There was a mesmerising exhibition at the Palacio de Moneda of artifacts from the Arica region in the north of Chile. Among the wonderful works of basketry, weaving, jewellery and carving from the ancient cultures of the north are the fabled Chinchorro mummies. These predate the Egyptian mummies, originating back as far as 5,000 BC. [...]
Posts under ‘ceramics’
White Heat
This looks a very interesting opportunity for those who work with earth and fire: WHITE HEAT 2009 [ n. an extreme heat that stretches the limits of the safety and familiarity ] Transformative practices that move beyond the object of utility, often take risks that propel the maker and viewer into unfamiliar territory. The exhibition [...]
South African craft in Sydney
Here’s a wonderful opportunity to see some of what’s emerging out of South Africa, including Zulu pottery and Master Weave ‘telephone’ wire baskets and photography by Garth Meyer (hopefully, I’ll have names for the ceramicists and weavers soon) 24 September – 11 October Gallery Aloft, 660 Darling Street Rozelle More information: www.southernexchange.com.au
Review of Black Robe White Mist
Dorcas Maphakela was one of a new generation of black art students graduating from Witwatersrand Technicon in Johannesburg, 2003. Seeking to expand her knowledge of the arts, she saved money to spend a year as an intern at Craft Victoria. She has since picked up the pen and is starting to write exhibition reviews. So [...]
Go bush at the national centre
I’m spending a couple of weeks in Canberra with the ceramics department at the Canberra School of Art. The region has quite its fair share of craft capital. Beth Hatton ‘transient as a tree’ 2008, cedar tripod, acacia tree root Beth Hatton Introducing species scotch thistle, yorkshire fog, redanther wallaby grass, allocasuarina seeks, linen thread [...]
What to make of relational craft
I’m currently visiting the Ceramics Department at the Canberra School of Art. As usual, there’s plenty of new ideas and things around. And the ‘Brindabella biter’ that blows in from the west keeps everyone on their toes. Last week I gave talk on ‘relational ceramics’, which developed partly out of a paper that I wrote [...]
Ceramics with a story
(L-R). Bartholomew, Freeman, DeBoos, Hely, McMillan If you’re in Sydney, the exhibition at Sabbia Gallery would be definitely worth a visit. Narrative: Installation and Sculptural Based Ceramics in Australia includes work by Julie Bartholomew, Janet Deboos, Honor Freeman, Patsy Hely, Ruth Mcmillan & Angela Valamanesh – opens 8 August.
Craft in Opera Jawa
Opera Jawa is an Indonesian film commissioned by Peter Sellars for Mozart’s 250th birthday. Directed by Garin Nugroho, the film claims to be the world’s first gamelan musical. Besides stunning music and ravishing scenes, Opera Jawa is a particularly interesting setting for world craft. The plot, based on the Ramayana, involves conflict between two families. [...]
A tale of two crafts in one city
Tonight was the opening of the Gallery Funaki International Jewellery Award 2008 Transformation. The award is testament to the international scene that Mari Funaki has been able to carve out of a lane in Melbourne. This award was given to the godfather of contemporary jewellery, Otto Künzli, in a piece of reductive beauty in [...]
