Volume 15 Issue: Nov 2015 Inside this issue Letter from the Editor • John’s column • Introducing... • Regional exhibition Report • Honourary Life Members • 2015 Calendar • New members • Gauteng Committee •
Madoda Fani Premier Prize Winner - Ndebele Award
Gauteng Region
Affiliate South African National Association for the Visual Arts (SANAVA)
Editorial
”M
ud plus genius”
is how a reviewer describes the ceramic scene in London in a recent art supplement in a British newspaper. From the very basic (mud) to the elevated levels (genius) of creative expression, we have seen it all during this year, starting with Hennie Meyer at the agm (he certainly used tons of mud and genius for his Ukusela project) and then the Clay Festival, which set us all off on our journey with clay.
There have been workshops, a potters market and exhibitions, both organised by CSA and by members and studios who have held private exhibitions. All this activity has emphasised the impact of ceramics on the art scene in Gauteng. Our final event this year will be the Christmas Exhibition at the Association of Arts gallery in Pretoria, opening on December 4. Whether you are taking part or not this would be a good opportunity for all the members to get together reminisce about the past and look forward to the future.
Next year Gauteng will host the 2016 National Exhibition, which, we hope will attract an out standing selection of the best ceramics South Africa has to offer. You will all want to be part of this. Many thanks must go to Colleen, Cynthia and the Management Team (new name for “committee”) for the tremendous work they put in to make 2015 such a productive, successful and enjoyable year. Best wishes to everyone for a peaceful and joyous holiday season.
Jerice.
Opinions expressed are those of the contributors and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Ceramics SA.
John’s Column
T
here has been such an international reawakening in the interest in ceramics lately that is really cause for excitement in the ceramic community. This has probably been spearheaded by ceramics being featured in a mainstream television programme on BBC2 in Britain, namely The Great British Pottery Throw Down. It is causing quite a stir and although not on our television screens it is viewable on You Tube at the moment. Made along the lines of The Great British Bake Off it and featuring Kate Malone as one of the judges it is definitely worth a watch. In a more serious vein, fresh on the shelves at all major booksellers is ‘The White Road, a pilgrimage of sorts’, the new work by Edmund de Waal, following the success of his previous work, The Hare with Amber Eyes. In the new book de Waal examines the sources of porcelain, the material he has worked with for decades and he refers to as ‘white gold’. An incredibly enriching read for anyone interested in porcelain, or just excellent writing. Not to be left out of this revival, a number of South African ceramists were recently represented by Southern Guild at Christies in London and some record prices were realised. How wonderful for ceramics to be riding the crest of the wave at this time. Long may it continue!
INTRODUCING . . .
Gina Forssman A YEAR OF PERSONAL CERAMIC FIRSTS
I
have been doing ceramics for a number of years now – always as a hobbyist and for the sheer enjoyment of it. However things became slightly more serious towards the beginning of this year when I was asked by John Shirley and Colleen Lemkuhl (who I take lessons with) if I would like to have an exhibition. My initial thought was they were crazy. My work was not good enough. How could I – mom, housewife and play-play potter have an exhibition? But it was their belief in me and the fact that if I didn’t take advantage of this opportunity, I would regret it for ever that I agreed. And so I stepped off the edge of the diving board and decided I had better swim. A date was set and I started to produce work. I worked at the Pottery Studio and in my studio at home (the garage actually). I became far more focused and knew each day what I needed to do. I found a passion that I hadn’t felt for a while. Make more bowls, paint more bowls, make more candlesticks – and on it went. I loved that I was constantly busy. I loved that my mind was continuously full of new ideas and designs for my work. I loved the support and banter from my fellow studio friends asking me how things were going. I realised a month before the due exhibition date that I didn’t have enough pieces to fill the gallery. So a new date was set and it was back to producing more work. As the date drew nearer, I became more and more nervous. Self-doubt started creeping in. Would people come? Would people like my work? Would people buy it? Is it too late to cancel? I have never been one for putting myself out there. I don’t like being in the spot light and here I was about to have a solo exhibition. But I did it. With the help of my studio teachers, family and friends – I swam. And looking back on the whole experience now, I realise that I have grown tremendously. I have a clear picture of the work I want to do now. My mind is full of ideas and I find that really exciting. My other significant first was having work chosen for the Regional exhibition that was held at the FADA Gallery recently. I had always heard about regionals and nationals and not really known what they were all about. A number of friends at the studio were entering and egged me on to entering too. What fun that ended up being. I was so excited to hear that I had been accepted. A real affirmation that I was on the right track. Its given me a new found confidence and now I cant wait to start working on something for the Nationals.
