Installations by Clementina van der Walt at The UCT Irma Stern Museum

Clementina ceramics and Casamento furniture

The latest exhibition at the Irma Stern Museum in Mowbray celebrates Clementina van der Walt, renowned ceramicist. Some of our pieces were loaned to Clementina for to use in her exhibit... The result is a beautiful blend of mid-century colours and ideas. Her work here is another look at marrying the 1950’s and the present - which is what we are all about! We are proud to be part of this show and would love you all to have a look if you can make it... it is well worth it.
Show runs until the 17 January 2009.
The Irma Stern Museum is in Cecil Road, Mowbray.

http://www.casamento.co.za/Site/studio_news/studio_news.html

Clementina at The Irma Stern Museum - Opening event

The opening of my show yesterday evening at The Irma Stern Museum was an extremely happy, well-attended and gracious event.
The above image is the work on show at the opening foyer of the gallery. Magnificent roses picked and placed by Christopher Peter (curator) - he got them from Chart Farm - adorn various vases on the show.
Here follows a transcript of the opening address by Deborah Posel. A really inspiring speech which articulates so eloquently the issues which many of us feel concerned about.

HEARTH exhibition, 10 Dec 2008.

Deborah Posel


I was surprised and honoured to be invited to open this exhibition. After all, I am something of a foreign alien here – still an interloper in Cape Town (having not yet fully arrived), and a flat-footed social scientist, rather than an expert within the fine arts. But what I lack in expertise I hope I make up for in enthusiasm: I am one of those cerebral types with a passion for art.

That includes ceramics – the most tactile and earthy of the arts. Even sculptures have more of a ‘do not touch’ sign about them than a ceramics piece, which invites us to pick it up and caress it. We are much less in awe of a ceramic object than one which announces itself as a sculpture; much more likely, then, to engage with it – and of course, to use it, love it, and incorporate it into our daily lives.

And certainly, the wonderful form, texture and colour of Clementina’s pieces make them irresistible objects to bond with. I have always enjoyed the combination of exuberance and discipline in Clementina’s work – and this exhibition is true to form.

But there is more to these objects than their aesthetic flair. They invite what Stephen Bowers calls ‘a second reading’, in relation to the wider remit of this exhibition – Hearth, Earth, Heart and Art – the matrix of meaning established by Clementina’s framing and naming of her work here.

This exhibition is an affectionate evocation of the emotional, cultural, and aesthetic power of home, signified by the hearth. Home – if we are lucky enough to have one – is the place where the profound and the mundane intertwine, where we ready ourselves to face the world outside: in little ways (such as in eating, drinking, sleeping and getting dressed) and in big ways (as in learning who we are, dreaming about what we could become, locating ourselves in relation to others, in our family, our communities, our country and the world at large).

Our recourse to objects in our homes – utilitarian objects as well as objects of display - is saturated with all of that: the co-mingling of the existentially profound and the everyday mundane.

Objects become sites of memory – recollections that may be affectionately nostalgic, or more jagged and painful. Be it the cup that you inherited from your grandmother, the bowl you bought on your special holiday in India, the chair that your best friend gave you, the table where your children did their homework year after year, or the bed on which your marriage collapsed.

Objects, then, link our present with the past; they remind and re-enact. Their materiality becomes inseparable from their meaning.

There’s more too. Everyday objects are thoroughly entangled with our sense of who we are, with the ways we perform ourselves, with the person we choose to announce to others.

Jean Baudrillard, in his book The System of Objects, is one among many influential social theorists who writes what most of us probably already know intuitively:

Human beings and objects are indeed bound together in a collusion in which the objects take on a certain density, an emotional value – what might be called a ‘presence’. What gives the houses of our childhood such depth and resonance in memory is clearly this complex structure of interiority, and the objects within it serve for us as boundary markers of the symbolic configuration known as home. In their anthropomorphism, the objects that furnish it become household gods, spatial incarnations of the emotional bonds and the permanence of the family group.

