ceramics all day & night
My friend Belinda and her trusty partner in crime (or should that be cupcakes) Rachel have welcomed Norma to Canberra in sensational style today. Who is Norma? Well you need to read the following story in our very own stylish Canberra website run by the fabuloso Amanda Whitley.
http://www.hercanberra.com.au/index.php/2012/05/04/canberra-meet-norma/
While I was overseas, attending the NCECA conference in Seattle, the Canberra Potters’ Society (CPS) April 2012 Newsletter hit my email and lo and behold…a report on moi! Wooh! Hooh! very excited as Jane Crick (CPS Members events and teacher) reported on my presentation to members as part of my obligation when I was awarded the arist in residence award. I really enjoyed sharing my experiences with the members and gaining critical feedback on my work. It was also a bit surreal to read the article in an internet cafe in Victoria on Vancouver Island, BC while snowing fiercely outside and it didn’t seem that long ago I was getting work out of the kiln on a warm summers day ready to show the members….
[box] Please click on the PDF and enjoy! Pages from cps_news_apr12-2[/box]
My first (and only) drawing of the cabin we stayed in at Cobble Hill, Vancouver Island BC. With so many variety of trees I was challenged when it came to drawing the different types of leaves, branches etc and finding it not as easy as drawing architecture.
I also drew one of Honeymoon Lake but that will come later as it needs serious work!
This year we have added a graduating student residency to our EASS awards, and I am delighted to announce that the selection panel chose Anne Masters, who graduated with a Master of Visual Arts degree just last week. Anne will be our first artist-in-residence, and will be taking up her residency about mid-January … – The Canberra Potters Society Email Announcement 27 Dec 2012
I can’t believe its end-February and I’m nearing the end of my 6 week residency. Wow! A lot has happened since and I’ve been in a bit of spin. I was offered a job at the School of Art and needed to start asap. Luckily for me, CBR Potters’ Society (CPS) was flexible and happy to extend my residency to accommodate my new 2 day a job week. This is on top of my other 2 day job at Style Emporium (SE). Its funny how you think your year will pan out…I honestly thought I’d work 2 days at SE and 4 days on my ceramics. Then came the fabulous EASS award and of course my 4 days would now be in a swanky new studio recently built at the CPS. So, how’s it going? Visit my blog “General tab” for an update.
[box] Attending my first international ceramic conference.[/box]
NCECA is a well known acronym in the ceramic world and everyone gets pretty excited about going and a tad disappointed if they can’t. NCECA stands for National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts. I was fortunate enough to attend this year’s conference after much encouragement from my ‘patron’ (the hubby!). Its funny now, since coming home and reading an article on a local politician who’s mantra is “when things get tough to say loudly ‘I am living the dream’”, this comment confirms that I made the right decision to attend. NCECA provided an opportunity to network, make new friends, see old friends and broaden my views on what is happening locally in the USA and internationally in the scene of ceramics/pottery.
Over four days I attended presentations, lectures and demos. I helped my former teacher/Head of the Ceramics Workshop Janet DeBoos hand out information to prospective students/workshop attendees on opportunities available at the Australian National University School of Art. While I could only help for 1 day, it was great to meet students (primarily from the USA) who were keen to find out about Australia, where Canberra was located, what the weather is like and how competitive the selection process is to obtaining a place. When you have 4500 delegates attending the 2012 conference and ‘the biggest category of people attending NCECA are students’ (according to the President of NCECA)…then no wonder they work hard to obtain a place and pursue their passions.
I was lucky to have met internationally renowned ceramicist Robin Hopper earlier in our travels who provided advice when attending NCECA. He warned me it would be full-on; to make sure I went to the emerging artist’s presentations and most important – to enjoy. Well he was right! It was full on…the first day after talking to umpteenth students/artists/exhibitors my voice went slightly hoarse. But it was worth it. I realize now attending an arts conference of this size allowed me to experience a rich and diverse program.
In particular, on day three the demonstrating artists – Jason Walker and Christa Assad – were informative, entertaining and as dynamic as each other in their approach to working with clay. I must have taken 100 photos and Walker provided amusement by telling the audience to photograph now as he poured the slip in slow motion! 
Walker is very methodical in the way he works – he takes one month to create an object and I think he was bemused that we (the audience) had the patience to watch him slowly slab form his fish object.
Assad was fabulous and a born entertainer. I’ve never seen someone work on the wheel, talk, talk and continue to talk while throwing and assembling necessary components to create a ceramic fire hydrant.
I stayed for as long as I could but in the end had to leave to attend the next lecture. While NCECA produced a fantastic program, I struggled to make the nail biting decision of what to attend as there were a few clashes. Apparently I was not alone as many other attendees faced the same dilemma.
I really enjoyed attending NCECA and wish I could expand on it more. Perhaps the most enjoyable moment for me was meeting an artist at a local art gallery showcasing sculpture by 13 selected ceramic artists from Hawaii. I was quite oblivious to whom he was and the gallery owner delighted in telling me ‘did I know Shigeru Miyamoto?’ I said ‘no and apologized as I didn’t really know American ceramic artists as there are so many’. As it turns out I was standing right next to Miyamoto – an established ceramicist based in Hawaii. He was so nice and not at all bothered at my faux pas. We got the shuttle bus back to the centre and talked about all sorts of things and when we parted ways Shigeru gave me a farewell kiss on the cheek. Wow! How’s that for a cool dude and moi being so chuffed at her networking abilities.
