I am very excited to announce JAC has published my first article in its 52/2 July 2013 edition pages 98-101. It is my perspective as a graduating student on the need for education and widening skills base for those involved in the visual arts.
Thanks to the Australian Ceramics Association for including me in this issue which has a focus on Education, Greg Piper’s evocative portrait shots from Clay Push Gulgong 2013 and a showcase of Open Studios Ceramics Australia.
A photo gallery to end my time in Zealand where the medieval towns of Skælskør and Roskilde reside. From a stunning Cathedral, glass studio and Viking Museum in Roskilde, to walking @ the Skælskør Nor and then ending with the glorious and romantic 17th Century Borreby Castle (well almost ending…Marie and I went to Kobæk Strand (beach) on Monday and I couldn’t resist showing snow at the beach!) – its all been an amazing travel and photographic experience. Enjoy!
Anna Kukielka and I are traveling buddies and this time we went on a local bus trip to Ørslev Church located @ 20 minutes out of Skælskør. It has murals that date back to 1300 and was probably the loveliest church I’ve seen in Europe (and I’ve seen a few…). Anna took professional photos as inspiration for her current work as 1 of 12 project network members here at Guldagergaard. It was a nice escape from the studio and a chance to enjoy sun and blue skies. We have all been busy making. It was nice to take some time out of the studios and check out the local landscape and experience an amusing bumpy bus ride with our lady bus driver.
Anna and I also caught up with one of Denmark’s well known ceramicists – Nina Hole. We had tea/lint pastries (special pastries eaten during lent) and saw her amazing studio. Nina and Larry designed twin studios under ground to maximize insulation but also obtain amazing views from a lower perspective. Their home is very old – @ 300 years and they managed to preserve part of the building with minor changes. But anyone over 6ft would not cope with the low ceilings.
So, here is a gallery of photos from a day to remember. Thanks Anna for your skillful organising of bus routes, catching up with Nina and of course your company.
I thought a change from words would be good and I’d take you on a virtual 2hr walk through the town of Skælskør. Imagine it snowing lightly, crunching beneath your feet, seeing Christmas wreaths on graves at a cemetery (with the best views of the water), avoiding dog poop on the pavement and bitterly cold finger tips from taking way too many photos! Enjoy! Hint: if you click on the photo, it will take you to another page, then click on that photo to get the full size 6 x 4 photo. I’m still figuring out a better way to display photos but limited by software…
Well it’s the end of my first week (of 6 weeks) at Guldagergaard, International Ceramic Research Center located in Skælskør. Don’t even ask how to pronounce the names as we have all attempted and only the Danes say it the best!
This is my studio space overlooking part of the Sculpture Park, which surrounds the center and suburbia houses surround the park. I was lucky to meet Priscilla, one of the founding members on Monday and say how we have nothing like this back at home. I have since found out that this Center is very unique and how lucky we are to have such a beautiful house to live in and high quality studios to work in.
I arrived @6pm Wednesday night (3 January) and was entertained by a local madmen in the dark as he sang and said weird stuff. Then suddenly these loud bangs went off and I’m like terrified he’s got a shotgun. I remained calm and thankfully Rachel turns up on her cute bicycle all dressed up in her winter woollies. As we went up the streets the ‘bangs’ turned out to be firecrackers! What a dill! I was shown my room (#5) and told to come down for dinner when I was ready. I put my gear down as keen to meet the others. I met Paige, Lee and Ryan – all from the USA – and we got on well. I really liked Paige and thought she seems so cool and my instinct was right – she’s funny, cool and down to earth. The others started to arrive and slowly I try to remember names. It is a great night and I feel like I’ve settled in well. We are told to have the next day to ourselves and Rachel and I meet @ 11am as she takes me on a separate orientation tour of the house, the library, washing facilities, the clay room (the biggest I’ve ever seen), the Apple Orchard Gallery and then finally the beast of them all – the massive stables which have now been converted into studios.
There is a plaster room, a kiln room in between 2 large studio spaces, a proper glaze room – all the materials (and it takes me back to Australian National University School of Art’s ceramic workshop – which I miss) and a back room with ware boards & stuff. There is an upstairs area but that is still undergoing renovations.
I go grocery shopping with a few of the artists and I’m so glad I bought my Danish phrase book as it helps me (and the others) to figure out what we are buying. Everything looks expensive as I can’t remember the conversion and I limit my purchases. As it turns out a weeks worth of lunch and breakfast is ½ the price it cost me for a Starbucks coffee/small sandwich/takeaway lidded thermos at the Copenhagen Airport!
From Friday through to today I work at the studios as conscious about how many firings I need to do in such a short time. Six weeks isn’t long enough and I wish I had 8 weeks. I am working with 2 low fired clays – Yellow brick and Black – as this is new and totally the opposite to porcelain. I’ve also chosen 3 high-fired clays – Cerama White 444, Royal Copenhagen and Limoges (the latter 2 are crème de la crème and also expensive – but Adam is paying for it as he says I may never work with them again).
Anna and Anne
Anne-Marie-Kim-Francesco-Leah-Lee
another-great-dinner
My-room-Danish-style
My-studio-space
View-from-my-room-at-Ceramic-Center
So far, I’ve been happy with my test tiles, screen printing and stamping. I’ve worked out one possible exhibition layout and have another one in mind. But again, time is of the essence so I must keep it simple.
Finally, the group dinners need to be seen to believe just how amazing they are. Everyone is rostered on once a week and pair up to cook anywhere from 14 to 19 residents. Rachel and Egla raised the bar with their welcoming meal and everyone has been leaping to match the good food. I hardly eat anything during the day so I can save up for dinner and we usually all have seconds!
I’ve managed to do some shopping and contribute thoughtfully to the economy of Skælskør (any excuse to explain how much I’ve spent so far ;). But seriously, I do feel its great to be able to come to a small town who can’t rely on tourism solely and still be able to provide small businesses along the quaint cobbled stone main street Algade. I’ve purchased rain boots, raincoat, jumper, ceramic brooch and a few other little trinkets and feel glad that I’ve been able to support locally. The best thing is there are no shopping malls in sight! Gotta love that!
Well I’ll sign off as I did have some extra photos to put in this story but it could have helped if I had put the memory card in the camera! I totally forgot, as I was eager beaver to download photos. Ah well! shall try again tomorrow and hope for the same beautiful sunset I saw at 4pm this afternoon. The next posting will be about my ceramic work and its progress.