So, from hearth to earth to heart to art: there is indeed a fluid transition, an intimate connection that gives this exhibition its symbolic depth and allure.

One of my currently favourite books is called Micro-Trends: Surprising Tales of the Way We Live Today, by Mark Penn. It documents the little, counter-intuitive trends that mark contemporary American society, in low profile but unexpectedly forceful ways (the power of small numbers, if you like - with apologies to Arjun Appadurai).

One of these micro-trends is a backlash against the cultural imperialism of new technologies and their insinuation into every facet of our lives. The people driving this trend, says Mark Penn, are people who are ‘striking back with pens in hand’; people who write on real paper, in full sentences; people with scraps of paper in their pockets with hand-written to-do lists.

He calls them ‘the Great Unrushed’ – people looking for low-tech ways to spend their time and their money.

I suspect many of you here who are drawn to Clementina’s work identify in some ways with America’s Great Unrushed – not necessarily as thoroughgoing Luddites, but in relishing the perhaps old-fashioned allure of beautifully hand-wrought, slowly and painstakingly rendered pieces of clay such as Clementina’s ceramics.

There is still something endearing, surely, about the one-off, the uniquely crafted, the individually rendered work of ceramic art that endures, that you are not going to find when in Istanbul, or on Oxford Street, or made in China. Part of the ‘presence’ of these works (as Baudrillard puts it) is as a rejoinder - a counterpoint - to the easy global replicability of things, and the velocity with which an object can come into being and then disappear.

The text of Clementina’s invitation suggests that in contemplating the beautiful objects assembled here, we should dwell more carefully and thoughtfully on the intimate activities of eating and drinking at home: those exceedingly simple, yet symbolically dense, daily acts. Please do so, without rushing, and take some home with you.

Clementina at The Irma Stern Museum

H E A R T H

H E A R T H

H E A R T H

H E A R T H

An exhibition of ceramic panels and utilitarian objects

by Clementina van der Walt at The UCT Irma Stern Museum

to be opened on Wednesday 10th December 2008

by Professor Deborah Posel at 6.30 pm

Wits Institute for Social and Economic Research

University of the Witwatersrand

Cecil Road, Rosebank, 7700 Cape Town. Tel. 021 685 5686 Museum hours: Tuesday - Saturday 10 - 5 pm.

Exhibition closes Saturday 17th January 2009

Vintage furniture kindly loaned by Casamento

Inspired by Afrikan alphabets, Art Deco and Russian Suprematist images, Clementina van der Walt has created a body of work which explores the nostalgia and intimacy of the context of ‘home’. This theme is pursued both in composite tile panels, and in still life arrangements of groups of tableware. These utilitarian objects, displayed on items of vintage furniture, invite contemplation on the meaning of the everyday rituals of eating and drinking.
A variety of ceramic techniques have been used to create the forms, the surfaces of which express a rich tapestry of colours, textures and patterns in the artist’s signature style.

HENNIE MEYER EXHIBITION

A new show by Cape Town based ceramist, Hennie Meyer coming up on the 3rd December in which he investigates relationships between positive and negative form. Opening address by Joan Hambidge at art.b Gallery in Bellville at 18.30. www.artb.co.za
Exhibition closes 21st January 2009

EXHIBITION VASES

Just out of the kiln today, after many hours of labour intensive making and surfaces! These are inspired by Russian Suprematism and Constructivism, Malevich and Suetin mainly, and the mystical associations with fundamental geometric forms

LATEST WORK - EXHIBITION AND ORDERS

Press moulded bowl with geometric city scape images

Wheel thrown bowl with geometric motifs





Wheel thrown bowl with geometric motifs



New vase inspired by Russian Suprematists





These are porcelain beakers with underglaze pencil designs, based on the graphic markings of Afrikan alphabets. These are for my upcoming exhibition but I hope to develop this range further next year.





This is part of an order of utilitarian bowls, plates and cups for La Grange, in Franschoek, Western Cape. The glazes are a combination of shiny and matte, and the colour scheme is earthy to go with kelims...

