Volume 21 Issue: August 2019
Gauteng Region
Affiliate South African National Association for the Visual Arts (SANAVA)
July 2019 Potter of the Month, Sharon Erichson
LETTER FROM OUR CHAIR Dear members and fellow potters
I
am delighted to let you know that John Shirley was unanimously elected as our national chair at our recent AGM. We have again secured the superb venue at GIBS in Illovo for our National Biennale to be held during the month of September 2020. The exhibition will be opened on the 6th September by our internationally acclaimed awards judge to be announced soon. Our recent regional exhibition which was also held at GIBS was a huge success and the sales and number of visitors surpassed our wildest expectations. Our next potters market is to be held at the fabulous Association of Arts in Pretoria on the 14th of September. This Spring market is free to all studios sharing a table and promises to be a great time to catch up with fellow potters , share some laughs and maybe meet new clay creatives. The very popular clay festival is being planned for the 26th and 27th October at the Field and Study Center in Parkmore. We have invited the wonderful Louise Gelderblom and the ever popular Lisa Firer both from Cape Town to present workshops and many exciting local potters will present their new workshops and demonstrations. Booking isessential so watch your emails for our brochure to be published very soon. I wish you all an abundance of creativity.
Gaby Opinions expressed are those of the contributors and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Ceramics SA.
OUR NEW WEBSITE Dear Members,
A
s you may know we are rebuilding the Ceramics Southern Africa National website.
It will go live during September and you will be sent the date as soon as we have it. Due to the rebuild much of the data cannot be transferred from the old site to the new. Amongst the items that need to be re-entered are the members profiles and the teaching studios. These will now be completed by you, our members, and are done quite simply by filling in forms and submitting images. For the artist’s profile you will need to fill in the form as well as submit one portrait of yourself and 4 images of your work. Please submit the images in a square format to get the best results. The link for the artist’s profile is http://dev.sprintdesign.co.za/ceramicssa/index.php?option=com_rsform&vi ew=rsform&formId=3&tmpl=component And the link for teaching studios is http://dev.sprintdesign.co.za/ceramicssa/index.php?option=com_rsform&vi ew=rsform&formId=4&tmpl=component Please note that any profiles submitted before we go live are free of charge. Here is a great opportunity to show your work on the website in a beautiful new format as well as your teaching studio if you have one. Your contribution will assist in making this a complete representation of all the members of Ceramics Southern Africa. Please contact me if you have any problems. Regards, John Shirley CSA Web
Clay Festival 2019
Gauteng Region
Ideas • tips • new skills • new connections & friends Come and join the fun
Daniel Brand Nici Brockwell Eylene Clifford Lisa Firer Louise Gelderblom Sandra Goercke Rhoda & Madeleine Henning Dale Lambert Michelle Legg Louretta Marais Alex Shabalala John Shirley Robert Wagener SATURDAY 26th AND SUNDAY 27th OCT 2019 Sandton Field & Study Centre Louise Street, Parkmore, Sandton Contact Gill Clark Tel: 074 782 2640 or email: ceramicssa@icon.co.za
CLAY FESTIVAL 2019 - WORKSHOPS 26 October
Saturday Morning 9:30 am – 12:30 pm
WORKSHOP 3 WORKSHOP 4
Ways of decorating/Surface treatment workshop Engraving and etching with oxides Illustrating the fired surface Coiling and making methods
WORKSHOP 5
How to price your work
WORKSHOP 1 WORKSHOP 2
Louise Gelderblom Rhoda & Madeleine Henning Nici Brockwell Robert Wagener
Saturday Lunchtime Talk 1 – 1:30 pm FREE TO MEMBERS Saturday Afternoon 2:00 – 5:00 pm WORKSHOP 6 WORKSHOP 7 WORKSHOP 8 WORKSHOP 9
27 October
WORKSHOP 10 WORKSHOP 11 WORKSHOP 12 WORKSHOP 13
Ways of decorating/Surface treatment workshop Thrown to perfection Reflections:Creating an authentic expression in your work ‘Finding your Voice’
Kim Sacks Louise Gelderblom Dale Lambert Nici Brockwell John Shirley
Sunday Morning 9:30am – 12:30 pm From Cloth to Clay: behind the scenes of a corporate commission Handbuilding animals in clay Exploring slip treatment “Dorp Huisies”
Lisa Firer Alex Shabalala Sandra Goercke Louretta Marais
Sunday Lunchtime Talk 1:00 – 1:30 pm FREE TO MEMBERS WORKSHOP 14