Excerpt from email
From: anne.masters@apex.net.au
Subject: Fwd: Roma – food glorious food
Date: Sat, 9 Jul 2011 18:28:39 +1000Hello everyone,
Well we’ve been too busy eating to send an email! The food in Italy has been fantastic and it helps that Adam has a gorgeous wife to boot…she goes to the markets, buys fresh food, cooks dishes to rival an Italian mama and does it all in style (as in new outfits 😉 Heh! Heh! Seriously, I have had fun buying fresh ricotta from the cheese man and fruit and vegetables at the markets which are about 4 tram stops away. We are going there this morning to get some more food as tomorrow nights dinner is roast pork fillet with rosemary and fennel.
I’ve really enjoyed cooking food and made my first risotto with red wine and mushrooms. Yum! Yum! and leftovers for lunch. Yesterday, I came across a patisserie and the little pastries were to die for. All miniature choux like pastry filled with creams of some sort. They were 24 euros for 500grams. I had to try and figure out cost for say 2 but once asked I got flustered and said doo e pistachio per favore. When I went to pay with 20 euros I got back 18.90 change. How embarrassing! I felt like a dork. I should have asked for more. Adam wants me to go back and get at least 100 grams to make up for my quelle horror (he secretly wants to devour them all when I told him that the pistachio cream/custard ooozed out when I gobbled one of them down!). The funny thing was when I bit into the 2nd one it oozed down my face and people looked at me like some nutcase.
Horror of horrors as I wiped my face and I had this flashback to when I was 21 in Paris with Fiona and we were tut tutted by this older French lady for eating in public – “French women do not eat in public…go home young girls!”. Another die for eating experience was the special pastry tarts I bought which unravelled perfectly like a peeled orange to reveal ricotta honey filling which we devoured one morning for breakfast. Pix attached for your enjoyment 😉 Along with the food I have enjoyed trying my una caffe latte and trying to look local by standing at the bar and drinking it and chatting with the barista. One asked if I wanted mine facaldo and I was a bit confused. He pointed at himself and winked and the lady next to me roared with laughter and she says he wants to know if you want it cold or hot like him!! Heh! Heh! laughs all around and I settle in.
24 June 2011 – A 2hr train trip through the hills of Romagna we headed to Faenza – a town associated with its long history of majolica production. We went to Cento anni del Museo Internazionale delle Ceramiche and for a few hours immersed ourselves in the history of porcelain and concluded with the 57th Premio Faenza – the International Competition of Contemporary Ceramic Art.
We went into the town where laneways were dotted with ceramic tiled street names and the local bank displayed contemporary ceramic wares.
A local artist was kind enough to let me photograph her as she hand painted traditional designs. We agreed that next time we stay overnight as the museum was extensive and breaking up the visit would make the trip worthwhile.
Earlier this year, the Canberra Potters’ Society featured exhibits by
some of its studio tenants: Chris Harford, Maryann Mussared, Sarah
Walker, Julie Day-Lewis and Anne Masters.
One of my art theory colleagues and aspiring painter, Luiza gave me a beautiful drawing book, ink bottle and pen to encourage me to draw while overseas in Italy last year. These are just a few of the drawings I did. I can’t believe its now been nearly 7 months and I haven’t had the time to sit somewhere quietly and draw. One of my resolutions this year and need to get cracking!
29 June 2011 – I attempt my first drawing and choose Galleria Borghese. If you only have one museum to visit in Roma – this is the one! It has the most stunning collection of Renaissance artworks and housed in the most beautiful villa and surrounded by a beautiful park. As I draw, children skate past, older couples hold hands, a man sits next to me and feeds the stupid pigeons and dogs take the lead as their look a like owners prance along. A really nice way to spend the day and feel less of a tourist.
While Adam was working I had to fill my days with walking the streets of Roma, go shopping, eating and visit museums, galleries, parks etc. But there were days when I stayed home…the heat at 38 degrees plus was full-on…and one day drew the view from our studio apartment. An older couple would water their balcony garden (where the white flowers are popping out) everyday – he in singlet and she with rollers in her hair. Not quite as romantic as Julian Sands and Helena Bonham Carter from “A room with a view” but sweet enough.
Excerpt from email
Sent: Saturday, July 09, 2011 6:28 PMSubject: Fwd: Roma – food glorious food” … Anyway, sights, sights and more sights. While Adam is working I’ve had to entertain myself and so far have managed to visit Villa Farnesina which has the most beautiful frescoes by Raphael, Baldassare Peruzzi and more Italian artists. I’ve been to Orto Botanica which has 20 different sights to visit within the gardens – roses, japanese garden, medicine plant maze, bamboo forest and even a Wollemia Nobilus from good ole Australia. I run into the gardeners and have a laugh trying to converse. They introduce me to Pierre from France but I can call him Peter…wink! wink! I laugh and give them big smiles. Chris, you’ll be pleased to know that there was no swinging of the hair…moi was a tad perspired under her hat and wasn’t going to give that one away. I decided to draw Corsoni Greenhouse as Queen Christina of Sweden used the basins for her stay 1659-1689 at Villa Riario now Palazzo Corsini. I also read somewhere that she entertained many lovers during her stay and reckoned she must have needed those basins for luxuriating in after her many conquests … “
Botanicus perfecto – as you can see from the photo below this was a beautiful specimen in flowering on a hot summers day and a perfect excuse to draw in the shade.
I’ve since discovered that you can buy the plant at one of our local nurseries and its called “Purple Caneflower”. Guess what I’ll be planting in time for our Spring….
The past 18 months have been an exploration of hand making and realizing the fragility and beauty of crafting with Australian manufactured ‘Southern Ice’ porcelain. This series includes hand carving and deep etching so the trace of the curve is subtely linked to the subject matter and echoes the line work synonymous with the style of Art Nouveau. My thematic focus was to provide the wearer and viewer with a sensory and social distance experience through body adornment. By creating a tactile surface to be caressed and engaging the wearer’s senses, I invite the viewer to step into the wearer’s intimate space.
