A sneak peek at some work in progress in the studio…

by | Jun 11, 2009 | Uncategorized

I don’t normally post pics of my work in progress, not due to a need for secrecy, but rather because I figure that my process is fairly straightforward and not all that interesting until (hopefully) the work is done. But well as with any rule there are always some exceptions so today here’s a vague glimpse into what i’ve been making lately. These are all little parts of much larger sculptures, but you’ll have to wait to see those…The new body of work is dealing with similar themes to previous works, but with more of a focus on innocence, death, love, expectations and childhood.




White Heat exhibition

by | Jun 11, 2009 | Uncategorized


Image: Pru Morrison

Exhibition runs from the 12.06.2009 – 19.07.2009 @ Manly Art Gallery & Museum
Official Opening: 13 June 2009, Special Event: Sunday, 19 July in conjunction with the Australian Ceramics Triennale.
From the Triennial website:

WHITE HEAT
[ n. an extreme heat that stretches the limits of the safety and familiarity]

Transformative practices that move beyond the object of utility, often take risks that propel the maker and viewer into unfamiliar territory. The exhibition titled White Heat offers a space for discourses of social, political and cultural concern. The articulation of issues that may be personal or affect others has a strong presence in recent ceramic history and is often manifest with an understanding of clay, its materiality and process. Exploring ideas, while refusing to jettison matter, encapsulates a challenge to the modernist separation of meaning, making and materiality. Boundary-crossing practices such as these are engaging, and extend into risky territory, embracing the slippage between the domains of art, craft and design while confronting the topical, the contentious and the unexpected. Your concerns may be the human condition, the environment, consumerism or a critique of ceramics practice. What risks do you take through your practice?
Dr Julie Bartholomew
Curator of White Heat
President of The Australian Ceramics Association


Image: Chris Headley
Participating Artists: Avi Amesbury, Penny Byrne, Lynda Draper, Kate Dunn, Bern Emmerichs, Fiona Fell, Honor Freeman, Madhulika Ghosh, Irene Grishin-Selzer, Chris Headley, Andrea Hylands, Virginia Jones, Dr Kathy Keys, Gudrun Klix, Laura McEwan and Liz Stops, Pru Morrison, Biljana Novakovic, Mel Robson, Avital Sheffer, Penny Smith, David Tucker, Kenji Uranishi, Gerry Wedd, Rachel Williams and Meng-shu You

Some Australia news

by | Jun 10, 2009 | Uncategorized

Soooo behind on everything lately, an email inbox that’s fuller than ever, work piling up as the little kiln fires steady day after day. So I missed posting this one on time, sorry to the artists, but there’s still time to check out the show if you’re in Australia.

artroom 5
5 Kent Street Henley Beach, SA

Artists: Chris De Rosa, Lesa Farrant, Prue Gramp and Maria Parmenter

On a different note, I have a bit of news about the Australian Ceramics Triennial this July. Oh I can barely write this I’m so sad…Well my husband and I were scheduled to present a paper at the conference and sadly due to our travel grant application falling through we can’t afford to go anymore. Sigh…months of preparation and anticipation down the tubes. Such is the life of an artist I guess. Anyway we’ll sort out what to do with the paper since it’s already written, needs a bit of expansion if it’ll stand alone without the multi media presentation we were planning to give…anyway, this sadly means that I won’t be visiting so many of my cherished friends or meeting so many new ones that I’ve only every spoken to online. But Australia will always be near and dear to my heart so I’m already working on other ways of getting back sometime soon…

In the meantime if you haven’t yet you should check out the Triennial’s website for what looks to be an amazing conference. So many great exhibitions and speakers. If you can go please do…and then tell me all about it so I can live vicariously! Also check out Shannon Garson’s blog for the triennial, it’s full of artist/speaker profiles and gorgeous images of works to be exhibited during the conference.

Here’s some work by Penny Byrne one of the main reasons I wanted to go to the conference.


Okay must go and make myself feel better with a cup of tea and a timtam…

Liz Emtage Ceramics

by | Jun 10, 2009 | Uncategorized

Maybe it’s the fact that lately I seem to find myself spending alot of time in a dimly lit room reading to put my little guy to bed, but I find myself really draw to these ceramic lamps by UK artist Liz Emtage.

I’m loving some of the textures she comes up with. But you’re going to have to go and check out her website yourself to figure out what she uses to create this one!


Liz works in a studio complex in London called Cockpit arts alongside about 80 other crafts people. Wow, it must be such an amazing space to work – makes me feel pretty lonely in my studio garage… Check out their website or stop by during an open studio;
June 12 – 14th
Friday 6-9pm
Sat & Sun 11am – 6pm
There’s some pretty gorgeous ceramics being made at Cockpit, oh and glass and jewelery and textiles and the like.