My mind is full of
ideas &I find
that really exciting
Sometimes it just takes a kick from someone who believes in you or sees your work with fresh eyes. I was lucky that it happened to me. To be taken out of your comfort zone is not easy, but once you are there you realize how great it actually is.
Gauteng Region
2015 G&W Mineral Resources Regional exhibition UJ FADA Gallery
O
ur Gauteng annual regional exhibition was held at the FADA Gallery at UJ in October. The opening on Sunday 11th October was very well attended.
We still have copies of the cd catalogue available @R50 each. Each piece on the exhibition was photographed by Eugene Hon and it’s a fabulous record of the exhibition. Please contact Cynthia on email cetamicssa@icon.co.za or Colleen on email colleen@potterystudio.co.za. Or 073 481 0889. Thanks to everyone who helped with selections, set up, the opening, and by doing gallery duty. Thanks too to Eugene Hon, Director of FADA Gallery, for arranging everything with the University and for doing the set up. A special thanks to our exhibition sponsor – G&W Mineral Resource, as well as all our award sponsors. Pieter van Heerden, Director of the Association of Arts, Pretoria and award judge, made the following comments in his announcement at the opening to the award winners; Premier Prize - Ndebele Award Madoda Fani for his body of work – Coiled, carved, burnished and smoke fired vessels. These vessels are of a level of skill and craftsmanship rarely attainable by ceramists. The pots have been coiled and decorated using various carving techniques. The vessels have then been burnished to achieve the most beautiful sheen. They were then smoke fired and have resulted in a perfect balance of clay, strong form and surface decoration. This is the work of someone who understands his material and respects the valuable contribution that the open fire brings to his work.
Report by Colleen Lehmkuhl Glazecor Award Eunice Botes for her body of work – Porcelain drawn, incised & sprigs applied. Eunice is an established ceramist whose work is always perfectly executed and technically faultless. Her fascination with the natural world around her is depicted in incredible detail on her surfaces using a very time consuming drawing, slip inlay and sprig application process. Look carefully at the group of square vessels – the design not only carries around each vessel, they also make a landscape when positioned next to each other from the front and the back of the group. That takes a lot of careful planning and exceptional drawing skill that is recognized here today. Melanie Robinson Award Gaby Snyman for her porcelain group of hand built porcelain blossom vessels. This award in memory of Melanie Robinson is awarded to the person making porcelain work of exceptional beauty that captures all the qualities desirable by many ceramists with porcelain, delicacy, translucency and sensitive use of the material. With her exquisite group of 5 porcelain blossoms, Gaby has managed to achieve this with outstanding results. Ultra Furn Award Lelage Hunter for her body of work – Terracotta hand built vessels. Very strong forms with undulating surfaces make this body of work stand out. One can imagine the potter’s hands sculpting and smoothing the wet clay into the interesting surfaces she has achieved. Glaze and clay are well integrated and make for very bold looking pots.
Lionheart Chemicals Award Lindy van Hasselt for her porcelain hand sculpted netsuke hares (pronounced netskays). These exquisite small porcelain carved netsukes are inspired by the Japanese netsukes. A netsuke is a small sculptural object which has gradually developed in Japan over a period of more than three hundred years. Netsuke (singular and plural) initially served both functional and aesthetic purposes.
Belmont Gift Voucher Pam Schroeder for her porcelain & scraffito decorated vessel. This vessel of various handmade components stood out as both strong in form and delicate with the additions of gold leaves. Careful consideration was given to combining 2 quite different decorating techniques and the contrast between them works well on this form.
