deborahgowerceramics

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One of my favorite roles is that of Curator of the Art CUBE, Byron Shire Council, Mullumbimby 2013

This morning I had the pleasure of meeting up with local artist Liam Bruce as he installed his latest series of ceramic works.

“LOVE FEEL LIGHT” An exhibition by Liam Bruce 29 July – 30 August 2013 at The Art CUBE, Foyer, Byron Shire Council, Mullumbimby 2013

Liam Bruce is exhibiting his new range of ceramic art in the Art CUBE in the foyer of the Council Chambers in Mullumbimby this month.

“LOVE FEEL LIGHT” This latest series of ceramic art by Liam has been inspired by his visits to the Byron Lighthouse. They provide an interesting medium through which Liam can share his simple and often whimsical philosophy of life . . . revealed through his choice of colour and form.

You can see more of Liam’s work at 3rd Annual Incredible Art Show, at Studio RED, Tasman Way, Byron Arts and Industry on Oct 18th-20th 2013 or go to www.liamart.ning.com or email him: liam@mullum.com.au

Pinky and Maurice are looking for 100 people to decorate 100 porcelain bowls with at Pinky & Maurice Contemporary Ceramics at the open studio weekend on Sat 17 – Sun 18 August. See demos, hear artists talks, have fun!

For your nearest Open Studio location please check out: http://australianceramics.com/home/index.php?option=com_eventlist&view=categoryevents&id=1

Sometimes amazing, Sometimes a culture shock but always a ceramics adventure I have just come home from 22 of the most amazing days and nights in Jingdezhen China – the home of porcelain. http://www.potteryworkshop.org/blog/?p=1033 The Sculpture Factory and the Pottery Workshop is an amazing place filled with Masters specializing in mould making, modelling, glazing and more. In the Education Centre we had lessons on Fencai, Zhisha teapot making, carving, QingBai Blue and White, mould making and so much more.

Zisha Teapot making was an experience – all by hand – no moulds – It takes 3 years to learn to be an expert teapot maker.

Eric, Eva, Summer, Seven, Emily and Lily seemed to make our trip flow with ease and did a great job translating for us. Language barriers disappeared with smiles and lots of pointing and charades with the locals.

Eric Kao http://www.erickaoceramics.blogspot.com.au/ is an amazing host and took us behind the scenes to some of the factories and studios hidden in back alleys and winding through streets around Jingdezhen. With insights and knowledge only someone with the dual heritage of being Chinese but being raised in the United States and having an intricate knowledge of clay and a ceramic artist in his own right, Eric is the perfect host.

Carving on big pots – Amazing

There are too many pictures, too many stories to convey the adventure both ceramic and cultural that I went on – but as we sweep away the firecrackers of celebration of a journey worth travelling I hope each and every one of you gets to experience their own ceramic journey of a lifetime.

and speaking of ceramic journey’s its been 3 weeks since I checked out what everyone else is doing at Mud Colony – why not come with me for a virtual journey into the world of other potters at http://mudcolony.blogspot.com.au/

happy clay days everyone

Debby xxxx

As curator of the art CUBE at Mullumbimby I had the pleasure of installing a new piece by Suvira McDonald Highrise Moonrise.  The art CUBE is located in the foyer of the Byron Shire Council Chambers in Mullumbimby.

Multi facetted Suvira McDonald is an award-winning artist who may be found working in the local hinterland forest. His extensive portfolio of work comprises two main threads, Ceramics and Sculpture.
Highrise Moonrise is an exceptional mixed media piece in his collection and represents a whimsical tangent to his landscapes or the functional ceramics more typical of his output. The piece, awarded in this years’ local Byron Art Classic, is a quirky but meaningless reference to the architecture of our neighbours over the  border. His sculpture and ceramics have been acquired into many collections, private, public and corporate, in Australia and internationally.
See more: www.suviramcdonald.com

Pictures say so much – Have you seen the latest New Ceramics Magazine. The Europoean Ceramics Mag is a full of interesting ceramics info from around the world. Look at the Feature on the 28th Gold Coast International Art Award 2012 – Great article written by Michaela Kloeckner

Thought I’d also share the Australian Ceramics Association latest competition “For the photographers amongst us … or for a photographer you may know.

Announcing the HANDLE YOUR CERAMICS Photographic Competition

Take a photo of the HANDLE on your latest cup or one of your work being HANDLED … it’s open to your interpretation.

Please share this with your friends and colleagues.

The Prize: publication of your image (full page) in Issue 52/2 of The Journal of Australian Ceramics (JAC) AND books to the value of $200 from our online shop OR 2 years membership of The Australian Ceramics Association. The choice will be yours.

