CHRIS WEAVER

Members of CAAWA are extremely lucky to have New Zealand potter Chris Weaver teaching us this weekend.  I had seen his work at the Rex Irwin Gallery in Sydney http://www.rexirwin.com/artists/exhibitions/2009/Tablewares/index.htm during the Ceramics Trienniale last year and never forgotten it.  I would put Chris and my superclayhero Takeshi Yasuda http://takeshiyasuda.com/ in the same league, ie. right at the top of the ladder.

Chris's home is on Kaniere, east of Hokitika on the west coast of the South Island of New Zealand.  I hope I got that right, I haven't had the pleasure of visiting NZ yet, but his photos make it look so good for the soul. After two days of talking about how and where he works, half the attendees decided we need to arrange a pottery tour of NZ and soon.

How to begin to even describe the range of techniques he employs, he is a master of the wire cut, using wiggle wire to remarkable effect far beyond what most people stop at, he makes all his own wooden elements, handles, laminated and steam bent wood, he encloses forms, then manipulates them into organic gems, his squared vessels have you pondering whether they are thrown or slabbed ... you must have a good look.

Pop over to  http://www.chrisweaver.co.nz/  the website is beautiful, the photography is just lovely and you will luxuriate and get lost in his work, trying to figure out how he achieved such results, he tells me though, that his website is a little out of date.   Apart from his innovative approach to clay, Chris is well known for his use of wooden handles and accents in his work, elements that he designs and forms himself from driftwood.

When I went over to say g'day to Chris I almost stopped midsentence having spotted all his tools laid out on a table beside the wheel he was about to demo on.  I noticed almost everyone reacted in a similar way, we all gasped and picked up the implements enjoying their fine surfaces and the almost ergonomic way they fit the hand or the task they were made for.  I have a woodworking friend I just can't wait to show this stuff to, maybe we could collaborate sometime.

I love the thoroughness of his site though, he has several images of his works from over the years groups according to the style he was working with at the time - his Salt Fumed Series, Iron Series (which stemmed from the form of his grandmother's old iron), his wire cut series, the one he calls pillows and so much more ... I realised I had downloaded images of his work for years as 'inspirational' images for my studio and here he is showing us how he gets such results.

This more than makes up for the lousy Mother's Day I had recently.

MUSIC TO MY EYES!

A couple of months ago I was contacted by Anita Staaden who was experimenting with laser decals on glass, or rather, between sheets of glass, and fired in a kiln.  As it turned out, we knew some people in common in Perth plus she gave me some great insights on rabbit keeping, as she is also a vet.  Last week Anita got back in touch to keep me posted on how her glass work came out, and WOW, what a complex, well planned, unique work seen at at artstrings.com.au   Of this piece the gallery says,

Baroquen Strings     by Anita Staaden

What better medium than glass to represent the crystal purity of a violin note!    “Baroquen Strings” represents the rise to popularity and development of the violin during the baroque period.  The arches and curtains in rich velvet colours are symbolic of the architecture and opulence of the time, and the opera houses, chateaux and palaces for which  baroque music was commissioned .  Baroque style was characterized by rich ornamentation. This was evident in music, but also in architecture, furnishings and clothing, hence the  elaborate window mouldings, lace, brocade and  jewels.    “Baroquen Strings” features handwritten manuscripts by  Vivaldi, Corelli and Albinoni, and names  some famous baroque composers who wrote works for the violin.

Ceramics in Vogue, thanks to Vogue!

This is the third time I have found the work of someone I knew within the pages of Vogue Living (Australia) while flicking idly through it in my local newsagents, figuring out whether I needed another indulgence in my life. Vogue Living often includes some inspiring reviews or articles on design and invariably at least one article on a 'maker'. The publication ought to be commended for this inclusive approach, as they are truly bringing the artist into the homes of those who may wish to collect our work.

At a glance my friend Jodi Dawson is on page 54, with her handpainted plates, Potter Rynne Tanton who is at Crickhallow Pottery in Tasmania (page 77) - they call him a Ceramics Wizard - what a lovely title! He is shown making cracked clay surfaces on his thrown ware - they say he uses a gas torch but I think he is also using sodium silicate on the surface and stretching from within, as I learnt from Janet de Boos at ANU Distance School in Ceramics not long ago.  More from the man here http://resources.education.tas.gov.au/item/edres/d81fa561-6c23-91df-052d-592808eb3861/1/tanton_final.zip/rynnetanton.htm  Someday soon I will learn how to do short links - emails welcome!

AAAAAND ..... Perth W.A. Midland Atelier is given attention on page 103. I nearly went blind though trying to find those page numbers for you, so check it out.

Blogger is busy and won't allow me to upload an image, but I will later.

ALANA MC VEIGH

I am heading out again this Wednesday evening to catch Alana and Claire's exhibition at

EMERGE Art Space
676A Beaufort Street
Mount Lawley
Perth

21st April - 7th May

Alana used to be a member of Clay Feet and I caught up with her at SODA in Cottesloe at the weekend at Laura McKibbon's lovely exhibition. I succumbed to the collecting bug there too and bought a small piece. There were some very fresh and innovative pieces there from collaborating with some of the SODA artists, like Fleur Schell and I liked seeing Laura's domestic ware in the flesh and not via her website for once.

It is always a feast or a famine with exhibitions, often several falling on the same night. Alana throws with Southern Ice Porcelain, water etching delicate patterns on the surface, a tricky technique but very rewarding. She has recently been in China on a museum residency. Claire's paintings are exciting and I see she won the Churchie Emerging Artists Award 2009 (painting category) so I am keen to see what she has been producing since then.

Melanie Sharpham, Eucalpt Homewares

A free programme, FeedDemon collates my favourite blogs alerting me to any updates, you should try it! That's how I know I Melanie Sharpham, friend and potter has been intensely busy with her colourful slipcast homewares and blogging about it. Blogging sounds like bragging and in a sense IT IS, but in the nicest way! Why not tell the world of your achievements and plans. Mel's chatty blog is littered with gorgeous images of her work. I love those dusty blues she uses when she tints her porcelain slip with coloured ceramic 'stains' I use some of her bowls at home every day. Way to go Mel! That's what I say.

http://www.eucalypthomewares.blogspot.com