TRAVERSING

 Clementina at Kim Sacks Gallery - Vessels and Plates

  Clementina at Kim Sacks Gallery - Plates and bowls

  Clementina at Kim Sacks Gallery - Jugs and zig zag vases

 Kim at Kim Sacks Gallery - Pinch pots

  Kim at Kim Sacks Gallery - Pinch pots

  Clementina at Kim Sacks Gallery - Cartoon beakers

  Clementina at Kim Sacks Gallery - Tulipiere

  Clementina at Kim Sacks Gallery - Vessels and pedestal dish

  Clementina at Kim Sacks Gallery - Dancing vases

Priscilla Mouritzen at Kim Sacks Gallery - Pinch pots

 Priscilla Mouritzen at Kim Sacks Gallery - Pinch pots

  Kim at Kim Sacks Gallery - Pinch pots

 Kim at Kim Sacks Gallery - Pinch pots

These are some images from the current exhibition at Kim Sacks Gallery in Johannesburg.

The exhibition is called 'Traversing' and features the work of Clementina van der Walt, Kim Sacks and Priscilla Mouritzen. 

At the opening this past Saturday we had a talk/walkabout. I spoke about the meaning of making ceramics and how this relates to one's world view. I also read a beautiful poem by Rainer Maria Rilke which I found poignant and appropriate...

A Walk

My eyes already touch the sunny hill.
going far ahead of the road I have begun.
So we are grasped by what we cannot grasp;
it has inner light, even from a distance-

and charges us, even if we do not reach it,
into something else, which, hardly sensing it,
we already are; a gesture waves us on
answering our own wave...
but what we feel is the wind in our faces.

MIRO MEETS BLING MEETS THE 60'S

I am always astonished that in many craft forums today, it seems expected that makers can come up with a new 'product' overnight as it were. In the past months, whilst posting about many other ceramists, and also making some of my regular work for clients - to pay the  bills! - I have been struggling to find new meaning in my work. I think there is a Sufi concept which is something like -
 I know not who I am - 
and with this in mind I have been experimenting and searching for my voice in my ceramic work. I have been experimenting a lot and these images posted here are some of my first results which I feel are slowly getting somewhere in this journey. I find the creative process always such a struggle of brow-beating, slog and self criticism and wonder if this is the same for other makers. Certainly I would not be able to come up with a new design in a hurry!

I am reminded thus of a beautiful poem by Rilke which I have posted previously...still applies...

I live my life in growing orbits

which move out over the things of the world.

Perhaps I can never achieve the last,

but that will be my attempt.

I am circling around God, around the ancient tower,

and I have been circling for a thousand years.

And I still don't know if I am a falcon,

Or a storm, or a great song.

Rainer Maria Rilke 1875 - 1926

TREADING WATER

Detail from vase 'Underwater Journey'

I live my life in growing orbits

which move out over the things of the world.

Perhaps I can never achieve the last,

but that will be my attempt.

I am circling around God, around the ancient tower,

and I have been circling for a thousand years.

And I still don't know if I am a falcon,

Or a storm, or a great song.

Rainer Maria Rilke 1875 - 1926