. We will miss you.

Always your student

Debby x

There are a lot of clay organisations, associations, groups, blogs, web and fb pages to mention but a few of the sources that I go to for inspiration, knowledge and good clay company.  But a couple of years ago (I don’t remember how) but I found Mud colony initiated and administered by the amazing Adriana Christianson.  Since then I have posted links to my blog from that page but most importantly I have found some amazing fellow Mud Colonists. Most I follow on the web through Mud Colony blog and FB and it never ceases to amaze me the diversity and the talent that exists in the clay world.

And today I spent the most amazing morning  with my Mud Colony Clay Sister Marian Haile Williams starting with a Mango whip at Sugar Beat in Murwillumbah and then off to the Tweed Regional Gallery  Before we had a visual feast with the exhibition 40 Years Jam Factory.  We caught up with Claire Atkins aka Pinky & Maurice Contemporary Ceramics where I managed to surf the Market crowds to purchase this new addition to my Christmas Ornament Collection.

This is your last chance to see an amazing group of potters all linked to one Mud colony post – Don’t miss seeing what each and every potter is up to as we say goodbye to mud colony but not farewell to each other. While Mud Colony blog will have its last posting this week the fun, friendship and getting down and dirty with Mud Colony may end on the blog post but it will continue.  Whether it be on the net, in person or in spirit – We remain an exciting fb group sharing our successes our learning experiences and the ups and downs of what it means to truly Play with Clay.

Happy clay days everyone

Debby x