Exhibition in Focus: Diversity in Clay

Diversity in Clay

Curated by members of the North Queensland Potters’ Association Inc. as part of Gallery Services’

Guest Curator Series

23 March – 15 May 2013

Diversity in Clay was the largest and most comprehensive ceramic exhibition in Pinnacles Gallery history. Curated by members of the North Queensland Potters’ Association Inc, the exhibition was the second in Gallery Services’ new Guest Curator Series

Wendy Bainbridge, President of the North Queensland Potters’ Association Inc, said that “we were invited to curate this exhibition from Townsville’s permanent ceramic collection following many years of sponsorship by Townsville City Council and partnership with Gallery Services.”

“This exhibition encompassed a diverse and exciting collection of ceramics, covering both an historical and up-to-date overview of current trends in Australian ceramics.”

“It was a treat to discover all the works in the City of Townsville Art Collection, and not always easy to make a selection, but it is believed the selection reflected its diversity.”

Diversity in Clay included over 70 individual works, including some works of previous guest judges and winners of the 39 annual Ceramic Competitions organised by the NQ Potters’ Association Inc. over the years.

Roderick Bamford, Senior Lecturer at the College of Fine Arts, University of New South Wales was invited to open the exhibition, and to deliver a free public talk on the nation’s ceramic arts practice.

Shane Fitzgerald, Manager Gallery Services, said he was “delighted to have been able to host an exhibition that puts such a long and proud ceramic tradition in the region into perspective.”

“The NQ Potters’ Association Inc. has for many years worked tirelessly to bring nationally and internationally recognised ceramicists to Townsville, both as judges and participants in their annual competition, as well as to develop, promote and celebrate the skills of our region’s own potters.”

“Showing works spanning nearly forty years also illustrated the developments and trends in the ceramic arts in Australia, and the incredible diversity of techniques. Gallery Services has a commitment to the education of its audience, and public programs were arranged to coincide with the exhibition to this effect, along with a Glossary of Terms to assist viewers in discovering exactly how some of the amazing works were created.”

Aesthetically, the exhibition was a triumph, but even more pleasing was the considered and sophisticated curatorial focus of the show. Diversity in Clay exposed visitors to works by some of the nation’s finest ceramic artists over the last forty years, and also alluded to the trends and developments within ceramic arts practice in this period.

Diversity in Clay attracted significant media, and Gallery attendance during the show was strong, with 6,037 visitors through the doors. Most pleasingly, the general public were enamoured with Diversity in Clay and recognised it as setting a new benchmark for ceramic exhibitions in Townsville. This sentiment was reflected in the many comments left by visitors, such as the one below;

“Pottery exhibitions in Townsville just keep getting better”

Jennifer Knight Rockhampton