CLIVE BOWEN AT 70
CLIVE BOWEN AT 70 6-30 March 2013 The Scottish Gallery is delighted to host Clive Bowen’s second solo show which also celebrates his 70th birthday. Clive Bowen was born in Cardiff in 1943. He studied painting and etching at Cardiff Art School before taking up an apprenticeship with Michael Leach at Yelland Pottery in North Devon from 1965 until 1969. In 1971 he bought a small agricultural property at Shebbear, near Holsworthy in North Devon and set up a workshop in the former farm outhouses where he still continues to work today. His pots are made in the local Fremington clay, a red earthenware clay in use for centuries for traditional North Devon wares.
‘The form and function of my work can be traced back to centuries-old pots such as English mediaeval jugs and early Tamba ware from Japan. There is such a wealth of forms contained within what we might loosely call ‘domestic ware’ that one lifetime is not enough to begin to explore all the possibilities. I love anonymous ethnic pots from all cultures and their feeling of life and freshness. My enthusiasm is still with the clay, the slip and the large wood-fired kiln. For me, wood firing brings the pots to life. I enjoy sitting around the table sharing meals with family and friends; my main preoccupation is always the function of the pieces. I want my pots to be used, not merely to sit in isolation on a shelf. I want them to be used to enhance the enjoyment of everyday life and of good food.’ Clive Bowen
Black and gold teapots, 14 cms h
SOLD
Tea caddies,16 cms h SOLD
Left: Green rimmed bowls and Golden bowls 16 cms diameter each
SOLD
Yellow rimmed jug, 31 cms h ÂŁ210
Large Platter, 46 cms diameter ÂŁ450
Flat lidded storage jar, 29 x 20 cms ÂŁ525
Flask, 34 x 26 cms SOLD
Large lidded handled jar with sgraffito decoraction 60 x 29 cms
ÂŁ1225
Large storage jar with 4 handles, 60 x 29 cms
Black jug light trailed, 31 cms h ÂŁ210
Left: Green storage jar, 37 cms h ÂŁ550 Right: 6 green rimmed bowls, 16 cms diameter Square dish 23 x 23 cms SOLD
Large Storage Jar, 2010, 55 cms h ÂŁ1120
Storage Jars, 37cms approx from ÂŁ550
Golden cereal bowls, 16 cms diameter SOLD
Left: Platter, 38 cms SOLD Right: 2 pint jug, 20 cms SOLD Shallow cream platter, 32 cms SOLD
Above: Decorated golden bowl, 23cms diameter £110 Right: Slip trail pie dishes with scalloped edges , large 36 x 31 cms £260 small 22 x 18 cms SOLD
Selected Public Collections Victoria and Albert Museum National Museum of Wales Ulster Museum Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge Crafts Council Collection York City Art Gallery Exeter Museum Nottingham Museum Liverpool Museum Stoke on Trent City Museum Winnipeg Art Gallery, Canada Mingeikan, Tokyo Mashiko Museum of Ceramics, Japan
Ceramic Review will have a special feature on Clive Bowen in the March/April issue, CR260
Right: Shebbear Pottery, photograph by Rupert Johnstone, 2010 All other phorography by Drew Raitt, 2013
INSTALLATION IMAGES FROM THE SCOTTISH GALLERY, MARCH 2013