PSMO Gift Voucher Dale Lambert for her body of work – 3 thrown ombre blue stoneware vessels. As always Dale’s work is of exceptionally high standard that belies the many years it has taken to achieve this level of skill when throwing such beautiful bowls. The surface treatment of ombre blues adds to the delicacy and beauty of the forms.
Van Tuyl New Signature Jean Grobler for his Urban Fabric piece (3 thrown vessels and wooden base) An interesting conceptual piece showing a maturity not normally seen in someone fairly new to the ceramic community. An Architect by profession, Jean has integrated his passion for both his creative outlets in this piece by constructing the base for the thrown bowls to rest in. Highly Commended Certificates Helena de Waal for her light sculpture / installation A very interesting piece with ceramic & light working together. At first glance looking like a plant form, when you come closer and look into the piece one can see lots of colour, reflections and light interplaying with one another.
Karen v d Riet for her body of work– porcelain thrown lidded vessels. Beautiful play of blues of different hues using glazes and oxides make these surfaces very pleasing. Potters do not always have to make huge changes to their work to move forward with their work and Karen’s recent incorporation of adding lids to these round forms works well and adds another new dimension to these well crafted pieces.
Highly Commended Certificates Fran Lessing for her black & white coiled scraffito decorated vessels Beautifully crafted using scraffito to decorate these very bold forms. The balance between the surfaces and the form has been well considered and they make a very strong, bold statement.
Sandy Godwin for her body of work – thrown porcelain lace decorated vessels. Exceptional throwing and decorating skill is shown in all of Sandy’s work and the work this year is no exception. The negative spaces on the black and white work is particularly interesting as they seem to vibrate with energy.
Thanks for Catalogue photography and exhibition set up by Eugene Hön and exhibition opening pics by Sandy Legg
Guest exhibitor: Chris Patton - Gauteng
Guest exhibitor: Trayci Tompkins - CSA KZN
Guest exhibitor: Henriette Ngako, recipient of the Tim Morris bursary for 2015
Lydia Holmes and Dineke den Bakker
Drury Brandt with Kim Sacks
Gauteng Honourary Life Members – 2015
Jerice Doeg and Simon Masilo were recognized at the Regional exhibition and awarded Honourary Life membership of CSA Gauteng Region. Both have made huge contributions to CSA, both in our region and nationally in SA, and also internationally. Jerice is currently National Chair and has served on the committee almost continually since she joined CSA. Simon has contributed by sharing his passion and knowledge at many workshops and exhibitions and has represented SA ceramics internationally on many occasions. Both Jerice and Simon are well known for their quiet diplomacy, their passion for ceramics and for passing on their wealth of knowledge and experience to the younger generation. Both are icons that are admired and respected by their peers in the ceramic industry and we feel honoured to have them in our association.
Well done and thank you Jerice and Simon.
Place your ads now! Next issue out BEFORE CHRISTMAS!
Dec
FEB
2015 December Friday 4th Opening of White Christmas… with a touch of colour. Exhibition at Ass of Arts, Pretoria
Sandy Godwin
diary 2015/2016
2016 February Saturday 20th
AGM at Gracepoint Church, 125 Duncan Road, Glenferness, Johannesburg, Gauteng
Apr
2016 April Saturday 9th
Potters Market
Nov
Madoda Fani
Association of Arts, Pretoria
2016 November CSA National Exhibition at UJ Art Gallery, Kingsway Campus, Auckland Park
h C r i s e t t i m h as W ... with a touch of colour
Rika Herbst
Exhibition
Pieter van Heerden, Director of the Association of Arts Pretoria, extends a warm welcome to “White Christmas, with a touch of colour”, by members of Ceramics SA. The exhibition will be opened by Venerable Timothy Lowes of St Francis of Assisi Anglican Church Waterkloof on Friday 4 December 2015 at 18h30 for 19h00 Closing Date: Friday 18 December 2015
Since graduating from art school, she has featured Gauteng Region prominently at exhibitions, both P O Box 2900 North Riding 2162 Gauteng R.S.A. as exhibitor and curator. She Tel.: 074 703 4399 / Fax to email: 086 0958 has 664 already featured ceramicssa@icon.co.za • www.ceramicssa.org prominently as finalist and prize-winner at Sasol's new signatures art competition, the Mnyele fine art Matilda Angus (Country), Nadine daThami Silva, competition and ceramics SA's Jean Grobler, Michelle le Grange, Belinda Leontsinis, regional exhibition in 2012. Rika NortjÊ, Lauren Samakosky, Loreal Vossolo and Her first exhibition, titled Samsara... the journey of the Claire Woollatt. soul is scheduled for the first quarter of 2013 as part of her DTP: Claire Waters M Tech degree in fine art.
