deborahgowerceramics

Mackay Council - exchange with Japan

This week I went for a fews days break to Mackay. Artspace is the Mackay Regional Art Gallery and the volunteer that was there on Australia Day was fantastic. She showed us around, gave us some background on the pieces and the art scene in Mackay and made our visit special. Volunteers can sometimes make or break an exhibition –
SO a huge thank you to all the volunteers in the art sector.

Then we went to the Council to get a bus timetable and stumbled across these wonderful porcelain items that came from a cultural exchange with Japan. You just never know when ceramics will give life to wonderful international exchanges of culture and understanding. Next time you are in your local council office look out for some art work you may not have seen before.

http://mudcolony.blogspot.com/

I know Adriana has some exciting news, Clare is going all revolutionary with a new project, Carolyn is somewhat whimsical and Anna is blessed by the generosity of other Potters. Cant wait for some more news
Happy clay days everyone
Debby

Today I have been doing my calendar this week and checking out some of the exhibitions/comps I might like to enter this year. I thought I would share some of my humble and fledgling experience on entering exhibitions:

Believe me I learnt all these the hard way (and a few more:):

Read the Entry Form and make sure you do everything they ask
Check the Rules/Regulations
Label your work and your packaging
If there is a theme stick to it
Try an unusual interpretation of the theme – gets you thinking
Make the deadline
Look at previous exhibitions and past winners
Just enter – you never know who will enjoy your work

If you have any thoughts that you want to share please post them

Happy Clay Days
Debby

http://www.art-prizes.com.au/

I came across this Art Prize site the other day as I was surfing the net – confined to air con in the heat wave that was last week.

And it got me thinking about why I enter exhibitions and competitions. So are some of my thoughts- please let me know your thoughts and why you enter –

# It gives me experience in making items to a deadline and maybe a theme
# Challenges me to do something different
# Makes you feel like I am part of something bigger – contributing to a whole ceramic/artist community
# Gives me an avenue to sell my work
# Creates an opportunity to meet other artists and ceramicists
# Gives me an idea of where my work is placed in the arts community

What are your thoughts on exhibitions/competitions – Please send me your thoughts = post a comment

Happy Clay Days
hugs Debby

PS: Next week I will share some of my learnings about entering exhibitions.

Hi everyone – wishing you all a wonderful 2012.

My year has started beautifully. I am honoured that Tammy Jo Potter has tgagged my name (along with lots of others)on her 365th cup for 2011. She really is fantastic – Check out her blog at http://www.hobbypotter.com/​365claycups_tammybio.html

I also have 2 pieces exhibtied at Byron Arts Classic – Byron Bay NSW. Congratulations to all the winners – It is a fantastic exhibition but ends today. http://www.byronartsclassic.com.au/arts_classic/index.html

Also check this out: It might be just right for you

ARTIST WANTS A LIFE – National Call Out | National Association for the Visual Arts Ltd
http://www.visualarts.net.au
National Association for the Visual Arts Ltd – Would you like to be part of ARTIST WANTS A LIFE, a unique arts lab that will take place in Central Australia in April 2012. ARTIST WANTS A LIFE, a lab run by and for artists, is open to practicing contemporary artists in any form or discipline

and whatever 2012 brings you – I hope it a creativley successful one

Happy clay days

Debby

Hoping you all had a very Merry Christmas and wishing you every inspiration for the coming 2012.  I just discovered an interesting article on Meredith Host’s cheerful Dot Dot Dash dinnerware.

So of course I just had to share – Meredith has found inspiration from “a ubiquitous source: toilet paper (and paper towels, too, for you squeamish folks). Host has been collecting these “overlooked patterns,” as she calls them, for more than a decade; she estimates her cache contains about 75 motifs.”

So if you are looking for some inspiration in 2012 – then looking may be no further than a wisp of paper away.

Happy Happy 2012 everyone – Hope its a good one  Debby

Wan to learn something new – have a surf around these sites

Raw Materials Dictionary / Ceramics Glaze making, Clay Ingredients www.sheffield-pottery.com

For the artist in you – try some of the tutorials at www.emptyeasel.com

and for the photographer in  you

http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials.htm

happy clay days everyone

Debby

While my hands haven’t been covered in mud this week – I have been accepted into Uni to learn some more about clay, ceramics and art.

Had a beautiful lunch with fellow Revolutionary Ceramicos members Cass and Clare and was very lucky to receive one of Cass’s puppies as a Christmas gift. Woot woot

Merry Christmas from Bluey -

My Christmas tree is up and with carols resounding in the background, lights tinkling and a tipple of the cheery stuff I had the pleasure of remembering past trips, friends and family as I put the Christmas ornaments around the tree.

This years additions were six beautiful crosses from Hillgrove House in Ireland http://homepage.eircom.net/~hillgroveporcelain/index.html – beautiful porcelain trinkets and a wonderful big red heart from Lyn Gold Coast Potters www.goldcoastpotters.com and a lovely white heart rememberance of the people of Japan that went through the earthquake earlier this year. I was in Japan when my father died and we had to return to Australia – a day later the earthquake hit Japan and my heart goes out to the poeple who are still coping with the after effects.

On a ceramic note – If you are lucky enough to be able to get to Manly -Check out

The Narrative Knot: stories in ceramics Curator and artists talk, 4 December 2011 Exhibition open 2 December 2011 – 22 January 2012 by: The Australian Ceramics Association

And dont forget to check out  – ‘Mud Colony’ – a weekly blog for Clayworkers to show us what their up to in the studio

http://mudcolony.blogspot.com/

Happy Clay days everyone

Debby

I just love Belleek Porcelain.  There are some great new articles this month. Check out their website www.irishbelleek.com

A huge thank you to the Mayor of Lismore Jenny Dowell for opening our “Tres” exhibition at SCU Next Gallery Lismore.  It was a fantastic night and special thanks and hugs to Cassandra Purdon and Clare Urquhart – fellow members of Revolutionary Ceramicos.  It is a friendship which began three years ago at TAFE Lismore and it is an honour to be exhibiting with them.

Viva La Ceramic Revolution!!!!!