CERAMICS SOUTHERN AFRICA, 2008 CAPE REGIONAL EXHIBITION

My set of 10 bowls for the 'CUBE'(bowls by invited ceramists) at the Ceramics Southern Africa, Cape Regional 2008 Exhibition
Opening Sunday 16th November at 5 pm. Exhibition ends 13th December
At Rust-en-Vrede Gallery and The Clay Museum, 10 Wellington Road, Durbanville

EXHIBITION PREVIEW...

GREEN COMPOSITE VASE



BROWN BLACK CHEQUERED COMPOSITE VASE

In between completing end of year orders, much focus is on my up coming exhibition, titled HEARTH, taking place in December 2009, opening 10th, at The UCT Irma Stern Museum in Cape Town.
Here are some of the images for the show..

THE PACE HOTS UP!

In all the South African political frenzy, and the world wide economic turmoil, the pace hots up for making deadlines for commitments, exhibitions, orders etc. So there is life after all...after all the external dramas!
These are images of work finished this week...
Above - some of my latest work ... all utilitarian... for:
*Strydom Gallery in George Eastern Cape, their annual show at 79 Market Street. www.artaffair.co.za
*Some is going to Africa Adorned, exhibition in Woodstock opening Thursday 24th October 6 - 9 pm, 8 Hares Crescent. Tel 021 448 9761
*And then some of it is going to LIM in Kloof St. Cape Town


These are a set of 6 beakers called 'Ancient Plants - Set of six commemorative beakers'
This is for Penny Dobbie's annual group exhibition in Queen's Road Tamboerskloof opening this Sunday 19th October, 10 - 5 pm, 10 Queen's Road, Tel 021 424 8349



Commemorative plaques commission, earthenware with underglaze and accents of glaze.
These box tiles are a commission for the Cape Town International Convention Centre, to honour the past chairpersons of this organization. This was a collaboration between me and Majolandile Dyalvane, the faces are my contribution. Tiles with the names of the dignitaries, are still in the kiln....

TEA AND BISCUITS CONTINUED

These are some of the images of work at the Tea and Biscuits exhibition at CLEMENTINA CERAMICS, The Old Biscuit Mill, Woodstock




Tattoo cups for tea...by John Newdigate
Ceramic biscuits for tea...by Kendal Warren
The mad hatter's tea party...part of a teaset by Anne Marais
Felt brooches by Vienie van der Walt, collaboration with Clementina van der Walt

chocolates, biscuits and nuts for tea

Today 1st October, still lousy weather in Cape Town, although there were a few rays of sunshine this morning. Nevertheless we are going full steam ahead with our tea and biscuits exhibition tomorrow to celebrate the opening of our new shop at The Old Biscuit Mill and ...dare I say it...spring....Planning to substitute our wonderful iced tea punch (based on a recipe from a ranch in South Carolina decades ago, strong on the alcoholic content!) for something more warming like sherry or maybe even spiced mulled wine if the weather is really freezing.
In the meantime, the image here is of some of my own work for the show..I am very excited about my sweet stands, and quite inspired to hold my own tea party and use them for a ritual high tea celebration when the occasion arises.
To all our Cape Town clients, even if it is raining and windy tomorrow, please join us from 4 - 6 to chill a bit (hopefully not literally!)

TEA AND BISCUITS EXHIBITION

TO CELEBRATE SPRING (HA ..HA...IT IS FREEZING AND RAINING RIGHT NOW, BUT NEVERTHELESS WE ARE OPTIMISTIC!) AND THE OPENING OF OUR NEW SHOP AT THE OLD BISCUIT MILL IN WOODSTOCK, WE ARE HAVING AN OPENING EXHIBITION AROUND THE OLD FASHIONED THEME OF TEA AND BISCUITS.(ATER ALL IT WAS A BISCUIT MILL ONCE...) 20 LEADING CERAMISTS HAVE BEEN INVITED TO MAKE WORK. 'SHOUT' (A VERY COOL RESTAURANT AT THE OLD BISCUIT MILL) IS GOING TO BE SERVING TEA AND BISCUITS. WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ALL ON THURSDAY 2ND OCTOBER AT 4 - 6 PM

RAINBOW CUPS

In addition to 2 large panels, 1 small one and several plates, these are some of the EIGHTY small cups for Rainbow Gallery in Switzerland. Mammoth amount!

