ceramicArt Blart _ art and cultural memory archive

Exhibition: ‘Subterranean’ at Arts Project Australia, Northcote

Exhibition dates: 19th March – 27th April 2011

Curator: Katie Jacobs

Kate Knight. 'Not titled (blue and green bird)' 2009

Kate Knight (Australian)
Not titled (blue and green bird)
2009
ceramic
7 x 30 x 7cm
Image courtesy the artist and Arts Project Australia

One of the most – no, the most vibrant and exciting place to visit at last year’s Melbourne Art Fair was the Arts Project Australia stand. What a buzz the place had! They have an interesting gallery in Northcote that is well worth a visit. Coming up at the end of April is a retrospective of the work of Alan Constable that spans twenty years – including the wonderful cameras he makes. Posting about this exhibition to follow.

Dr Marcus Bunyan

Many thankx to Arts Project Australia for allowing me to publish the photographs in the posting. Please click on the photographs for a larger version of the image.

Valerio Ciccone (Australian, b. 1970)
Fish
2010
ceramic
3.5 x 24 x 15cm
Image courtesy the artist and Arts Project Australia

Bold in form and colour to the intricate and subtle, Subterranean is an exhibition that celebrates the possibilities of the ceramic form at Arts Project Australia from Saturday 19 March until Wednesday 27 April 2011.

From domestic and functional forms to work referencing popular culture and narrative fiction, this exhibition showcases the possibilities of ceramics.

The imitative nature of clay has inspired many Arts Project artists. Popular culture, narrative fiction and two-dimensional images from National Geographic magazines provide the foundation for new sculptures by Rebecca Scibilia, Tim Noble and Ruth Howard.

Several of the featured artists are also interested in the functional potential of ceramics, specifically that of domestic ceramic objects such as vases and teapots. Fiona Longhurst and Kaye McDonald are inspired by existing ceramic items to create their own exquisite versions with intricate detailed surface drawings and colourful glaze patterns.

The artistic process is one of technical experimentation, investigation and discovery, seen in the ceramic work of Valerio Ciccone, Alan Constable, Kelvin Heffernan, Paul Hodges, Ruth Howard, Thomas Iacono, Kate Knight, Fiona Longhurst, Chris Mason, Karen McCullough, Kaye McDonald, Cameron Noble, Jodie Noble, Tim Noble, Chris O’Brien, Lisa Reid, Rebecca Scibilia, Malcolm Sturrock and Terry Williams.

Subterranean has been curated by Katie Jacobs.

Arts Project Australia is a not for profit organisation that has been supporting artists with intellectual disabilities since 1974. Our inner city studio and gallery exist to nurture and promote artists as they develop their body of work. We rely on government funds, personal and philanthropic donations and commissions from artwork sales to continue our work.

Text from Arts Project Australia

Kaye McDonald. 'Not titled (orange mug)' 2010

Kaye McDonald (Australian, b. 1946)
Not titled (orange mug)
2010
ceramic
16 x 11 x 9cm
Image courtesy the artist and Arts Project Australia

Malcolm Sturrock (Australian, b. 1944)
Not titled (rabbit in red jumper)
2010
ceramic
29 x 19 x 12cm
Image courtesy the artist and Arts Project Australia

Arts Project Australia

Studio
24 High Street
Northcote Victoria 3070
Phone: + 61 3 9482 4484

Gallery
Level 1 Perry Street building
Collingwood Yards
Enter via 35 Johnson Street or 30 Perry Street, Collingwood
Phone: +61 477 211 699

Opening hours:
Wednesday – Friday 11am – 5pm
Saturday & Sunday 12 – 4pm

Arts Project Australia website

LIKE ART BLART ON FACEBOOK

Back to top

Exhibitions: ‘The Other’ by Titania Henderson at Karen Woodbury Gallery, Richmond, ‘Halftone’ by John Nicholson at Sophie Gannon Gallery, Richmond

Exhibition dates: 19/20th October – 13th November 2010

Titania Henderson (Dutch, b. 1945 emigrated Australia 1956)
Together II
2010
Images courtesy of the artist and Karen Woodbury Gallery

Two solid exhibitions, ceramics by Titania Henderson at Karen Woodbury Gallery and sculpture by John Nicholson at Sophie Gannon Gallery. Both exhibitions benefit from a straight forward approach to craft – elegant, refined sensibilities that are free from an overly conceptual rendering of ideas; stillness, of form in style, inhabits both bodies of work.

Contemplation is of the essence – in the beautiful, delicate, seemingly fragile shell and tubular mollusc-like bone china structures that, conversely, are physically strong; in the tonal colours of woven amoebic, disc and U-shaped constructions (the Halftone of the exhibition title referring to the loss of colour in digital printing, the longing for sumptuous analogue markings). I liked both exhibitions for the paring down of elements to essentials forming a basis for quiet reflection, a grounding in texture, colour and lightness of form.

Dr Marcus Bunyan

Many thankx to Karen Woodbury Gallery and Sophie Gannon Gallery for allowing me to publish the photographs in the posting. Please click on the photographs for a larger version of the image.

Titania Henderson (Dutch, b. 1945 emigrated Australia 1956)
Silence
2010
Images courtesy of the artist and Karen Woodbury Gallery

Titania Henderson (Dutch, b. 1945 emigrated Australia 1956)
Remembering
2010
Images courtesy of the artist and Karen Woodbury Gallery

Titania Henderson (Dutch, b. 1945 emigrated Australia 1956)
Piled up 1 (yellow)
2009/10
Images courtesy of the artist and Karen Woodbury Gallery

Titania Henderson (Dutch, b. 1945 emigrated Australia 1956)
Piled up 2 (yellow)
2009/10
Images courtesy of the artist and Karen Woodbury Gallery

Titania Henderson’s exhibition The Other presents a range of ceramic sculptural installations in pure white Bone China that convey a three-dimensional engagement. A fragility and vulnerability resonate through these poignant paper-thin configurations, bringing a sense of clarity and freedom. These hand built works challenge the conception of Bone China as a material only suited for slip casting while also incorporating the use of French Limoges. Henderson’s method involves perseverance, technical proficiency and precision, as she creates her own language of rhythmic ceramic art. There is an inherent translucent character that appeals to elements of shadow and light within the works. This new body of work is based on ideas of the human conscience and larger philosophical ideas beyond the objects themselves and beyond language.

Text from the Karen Woodbury Gallery website