COLLECT CERAMICS

Something exciting...

This year COLLECT is breaking out of the confines of the Saatchi Gallery.

Glen Wild was commissioned by the Crafts Council to make four large pots which are currently on display at David Mellor design store in Sloane Square. The work will be on display from the 1st to the 18th May. If you are in this part of London, please stop by!

David Mellor, 4 Sloane Square, London SW 1 W 8EE

SOCCER CELEBRATION

MY PLATES FOR THE ISONKE/BREAD EXHIBITION CELEBRATING SOCCER

Various artists, mainly calligraphy artists, were invited to take part in a fundraising exhibition - 'Isonke/Bread Plate exhibition - in celebration of

The 2010 World Cup Soccer' - opening tomorrow, Tuesday 11th at Art b. The Arts Association of Bellville

the http://www.artb.co.za/gallery.htm

'Soccer is the world's greatest equaliser, the easiest game to play on any surface, in any clothes, in any footwear or in nothing at all.'

Jesper Strudsholm quoted from the book Soccer in Africa - A Game of Passion by Tine Harden

SOCCER PASSION

CAMEROONS AND THE NETHERLANDS HERE WE COME!

STUDIO ASSISTANTS ADONIS AND SANDILE JUMPING FOR JOY ON HEARING THAT THEY WILL GET TICKETS TO ONE OF THE LIVE MAJOR SOCCER MATCHES TO BE HELD HERE IN CAPE TOWN

The soccer world cup - known in some circles here as 'the event that can't be named'(!) - is coming up in about 34 days time. Most of South Africa is waiting in excited anticipation...there is much frenzy and last minute upgrading of roads, bridges and other facilities. 8 matches will be held here in Cape Town.

In the studio we are starting to get into it...we will be holding a group exhibition here at the end of May to celebrate...

I, in particular, who have never been very interested, yesterday came across a fabulous new book, just published:

Soccer in Africa – A Game of Passion by Photographer and Writer Tine Harden

Struik Publishers Published 1 May 2010.

The photographs are extremely moving and this has given me a whole new perception of soccer and the significance of it in most communities on the African continent.

I am also inspired to make some ceramic work around the theme.

To the photographer and writer, (Danish) Tine Harden I salute you! This book really does reveal that soccer is the most beautiful game, in a way that most visual images of it, just don't manage to accomplish.

ON BEAUTY AND USE

Just out of the kiln - a majolica bowl with carved edge

Side view of bowl

A very satisfying 'gem' out of the kiln today - a utilitarian press-moulded bowl for soup, cereal or salad..or just for contemplation!

Without using there is no complete seeing, for nothing so emphasizes the beauty of things as their right application' Soetsu Yanagi (1889-1961), one of Japan's leading writers and philosophers. He is also well-known amongst potters for his book The Unknown Craftsman.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yanagi_S%C5%8Detsu

VISUAL EMPATHY

RAMEKINS BEING PAINTED WITH UNDERGLAZE COLOUR

'The challenge is to produce simple forms whose economy of expression extends beyond function to gesture and visual empathy. This empathy transfers everyday ware into objects of ritual esteem.' Byron Temple (1932-2002)

http://www.craftinamerica.org/artists_clay/story_265.php?

FLAKES OF LIGHT

New panel 'FLAKES OF THE LIGHT'

Today, a misty autumn morning this panel and the poem below seem to resonate particularly for me...

A poem by the Spanish poet Juan Ramon Jimenez (24 December 1881–29 May 1958)

I have a feeling that my boat

has struck, down there in the depths,

against a great thing.

And nothing

happens! Nothing...Silence...Waves

-Nothing happens? Or has everything happened,

and we are standing now, quietly, in the new life?

POTS IN PROGRESS

Wheel thrown and distorted vase with white incised slip, still to be glazed

Wheel thrown and distorted vase with white incised slip, still to be glazed

Newly wheel-thrown mugs for an exhibition happening at our studio at the end of this month

“My thoughts are whirled like a potter's wheel; I know not where I am nor what I do.”

William Shakespeare 1564-1616

Well..not quite as confused as Shakespeare in the above quote... I do have a busy week ahead, many different strands of work happening and am not quite sure where to begin on a Monday morning; and besides I am regularly plagued with doubt about what I do! But...watch this space during the week...