WELCOME to our NEW MEMBERS:
Gauteng Region Committee Name Duties Colleen Lehmkuhl Regional Chair/ Meeting Notes John Shirley Vice Chair/ Exhibitions Drury Brandt Logistics Nici Brockwell General Assist Gillian Clark General Assist Dineke den Bakker Vaal Triangle Liaison Michelle Legg Clay Festival/ Exhibitions Jerice Doeg Exhibitions/ Meeting Notes Darien Harrison Catering Rose Hobson Clay Festival/ Exhibitions Karen van der Riet General assist/ Potters’ Market Minette Zaaiman General Assist
Tel. No. Mobile e-mail 011 463 7262 073 481 0889 colleen@potterystudio.co.za 011 640 4982 083 407 5968 johnshir@gmail.com 011 807 9942 082 574 5800 drury@tiscali.co.za 011 702 4600 083 257 7330 nicibceramic@gmail.com 011 706 7289 074 782 2640 gillian@lamariceramics. co.za 016 932 2173 082 715 1639 dineke.denbakker@lantic. net 083 730 0250 michellejanelegg@gmail. com 012 460 6516 082 683 5680 jerice@informsa.co.za 012 667 1207 082 463 8653 dunkelly@mweb.co.za 084 436 4312 rosehobson@ gmail.com 012 660 2341 082 655 2121 karenvanderriet@gmail.com 012 460 5823 073 255 2482
Manufacturers and suppliers of a wide range of stoneware and earthenware clays for throwing, slab building and casting in buff, terracotta and white.
Telephone 082 808-9166 / 082 885-1103 Email: ndebelemining@gmail.com work and images supplied by Digby Hoets
+27 11 482-2215 1 Annet Road Cottesloe Johannesburg email: liebpott@iafrica.com www.liebermannpottery.com
An exciting array of Southern African potters and ceramic artists, both rural and urban, including˚Lisa Liebermann, are showcased at Liebermann Gallery. The Gallery is located in the historic Gas Works, close to the trendy Melville shopping area. Liebermann Pottery in Johannesburg has an extensive range of traditional handmade cottage tableware, dinnerware and ceramic picture tiles, brilliantlycoloured˚contemporary garden˚planters˚and vases, with their distinctive Liebermann ambience. For the Bonsai enthusiast, the Liebermann Gallery has the largest selection of planters on the continent. Our Cape Town gallery is situated on an old Cape farm, on Kommetjie Main Road, near Kommetjie on the Cape Peninsula.˚
GLAZECORcc GLAZE & FRIT MANUFACTURERS
PRODUCT RANGE
Glazes For all applications and temperatures, constantly being developed- how can we meet your needs? Clays Throwing clay in White and Terra Cotta from fine to textured with coarse grog Porcelain throwing clay and casting slip Casting slip in White and Terra Cotta Clay bodies blended to customers formulations Underglazes Liquid underglazes with over 100 colours to choose from Powder underglazes Stains A broad range of colours for every application Raw Material Just about everything to make your own glazes, clay bodies, moulds…. Kiln Furniture Kiln shelves & Props, Element wire, Temperature controllers, Compensating cables and Thermocouples, Pyrometric cones, Insullation Bricks, Fibre Blanket…. Miscellaneous Pottery Tools, Engobes, Relief Glazes, Onglazes, Glass Enamels, Lustres… New and second hand equipment…
great. mall or ndly s o to ie d is No nee us today for fr e… t ic c v ta d n a o l a C fession and pro
194 Immelman Road, Wadeville, Germiston Tel: 011-827-0280/1/2/3 Email: jpryde@vodamail.co.za
Let Glazecor Be Your Partner In Business