6 minute read
CERAMICS
from The Ridge 131
“Clay is a wonderful form of therapy. There is something about the feel of the earth in your hands and the potential it holds.
Clay demands your undivided attention and never more so than on the potters’ wheel. It is the most demanding discipline because, like any skill, it takes practice, practice and more practice, keeping you humble and patient at all times,” says Brenda Kühn, who works and teaches at her Westbrook studio.
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Together with Jo-Anne Kuter, chair of the local branch of the Ceramics Society of South
Africa, she is working hard to not only grow awareness of this age-old craft and art form, but also to encourage local talents to put their work on the map.
Brenda started her ceramics journey in 2008 and loves wheel work and experimenting with form and glazes.
“A friend invited me to join her at her pottery class and I’ve never looked back. I now have my own studio at the bottom of my garden and amazing students I am privileged enough to share the love of clay with,” she says.
RIGHT & BELOW RIGHT: Brenda Kühn
holding some pots; Brenda’s coffee mug design.
a passion for CERAMICS
FOR TWO NORTH COAST CERAMICISTS, THE AGEOLD CRAFT AND ART FORM OF POTTERY HAS INSPIRED THEIR CREATIVITY AND STYLE FOR MANY YEARS, MOULDING THEIR NAMES LOCALLY, WRITES SHIRLEY LE GUERN
For Brenda, both function and form are important. She draws a lot of inspiration from her garden, so the natural progression was from mugs and bowls towards bud vases in blues and greens.
She now sells her pieces at galleries and exhibitions.
You can only have so many cups, saucers and jugs in your home and give so many away to friends and family, smiles Durban North ceramicist Jo-Anne Kuter.
Although she, too, began taking pottery lessons with well-known ceramicist, Corrie Hook, as a hobbyist in 2010, she soon realised she had discovered a whole new passion which has taken her on an interesting journey that began with selling her distinctive blue and white creations at various local markets and has culminated in her work fi nding its way into art galleries.
Working in fi nance in Durban Central during the 80s, Jo-Anne spent many lunchtimes in fabric shops as part of her love for patchwork. She also made porcelain dolls. Her discovery of ceramics was a natural next step.
“I’ve always been artistic and loved anything that’s creative. I’ve always drawn and doodled,” she explains.
These doodles made their way into her distinctive work. Initially, she worked only in blue and white. “I work in porcelain as I love the purity of the medium and my constant doodling has been translated into my many patterns.
“Blue on white is influenced by the beautiful work of the Chinese Dynasties but interpreted in my style. I am obsessed with lines and »
RIGHT: Jo-Anne Kuter removes some pieces from her kiln. Shirley le Guern BELOW: Some of Jo-Anne Kuter’s work.
the millions of designs they create. I love the fact that I have never repeated a pattern and each piece is a unique part of me that will be cherished and used by whoever owns it,” she says.
Although Jo-Anne started out with slab work which is largely hand formed, she soon realised that this did not gel with her more geometric style and turned to creating wheel thrown items which were more symmetrical. These are thrown for her by the talented Ivin Molefe.
When Jo-Anne couldn’t source white clay in South Africa in 2018, she began working with raku clay sourced from potter Lindsay Scott in Lidgetton.
“I started to play with it and quickly realised that my black lines did this incredible thing, creating beautiful back shadows in the clay.” She added bright colours and her second signature collection was born.
A lot of that work goes to the KZNSA Gallery. “I call it my African work with a modern twist. I bring in the geometrical shapes and colours which are more African and then add flowers which are more European. So, it is a combination of two influences,” she explains.
Jo-Anne continues with her blue and white creations and has since added a white-on-white collection. Some items are exactly that while others may have brightly coloured inners.
Overall, she describes her style as fairly eclectic. “My work is quite busy. Initially, I was afraid that some people would not like this. Then it dawned on me there are busy people and there are calm people. Some people like everything white, grey and beige while others like colour. There has to be something for everyone and I’ve just learnt to embrace that,” she says. *
ABOVE: Ivin Molefe on the wheel. Shirley le Guern
EXTRAORDINARY LIVING FOR YOUR LATER YEARS
Penny Rey tells us why she is moving to Coral Cove
Penny Rey, the South African model and beauty queen who won Miss World in 1958, tells us why she is moving to Auria Senior Living’s latest development on KwaZulu-Natal’s North Coast.
Coral Cove is situated in Zululami Luxury Coastal Estate – one of the region’s finest, most soughtafter lifestyle estates Residents will be able to personalise their units with a selection of premium luxury finishes and fittings
“I always wanted to retire somewhere with a sea view,” says Rey. “Living at Coral Cove will enable me to continue living that life, but with an added layer of support and care should I ever need it. I love the fact that the day-to-day things are taken care of and that I’ll be able to stay active and creative, spending time with friends and do the things I enjoy.”
Coral Cove by Auria Senior Living, is a continuing care retirement community to be located within the safety, security and serenity of Zululami Luxury Coastal Estate, on the shores of Sheffield Beach.
Auria Senior Living CEO, Barry Kaganson, explains that Continuing Care Retirement Communities, (CCRCs), such as Coral Cove, are purpose-built, retirement communities in which older adults can live an enjoyable, sociable, hasslefree life with access to a wide variety of hospitality services, amenities, care and support.
‘‘Given the growth on the North Coast over the past few years, the provision of lifestyle environments for the over-70s hasn’t been catered for fully, and Coral Cove is the first to comprehensively address this need,’’ says Kaganson.
Currently, the KZN North Coast has limited retirement facilities, few of which offer a continuum of care with amenities and services as extensive as those offered by Auria Senior Living.
Coral Cove offers beautifully designed freestanding garden villas, maisonettes, semi-attached garden villas and apartments to suit whatever level of independent living or assisted living residents may require. Coral Cove, according to Kaganson, “will be, to the very best of our knowledge, the only senior living community of its kind in the world with direct beach access.”
This leading retirement community will offer extensive facilities such as an outdoor and indoor heated swimming pool, air-conditioned cinema, entertainment facilities, an elegant restaurant, vibrant coffee shop, fully equipped wellness centre and state-of-the-art care centre catering for frail and dementia care. The Care Centre will be operational as the first residences are occupied.
Internationally Awarded
Penny Rey, the first South African to win Miss World, Coral Cove’s first resident