KALK BAY MODERN GROUP SHOW

my work for a group exhibition coming up next Thursday 18th at Kalk Bay Modern, Cape Town.
These are small plaques which 'float' off the wall...

BOOK LAUNCH - KOOS MALGAS SCULPTOR OF THE OWL HOUSE

An interesting book launch happening this Saturday at our gallery in Cape Town city centre.

The A.R.T.Gallery, 205 The Colosseum Building, 3 St.George's Mall. The authors will be present to sign and have an open discussion around the book. Also on show will be linocuts by artists of the Bethesda Art Foundation and photographs of the Owl House by Jac de Villiers.

MINIATURES AT DE KRAAL GALLERY, PAARL

Just out of the kiln today!
These are tile discs approximately 8 cm diameter. Each tile is attached to a bracket which in turn is attached to the wall giving a floating effect.
These ceramic pieces are for an exhibition to be held later this month at de Kraal Gallery in Paarl, Western Cape as part of the Cultivaria Festival.

PANEL WITH ANCIENT PLANTS

These are sections of a commission for a tile mural using imagery of ancient plants from the Permian Period and lines of poetic text by Mike Cope, Cape Town based poet.

HOT PROPERTY

a fabulous article on CLEMENTINA CERAMICS at The Old Biscuit Mill in Woodstock, Cape Town in the September issue of The Property Magazine page 15


http://propertymag-wc.softpagecms.com/files/119996209/propertymag-wc.asp

HENNIE MEYER ARCHITECTURAL

Hennie Meyer - a Cape Town based ceramist whose work is on show at our shop at The Old Biscuit Mill in Woodstock, Cape Town - has recently completed a most impressive architectural project which consists of several very large ceramic panels which were commissioned for the reception area of an Indonesian hotel. Quite a competent technical feat, and very appropriate aesthetically for the interior where they are now installed.

CERAMIC SHOW 'EXCHANGE'

An interesting ceramic exhibition coming up in Cape Town - Andile Dyalvane, Katherine Glenday, Christina Bryer and Zizipo Poswa. These artists have been engaged in conversation for some time, exploring their respective histories with clay. Their installation shows a passion for the earth which they work with, it touches on their deepest childhood memory, it acknowledges their ancestry and weaves a picture of their appreciation for one another and for their country.

Exciting to see some ceramics with content and meaning. So many ceramic pieces are lacking this dimension...

You can also see the work of Katherine Glenday and Christina Bryer at our shop Clementina Ceramics at The Old Biscuit Mill in Woodstock, Cape Town. Andile Dyalvane and Zizipo Poswa have work on show at their own shop, Imiso Ceramics, also at The Old Biscuit Mill.

CUPS FOR KIM

An order for Kim Sacks Gallery in Johannesburg, cups and beakers to be packed and sent off tomorrow. These are all slipcast and then individually hand painted and glazed.

NEW TALL BEAKERS

I have just taken these new tall beakers out of the kiln, very excited about them! They are 15cm high, could be used a drinking vessels or small vases. They are very thin and very tactile, s m o o t h!

FIVE ROSES TEA SET

The tea set for the Five Roses Sanlam Fashion Awards is finally finished. The challenge was to make something that looked contemporary and related to fashion, incorporated the Five Roses association and had a romantic touch. (It also had to be utilitarian!) This will go off to Johannesburg on Monday...

NEW PLATES

LATEST PLATES OUT OF THE KILN YESTERDAY.

Images sent to Source who have a client who is interested.

Non-utilitarian, mainly for hanging on the wall,inspiration comes from traditional textiles like Kente cloth, and graphic marks from Afrikan Alphabets.