Wednesday, October 31, 2012

BRING ART TO YOUR DINING TABLE...

A great article in the latest online edition of House and Leisure...







clementina ceramics

Bring art to your dining table…

Clementina Ceramics may have started in 2001, but the brand’s proprietor and visionary has been working in the field for over 20 years. Trained at Wits Technikon, now the University of Johannesburg, Clementina van der Walt obtained her National Higher Diploma in Ceramics in 1984 and continued to lecture in their Ceramic Department until 1988. 12 years after starting a production studio in Paarl in 1989, Van der Walt moved to Cape Town and started creating unique dinnerware in addition to other bespoke ceramics.
Van der Walt says she’s always had an interest in tableware. ‘I love the fact that someone drinks out of my mug on a daily basis and that it enriches their life with pleasure, enhancing a positive sense of being alive,’ she says. But this artist makes a whole lot more than mugs. Cups, plates, bowls, decorative plates and composite tile panels are handcrafted in her Woodstock studio with the help of two assistants, Adonis N’sele Mumpango and Sandile Cele.
Unlike other utilitarian ceramics, Van der Walt’s work isn’t out to mimic everyday crockery. Instead her approach to bespoke dinner sets is an intentional backlash against the sterility of mass production. ‘I deliberately emphasise the handmade and irregular quality of each piece,’ she says. ‘The commercial dinnerware which one finds in home ware stores is often well designed and well made. However, in a way, it can be quite sterile and exude a sense of  ”the same”, impersonal, too slick and with no sense of a person behind the items.’
Priced between R6 000-R40 000 – depending on quantity and additional items – each service is a tactile piece of art which enhances the daily rituals of eating and drinking. While more expensive than your standard dinner service, Van der Walt uses the simple analogy of home-baked bread versus government loaf: ‘Both fulfill the same practical purpose, but are worlds apart in terms of aesthetic and meaningful human experience.’
In addition to creating bespoke ceramics, Van der Walt takes on custom projects based on her existing range. ’Although it is not branded like Louis Vuitton, the custom design gives the items added financial value,’ says Van der Walt. ‘The client gets a dinner set which has been made specifically and only for them – making each piece feel special and meaningful.’
Clementina Ceramics are made from charcoal earthenware clay with a variety of underglaze colours and monochrome glazes. Pieces are made by slip-casting in moulds, slabbed clay pressed into moulds or are hand-constructed or wheel thrown. You can purchase the bespoke ceramics from Clementina’s shop at the Old Biscuit Mill. For more information visit www.clementina.co.za

Thursday, October 25, 2012

FRANSCHHOEK ART IN CLAY AT EBONY GALLERY






ART IN CLAY
Please join us on Sunday, 28th October at 11:30am
for a Piano Recital by Christopher Duigan in the NG Church followed by the official opening of our exhibition in the gallery.

EBONY
Shop 4 Franschhoek Square Huguenot Street Franschhoek
www.ebonydesign.co.za
 

Franschhoek's 2nd 'Art in Clay' Festival starts at the end of October and we're delighted to invite you to join us at the opening of our exhibition. We have wonderful new works by a range of artists this year including John Bauer, Hennie Meyer, Clementina van der Walt, Katherine Glenday, Lisa Ringwood, Ian Garrett, John Newdigate and many others.

We are also very excited to be showing the wonderful work of Ardmore Ceramics at EBONY for the first time and we'll have some beautiful pieces on show.

A large part of this year's festival is centred around 'Women in Clay' and to celebrate this we have the most beautiful collection of Ukhamba which is definite must see.

For more information about Art in Clay and participating galleries, please click here.

This weekend is a very busy one in Franschhoek with lots to see and do – the 9th Annual Classic Music Festival takes place at several different venues in the village – have a look at www.franschhoekclassic.co.za for further information. Our village also hosts 'Open Gardens' and there are lots of beautiful private spaces which will be open to visit for this weekend only.
 

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

RESTAURANT PRODUCTION




A few months ago I was commissioned to make 100 dinner plates and 100 side plates for The Tasting Room at Le Quartier Français in Franschhoek...it turned out to be somewhat stressful as there was a tight deadline to meet the re-launch date...very simple plates where the chef will become the decorator!

Saturday, October 13, 2012

STUDIO OPEN DAY AND 'STILL LIFE' EXHIBITION

STUDIO OPEN DAY

please join us for a glass of wine...

EXHIBITION : STILL LIFE

peta becker - benjamin coutouvidis - erica elk - hennie meyer - lisa ringwood - clementina van der walt - margaret woermann

Saturday 20th October  11am - 3pm

Clementina Ceramics
501 Tollgate Industrial Centre
12 Ravenscraig Road
Woodstock
Tel. 021 448 3203

www.clementina.co.za

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

RISING EARLY MAKES THE ROAD SHORT

 tea cosies


 tea towels


 aprons


 cushions


ipad pouch bags

We received these wonderful textiles today from Yda Walt - they are for our shop at the Old Biscuit Mill. I love the fresh bright colours, sense of spring and the wonderful use of African proverbs as text.