DIY Product Photography Tips Eylene Clifford and Tricks
Sunday Afternoon 2:00 – 5:00 pm WORKSHOP 15 WORKSHOP 16 WORKSHOP 17 WORKSHOP 18
From Cloth to Clay: behind the scenes of a corporate commission Painting your hand built flora and fauna “Sketches in Clay” Nerikomi
Lisa Firer Alex Shabalala Michelle Legg Daniel Brand
HELLO! Booking reference number
STUDIO SPOTLIGHT
BY Monica van den Berg Gauteng CSA Committee Member
HELEEN DE KLERK AND THE RAW EARTH STUDIO
W
hat is the real meaning of raw earth? Earth is the most ancient of building materials. The history of earthen architecture links to the history of humanity. Earth as a building material is a compound of clay and natural aggregates, simply left to air-dry. Local clay of earth mixed with water has led to many settlements of which there are numerous in Africa and all over the world. In the community of Fairland in Johannesburg is the Raw Earth Studio of Heleen de Klerk. Here Heleen and her students use clay to create and build beautiful art pieces. Heleen is a qualified teacher with art as her speciality subject. After teaching for 12 years, her search for creativity lead her on different paths. Her contact with the artist Charles Gotthard made her realise that clay has many different qualities to work with. She trained at many studios such as Gail de Klerk, Chris Patton, Kim Sacks as well as Suzette Munnik. It was under the guidance of Suzette on a Ceramic Tour to England and the town Bath where they visited the Gothic Cathedral that she was
even more inspired. This inspiration lead to her creating a wall hanging that was based on her experience of this cathedral. In 1988 she started the Raw Earth Studio by teaching ceramics to children and later only concentrated on adults. At the studio with 35 adult students she concentrates on hand work as well as wheel work. As an artist Heleen prefers handwork as this gives her the opportunity to express her creativity. At the studio her students focus on different decorating methods. She has a strong feeling that this is where you either succeed or fail with your piece and that is why she teaches her students to think about the decorating process, even when they start building their pieces. They like to experiment with different glazing methods like overlapping and splashing. They also like to make use of a lot of coloured slips and underglazes, which are always a winner according to Heleen. On the 23rd of July 2019 Gaby Snyman, our Chairlady of Gauteng Ceramics, and I visited the Raw Earth Studio. Here we found Heleen and her students busy creating their beautiful art work. In this neat and relaxed studio she teaches morning classes on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9h00 – 12h00 and on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 18h00 to 21h00. You can also follow Heleen on her Facebook page Raw Earth Studio. ∆
Jean Beckley Report and photos by Cornelia Wessels
J
ean Beckley was the potter of the month for August 2019. Her exhibition was hosted at the Association of Arts in Pretoria. Jean began tuition in ceramics with the late Julia Fraser – who was a good friend. Jean joined Digby Hoets studio in 1985/1986 and has been there ever since. She works mainly on the wheel, throwing her classically inspired work in porcelain and stoneware. After a visit to Australia she also used a dotted painting technique inspired by the local aboriginal artwork. Jean has exhibited on regional and national exhibitions, achieving
highly commended awards on many. Her work has been aquired by both the Corobrick collection and the William Humphrey Gallery. Her words ”I loved ceramics from the word go! Being in the dance world most of my life I found the creative aspect right up my street, although at times working with my body is easier that working with clay!” ∆
PRETORIA POTTER’S MARKET SPRING EDITION!
O
n Saturday 14 September Ceramics Southern Africa in Gauteng in collaboration with the Association of Arts Gallery in Pretoria is hosting the Pretoria Potter’s Market – Spring Edition! The market starts at 9am and finishes at 3pm! Teaching Studios are encouraged to please book a free table to exhibit students work.
We have seriously decreased the price per table to R150. We want it to be as inclusive as possible and give all Gauteng potters the opportunity to join us. If you don’t want to exhibit your work please join us for a fun day out to experience all the local talent hiding in our midst. Celebrating Woman’s Month and Spring Tile and Bowl Competition.
