The Journal of Australian Ceramics

Volume 45 No. 3 - Nov 2006

Focus Western Australia

Now and Then - p3

From the e-mail discussion list. Re VERGE (National Ceramics) Conference.

Andrea Vinkovic - Editorial. WA Focus - p5

An introduction to the stories and work of W A ceramists & potters in this issue.

Gallery - p6

Rosalind Appleby - The Spirit of Beauty - p8

Perth ceramist, Melanie Sharpham’s slip cast porcelain pieces, inspired by the Australian bush, are celebrations of beauty & Faith.

Helen Foster - The Language of Landscape - p11

Profiles Helen Forster’s pursuit to create ceramic forms of beauty with an individual style.

Alana McVeigh - A New Beginning - p12

After living in Perth for the last decade, Angela Mellor moved back to the UK to take up a new direction and the challenge of running a gallery.

Vyonne Walker - The Internal Battleground - p14

Through her recent work in porcelain & paper clay, Josephine Pittman explores & questions new technology based around investigating the human genome.

Myra Staffa - Exploring the Contrasts - p16

Profiles Britta Stolle Jacob’s raku fired ceramics.

Pippin Drysdale - Drawn From the Edge - p20

'Tanami Traces Series'. Via the surfaces of graceful porcelain forms, Pippin Drysdale reveals the nuances of an apparently empty landscape.

Amanda Shelsher - Home is Where the Heart is - p22

Celebrating a new stage in her life & practice, Amanda Shelsher reveals the motivation behind her new figurative ceramics.

Frances Dennis - Making Connections - p24

Graham Hay’s paper clay sculptures suggest complexities within our society and, via the material itself, comments upon our contemporary information society.

Judith McGrath - With Style and Grace - p27

Features The Ceramic Arts Association of WA Annual Selective Exhibition at the Gallows Gallery.

Ian Dowling - Zooming in and Sealing it Up - p30

From the use of a microscope & an introduction to large-scale ceramic surfaces, Ian Dowling abandoned his wheel to make large-scale work for public spaces.

Garry Zeck, Jan Zeck - Ceramics for Residential Development - p33

Garry & Jan Zeck describe their project of a purpose designed ceramic water feature with copper banksias & lighting.

Fleur Schell - Anchoring the Free Spirit - p36

Introducing Sculptural Objects and Design Australia (SODA) Ceramic Residency Programme, Fremantle,WA

WA Groups - p38

Profiles pottery groups of Western Australia

Mike Kusnik - Where Are They Now? - p43

Mike Kusnik reports on how to convert S/W glazes to midrange or E/W glazes.

Melanie Mackenzie - New Use for Old X-Rays - p46

Melanie Mackenzie demonstrates a technique for low-tech decal making.

Greg Crowe - Clay – Texture – Surface - p48

Greg Crowe explains how his wood-fired work has evolved and, after many years, still finds joy in the physical activity of throwing.

Caroline McCrudden - Connection to the Land, Trees, Fire and Pots - p51

Caroline McCrudden expresses her passion for developing wood-firing as a sustainable practice, while providing the opportunity of getting together with like minded people.

Stewart Scrambler - Bosons, Dinosaurs and Wood-Fired Pots - p54

With the arrival of climate change, influences from distant shores and a changing market, Stewart Scrambler ponders his practice of wood-firing.

Jenny Dawson - J Shed Ceramic Art Studio, Fremantle - p58

Profiles the public arts practice of Jenny Dawson & her collaborations with artists of other disciplines.

Sandra Black - Reflections - p61

Sandra Black comments on issues and pathways for mid-career artists.

Annie Mayo - Postcard from Denmark, WA - p63

A postcard from a coastal town in Western Australia.

Fleur Schell - The Excellent Adventures of Heidi and Kilbey - p64

With the help of an Australia Council Grant and new ways of seeing the world, Fleur Schell’s current work is designed to reach a wider audience.

Philippa Gordon - Cactus Journey - p66

Philippa Gordon takes her teapots across the continent to the Inner City Clayworkers, Sydney Teapot Show. One is “cactus”, the other is Desire.

Awards and Gallery - p68

Inga Walton - Innovative Ceramics: Melbourne – Hong Kong - p72

Innovative Ceramics, Nettie Castan Gallery, South Yarra, Vic. Fostered by the RMIT’S Studio Ceramics Program, includes works from Australia, Hong Kong China and Taiwan.

Karen Weiss - Answered Prayers@ - p76

Karen Weiss reports from VERGE, where Garth Clark and Mark Del Vecchio appraise the building momentum towards a new direction for ceramics as art.

Vicki Grima, John Mawhinney - Inside My Studio - p80

Vicki Grima interviews John Mawhinney about his studio practice.

The Sydney Teapot Show - p83

2006 Winners

Decals - p84

Promotes Decal Specialists’ custom made decals -featuring the work of Ruth Andell & Mel Robson. Explained are methods for the care of decals, their application and firing.

John Kuczwal - Lustre – More than a Recipe - p88

John Kuczwal describes the different luster techniques & discusses the factors required for reduced-pigment luster.

Johanna DeMaine - Health and Safety and Overglaze - p91

Johanna DeMaine discusses health and safety when using overglaze lustres, precious metals, enamels and decals.

Petra Svoboda - Pottery and Print: an Evolving Tradition - p94

Petra Svoboda describes techniques for applying printed images to ceramics and provides a description of the Photocopy Litho Technique.

Annette Dezarnaulds - Book Review - p97

The Ceramics Narrative by Matthias Ostermann narrates stories from ceramic objects & contains a survey of contemporary artists from potters (including Australian) to some of the great painters such as Chagall & Picasso.

Lone White - Pots and Crocodiles - p98

Fiona Norris uses moulded crocodile skins to develop a range of wares from Far- North Queensland.

Lachlan Ely - Collecting – The Magnificent Obsession - p100

Lachlan Ely shares his love of collecting art pottery from 18th century English potteries to present day Australian Studio Pottery.

Glenn England, Jane Crick, Lone White, Lyn Rogers, Pauline Mann, Sue Stewart, Philip Hart - Australia Wide - p102

Reports on ceramics activities, events & exhibitions for all States & Territories.

Classifieds - p110