Conditions of Entry: One image per photographer. A selection of the best images will be featured in Issue 52/2 of The Journal of Australian Ceramics (JAC) to be published on 17 July 2013. Image format: 300 dpi jpg file, minimum size 1MB, maximum size 4MB. DO NOT email tiff files. Portrait and landscape formats are acceptable, although portrait images (24.5cm X 17cm suit JAC’s format the best). All photos must be accompanied by the following information: photographers name, potters name, location and date of image. Photos must have been taken in 2013. There should be no digital manipulation of the image. By entering the competition, you give The Australian Ceramics Association license to publish the photograph in The JAC (paper + print) and on our website, www.australianceramics.com. Deadline for images: Monday 13 May 2013 Images can be emailed to: mail@australianceramics.com with the subject heading HANDLE YOUR CERAMICS, or mailed on a disc to HANDLE YOUR CERAMICS, PO Box 274 Waverley NSW 2024

And speaking of great pics – check out this weeks pics on the blogs from Mud Colony 

Happy clay days

Debby

“Duya” by David Shaw is at the art CUBE this month.  Check it out at Byron Shire Council foyer in Mullumbimby.

“My work is mainly abstract, the product of my imagination, but inevitably influenced by my life and surroundings. Since moving to Byron Shire about seven years ago I have had much to inspire me within the shire, the sheer beauty of the place, the almost tropical ambience, living in an area once volcanic, with so many dramatic features.
Creating art is a lonely, self – indulgent, self – gratifying pursuit. After the creative process itself the greatest joy for an artist is to know that people may enjoy what is produced. If you like what you see here you may wish to visit my next exhibition commencing on 1st May at Ballina Community Gallery, Cherry Street, Ballina.
The exhibition is dedicated to the founder of an English language programme in rural Bali where I work annually as a volunteer; my proceeds will go to that cause.”

Hi Clay lovers.  My thoughts have strayed to what type of tools I like to use and I thought I would share one of my favourites – Yea Olde Toothpick. Yep cheap as chips (used to be) it gets into places other tools never go.  It makes marks, cleans up after itself is small and portable.  So remember to look to see what tools you can use for clay that were designed for other uses.

The rain has put a dampener on me for a couple of weeks but its a good time to visit Megan Puls and Katy Mitchell’s exhibitions at http://www.goldcoastpotters.com/index.html

And speaking of exhibition type things – Here is my entry for ABAD – Don’t forget to enter  and send your postcard/s off – details here http://abadaustralia.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/artwork-42-deborah-gower.html

Forget-Me- kNot
Shirley Ester Reading 16 April 1939 – 4 November 1986
Hankie in Porcelain Slip 2010 by Deborah Gower

Silently, one by one, in the infinite meadows of Heaven,
Blossom the lovely stars, the forget-me-nots of the angels.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Whenever it was vital that I remembered something when I was a child my mother would always tie a knot in my hanky as a gentle reminder. This is a tribute to my loving mother. A true angel – never to be forgotten. Her gentle touch of kindness caresses me each time I press a hanky to my cheek or wipe a tear from my eye. Every spring I celebrate as forget-me-not’s bloom and I see the blue of my mother’s eyes again.

And the Clifton Art Awards are on again – Check out the entries and enter http://www.cliftonsartprize.com/2013/entries/

Oh Frack – Who left the gate open? Deborah Gower 2013

Concern about the impact of fracking on our drinking water, air, climate and communities is firing up Northern Rivers artists. The Lock the Gate Campaign is highlighting the debate and this artwork is one way to initiate discussion on the impact of Fracking and extracting Coal Seam Gas.

and after you have sent your entries off – Come with me and find out what the other Mud Colonists are up to http://mudcolony.blogspot.com.au/

Have fun and Happy clay days

Debby

This week has been interesting.  I had some old dried up commercial glazes in amongst an ebay purchase a few years back and thought I would see what I could do with them.  I added water to the dried glazes and sieved and sieved and sieved.

Gold crackle didnt crackle but was a stunner – needs to be on thick though. Richardson Blue came out purple and very dry I think it needs to go to 1090 – dont think it melted properly. Blue Jade in front I watered down too much – it was the first one I tried. In the middle is a silver rim and although you cant see it really in the photo the sides were silver and they came out great. So yes if you are careful and don’t add to much water, apply properly and play with the temperature old glazes that have dried up can be resurrected.

I also finished a poppy creation and it will be flying off to its new home in London very shortly.

I spent a glorious morning with some great people  Thursday Morning. A big Thank You to Jacqueline King , the talented Northern Rivers Glass Artist, who hosted a wonderful morning for the One Billion Rising – Stop Violence Against Women – event. A Bouquet and Banksia Vase just for Jacqueline as a symbol that Banksia’s like human beings not only survive but can grow in difficult climates.

A quick reminder to extend your hand (mould) of friendship to Wellington Potters Supplies New Zealand who are building a Potters Wall of Fame.

and now after an interesting week I think I will sit down with a coffee and SAO biccy and see what everyone else is doing over at Mud Colony

Happy clay days eveyrone

Debby xxx