If you know of any teaching studios in Gauteng that may be interested please forward this email to them and invite them to participate.
Woman & Spring TILE&BOWL C O M P E T I T I O N
Everyone in Gauteng is invited to enter the Tile and Bowl competition, the theme is WOMAN and SPRING. Enter a tile max 20cm x 20cm and/or soup or pasta bowl. Judging will take place on the day by the Association of Arts Gallery and the best tiles and bowls will be exhibited at the gallery the week following the market. Prizes to be announced.
Book your table by Friday 6 September with Gillian Clarke Tel: 074 782 2640 • 066 320 4106 • ceramicssa@icon.co.za More Info contact Eylene Clifford at eylene@cerameek.co.za or Corlie Schoeman at corlie.cleilap@gmail.com
POTTER OF THE
MONTH
Catherine Kabwe For the Month of October
Sunday • October 6th 10.30 for 11am
G
abane Pottery from where the Zambian Catherine Kabwe works is situated near the picturesque rocky cliffs of this village in Botswana. Her partner Martin Kabwe who has 36 years of experience introduced Catherine to pottery. She is inspired by the magic of the unique landscape. Her work is engraved in traditional designs adapted from the mud huts and basket ware typical of Botswana. We look forward to showcasing her work at the gallery in October. ∆
G I V I N G E X H I B I T I O N
173 Mackie Street, Nieuw Muckleneuk, Pretoria 0181 Tuesday to Friday: 9:00am to 18:00pm; Saturday: 9:00am to 13:00pm; Sunday, Monday & Public Holidays: Closed First Sunday of the month (Feb to Nov): 10:00am to 13:00am
Invitation to members to take part. Selections 22nd October 2019 Opening 24th November 2019
Joburg Movie Nights
Usually tuesdays Join us at The Bryanston Pottery Studio for a social and movie get-together Bring a plate of eats to share Time: 5:30pm for 6pm
Next events will be broadcast closer to the time in September and November
DIARY 2019 Association of Arts, Pretoria. September 1st Nic Sithole & Peter Sibanda Nov 24th Dec 14th GIVING EXHIBITION POTTER OF THE MONTH October 6th Catherine Kwabe November 3rd Sandy Godwin December 1st Nici Brockwell
POTTERS MARKETS: Pretoria Saturday 14th September Assoc. of Arts Joburg Saturday November Sandton Field & Study Center CLAY FESTIVAL 26-27 October at Sandton Field and Study Centre
In Memoriam
O
n behalf of the gauteng ceramic community, we would like to extend our heartfelt condolences to Jerice and her family on the loss of her dear husband Hank. Hank was a great support to Jerice and was always by her side at all our exhibition openings and their love and respect for each other was heartwarmingly obvious. ∆
Gauteng Management Team Name Gaby Snyman John Shirley
Duties Regional Chair Vice Chair/ Exhibitions Janet Scott Treasurer Peter Jaff Corobrik Trustee Gillian Clark Secretary Monica vd Berg Selector/ Exhibitions Cornelia Wessels POTM Eylene Clifford PTA Committee/ Social Media/ Potters Market Corlie Schoeman PTA Committee/ Potters Markets Lal Hunter Logistics, Exhibitions and Outreach Programme Daniel Brand PTA Committee/ Newsletter Liaison Claire Waters DTP/General Assistant
Tel. No. 011 884 786
Mobile e-mail 083 307 5082 gsnyman01@gmail.com 083 407 5968 johnshir@gmail.com
083 254 7815 011 702 4600 082 923 7098 011 706 7289 074 782 2640 011 782 4572 083 680 9963
janet.scott@scopserv.co.za jaffam@icon.co.za ceramicssa@icon.co.za monica@bergkriek.co.za
082 821 5419 082 821 5419 corneliaw100@gmail.com 083 268 2926 083 268 2926 eyleneclifford@gmail.com
083 559 0814 083 559 0814 corli.cleilap@gmail.com 084 645 2222 084 645 2222 Lalage.hunter@gmail.com
083 413 6613 083 413 6613 radahgo@icloud.com 082 535 6680 claire@3whitedogs.co.za