After she experienced pottery markets designed to ensure the survival of indigenous ceramics against the threat of cheap imports in France, potter, Jane Annois set about creating a similar scheme here in Melbourne.
February now marks the annual Pottery Expo on the river bank in Warrandyte, a tradition started in 2000 by Annois. Potters from all over Victoria submit photos of work that they wish to sell at Expo. Unfortunately not all are selected.
"It is important to establish a certain standard of quality - Pottery Expo is not a place for a quick bargain; rather quality, individual work at fair prices," Annois explains, "the setting for the event and ambience created are also very important." Nestled in a secluded spot on the banks of the Yarra, all types of ceramics are represented: from the colourfully decorated, to the funky and fun, from fine porcelain to sculpture and garden art.
Annois' experiences in France inspire her own terre vernissee tableware. "I've tried to bring the honey, olive greens and blues of Provence to Australian tables," she explains. Her raku work is decorated with terra sigillata for warmth and colour, pieces looking like treasured antiques as soon as they emerge from the smoking kiln.
Faithful supporter from Provence in southern France, Jean Marc Plantier, has brought his distinctive works
to the expo every year since it's inception. Tea drinkers will enjoy his stout yellow terracotta teapots with decorated panels and handles modelled to resemble pieces of wood. Plantier's exciting sculptural pieces with decorated panels are so different as to give a momentary feel of being in Europe. His work is available at the Bridge Gallery, Warrandyte.
Arnaud Barraud's perfect, sensual shapes insist on being handled and used often. Asked how he is able to hand-make such perfect and well proportioned work, he responds, "I set myself a task and keep throwing until I can make that shape perfectly, over and over again. "
A local highlight of the show is the colourful, masterfully decorated works by Mary Lou and Chris Pittard who have made ceramics their life's work. Aside from their cheerfully decorated pasta bowls, platters and strawberry colanders, their piece d'resistance this year was a tagine-shaped cheese platter with carved edges outlining painted fruit and leaves, edged with 12ct gold.
The most wonderful thing about pottery is that it's a form of art you can actually use every day: to cook in, serve on, drink from, or just display for its sheer beauty. Can you imagine making a soup and serving it with one of Jena Bedson's funky "goddess" ladles, featuring beautifully decorated breasts, red, sensuous lips and curly hairstyles, or drinking tea from her "goddess" teapots with matching cups?
Several participants were inspired by the sea. Lene Khul Jakobsen's sea urchin inspired bowls and teapots received plenty of attention. Her work is mainly functional, wheel-thrown in fine white stoneware and enhanced by various glaze and decorating techniques. Initially from Denmark, where she started in ceramics in 1974, she has worked in Australia since 1985, and has her own studio in Heidelberg. The nautical theme continued in Liz Low's wash of glaze over softly thrown, altered porcelain which evoked ripples and waves. Vipoo Srivilasa's tiny, exotic sea-creature teapots were quirky, vibrant and fun.
Perhaps the most spectacular ocean-themed pieces were created in Southern Ice, one of the world's best porcelains developed in Australia by Les Blakeborough. They were found at Glenn England's stand. "I've always been inspired by creatures and colours of the sea, although I'm allergic to crustaceans," she laughs. The scale and technical refinement of her work invariably tells a story. "These are from my series: Secrets of the Sea; I create vessels based on microscopic forms, then apply poetic licence."
England's finely incised decorative pieces are second to none. The most apt description I've heard is that she practices a ceramic form of Haiku.
"I have always found the making of forms totally absorbing, whether it is on the wheel or the more gentle process of handbuilding," says Jill Bygott, one of the principals of the Stonehouse Gallery in Warrandyte. Her gardenware and Sue McCormick's chicken and fish totems feature regularly in the Bolin Bolin Gallery at Bulleen Art and Garden.
Ruth Petersen's expressive frogs also proved popular, perhaps too popular - frogs on mugs, kissing your cheek as you drink from them, on plates, platters and clocks. "They won't let me quit making frogs," she laments with a smile.
Asked about her popular, one-off decorative pieces in ground, sandblasted and pierced white and black bone china, Kerry Lightbody replied "I don't like to glaze, piercing can be extremely relaxing or brain damaging, depending on my mood."
John Stroomer is "the king of crystalline glazes" with large pots in spectacular colours. "I'm working on developing crystals for the red glazes now. I'm back to sleeping by the kiln again," he claims and estimates that it will take about three years to develop them. Although most potters represented at Expo this year have been perfecting their craft for many years, the big surprise of the day was Margaret Harman. She finished the Diploma of Ceramics at Gippsland TAFE only last year but her work displayed the sophistication and elegance of a master. Her decorative plates undergo up to five steps, from stoneware glazes to masking and cutting out designs, sandblasting, adding mother of pearl and then several coats of metallic lustres, to achieve her outstanding designs.
In keeping with her philosophy of increasing an appreciation and marketshare for pottery in Australia, Annois again invited TAFEs to set up student tables, while Expo supporter, Clayworks organised a number of demonstrations. Watching Andrew Cope throwing on the huge kick wheel, cutting and altering lumps of clay into beautiful shapes was inspiring - even attracting a five year old to try her hand. Sixteen year old wunderkind, Eve Close, also threw on the kick wheel and later demonstrated the making of her "Evesaurus" teapots. The rest of her work, including a display of the tiniest, perfectly functional porcelain tea pots and cups I've ever seen, was available from the Chisholm TAFE students' stand. Jane Annois' ongoing commitment to ceramics is expected to initiate Pottery Expos throughout Australia.
as published in ArtStreams Vol. 8, No. 2, May/June 2003
click on thumbnail image to enlarge.
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Jane Annois |
Jane Annois |
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Laurel Billington |
Jill Bygott |
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Chisholm TAFE students |
Glenn England |
Lene Jakobsen |
Vipoo Srivilasa |
Margaret Harman |
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Holmesglen TAFE students |
Kerrie Lightbody |
Julie Shaw |
Judy Roberts |
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Sue McCormick |
Ruth Petersen |
Barbara Swarbrick |
Jean Marc Plantier |
Chris & MaryLou Pittard |
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Rick & Judy Pierce |
Sue James |
Eve Close demonstrating |
Vipoo demonstrating |
Ephemeral Sculpture |