Pot of the Month - June 2013

POT OF THE MONTH

ASHRAF HANNA

SABLE VESSEL FORM

We have chosen this piece by Ashraf Hanna for several reasons. It is one of a number of pots in the current show – CERAMICS NOW - which I have found quite mesmeric. It has great presence; the cushion like quality of the work gives it an ‘otherness’ which I find difficult to define. Secondly, there have been more conversations with visitors to the gallery about this piece than any other. I should also add a statement of the obvious - it is technically superb.

Ashraf’s new vessels are very different from the familiar Hanna sculptural pieces which are tightly controlled and so often geometrically patterned. Here we have the antithesis; organic simplicity, elegance of line and neutral colour with a hint of shading to emphasise the form. Its shape-shifting quality from the rectangular base and vertical to the ovoid body is nothing less than alchemical. This is hand building of the highest order – and yet how it is made is irrelevant. This is ceramic art at its finest.

You will surmise that Stuart, our Ceramic Curator is smitten with this wonderful object – you would be right!

Mid Month Message from Our Ceramic Curator

DON’T MISS THIS ONE!

Only two more weeks before the end of Ceramics Now - if you haven’t yet been able to see this show and are looking for the best in contemporary studio ceramics, then try to visit before the 29^th June.

All those who have visited so far have commented on the range and quality of the show. I was delighted with the look of the exhibition from the outset. It was particularly satisfying to see, for example the luminescent wood-fired pots of Clive Bowen sitting comfortably alongside the outstanding new work of Ashraf Hanna. Ashraf and I have had many conversations about showing at Bevere over the last few years and at last he is here with his stunning vessels which are the product of his time at the RCA undertaking an MA. We have had so many comments about these pieces and they clearly appeal to people of all tastes.

Another talking point has been the completely new style of pot now being made by Gabriele Koch – long admired for her elegant smoke fired and burnished pieces. The black pots with white porcelain inlays make striking punctuation marks in an exhibition which has quality written all over it. This is the ceramic lovers ‘Desert Island’ show.

Incidentally, I am also delighted that one of the exquisite John Ward vessels has been sold to the Director of an eminent art museum in the USA. Good to know we are on the international map as well as confirming what we already know – John Ward is a world class ceramicist.

It would be remiss of me not to mention the fine outdoor ceramics which are now in the newly developed Gallery Outback and will be showing June through August. The scale and undoubted quality of this work, most of which feature as part of the Ceramics Now show, makes these vessels and sculptures ideal focal points, even in the small garden. Whilst I am reluctant to single out individual makers, I am in awe of the technical skills involved in the making of some of the huge pieces we have on show. Try to make time for a visit ‘Outback’ as well as the main gallery.

Do come and see for yourself before the show closes or indeed come again and enjoy the experience one more time.

Stuart Dickens

Ceramic Curator – 16 June 2013

Ceramics Now

 

"CERAMICS NOW" AT BEVERE

Bevere Gallery was proud to celebrate the CPA’s 50^th Anniversary with an appropriately prestigious show involving some of the best studio potters. The Gallery is now pleased to be taking part in an event which is the first of its kind for the CPA and the four participating galleries. CeramicsNow will simultaneously show the work of some sixty CPA members across four galleries – ourselves; New Ashgate Gallery, Farnham; The Bluecoat Display Centre, Liverpool and the Contemporary Ceramics Gallery in London.

We are excited about the twenty four makers that will be showing at Bevere both inside and outside –see below. There is a wonderfully diverse mix which should excite wide interest. We believe that the gallery remains an important vehicle for the promotion and sale of studio ceramics; a view which is shared by the participating galleries. Our role is to educate, stimulate and respond to change in positive ways that maintain momentum in the market. Importantly, we should enthusiastically and knowledgeably promote the work of the country’s finest craftsmen and women.

All aspects of cultural life are subject to the vagaries of fashion and public taste – and studio ceramics is no exception. Today’s collector is much more eclectic; responding to the objects that evoke a response whether it be intellectual, emotional or aesthetic. The Shock of the New is still a powerful stimulus to makers, gallerists and committed buyers – we should embrace it in the knowledge that renewal and reinvention is essential to a healthy ceramic culture and infrastructure.

In the Gallery: -

Charles Bound, Clive Bowen, Ross Emerson, Annabel Faraday, Ashraf Hanna, John Jelfs, Jude Jelfs, Chris Keenan, Gabriele Koch, Tony Laverick,
Jane Perryman, Marie Prett, Georgia Shearman, Craig Underhill and John Ward.

Bevere Gallery

In the Courtyard and NEW Gallery Outback:-

Nigel Edmondson, Alan Foxley, Peter Hayes, Karin Hessenberg, Wendy Hoare, Kate Mellor, Christine-Ann Richards, Jim Robison and   Kathy Shadwell.

Gallery Courtyard

Gallery Out Back

Sculptures in OutBack

BEVERE GALLERY/ ROYAL GRAMMAR SCHOOL

Bevere Gallery Arts Award

in association with The Royal Grammar School, Worcester

MIKE BROMAGE CERAMIC AND PAINTING TO BE AWARDED

TO GCSE AND A LEVEL ART EXHIBITION WINNERS

Bevere Gallery is working with the Grammar School in Worcester in an effort to champion the Arts at GCSE and A Level and widen the audience for the School’s arts initiative.

RGS Worcester has a thriving Art Department, with highly experienced teachers covering a wide skill set. This ensures the production of high quality, creative work by the pupils and excellent exam results year on year. The school is keen to build on this excellent infrastructure to further support the work of the staff, excite pupils and demonstrate to parents and prospective parents that RGS has a superb Art Department.

The Annual Art Exhibition

The annual Art Exhibition in June features GCSE and A Level work pupils have produced. For the A Level students this is the culmination of a two-year A Level course and provides the portfolio of work necessary for moving into the art industry after school.
The winners of the awards will be chosen by Bevere Gallery representatives and announced at the end of the Student Graduate Show in July. Each winner - one at GCSE Level and one at A Level - will be presented with an Arts Trophy that will then remain within the School in the Trophy Cabinet.  Each winner will also receive a painting that they will keep.

The Trophies
The two Trophies are the work of Mike Bromage, artist and ceramicist, whose unique contemporary style will excite and encourage aspiring artists. Mike’s work demonstrates that, even in a world crowded with many craftsmen and artists, there is still ample space for original and provocative work.

THE CURATOR’S VIEW – MAY 2013

http://beveregallery.com/exhibitions?exhibitID=193 

Having just visited Ceramic Art London, which is my favourite ceramic show, I was impressed with the number of makers who had used the last year to develop their work and in some cases, completely change their style. Change is a tricky business for established makers. Buyers will be looking for the familiar and makers want to harness their creativity and move on. Producing the same work year after year is anathema to those who became studio potters in the first place because their chosen medium offered so many creative opportunities. I talked with potters at CAL, who philosophically took the view that if current work wasn’t selling, there was nothing to lose by changing. This will be controversial for some, but making a living as a potter was never easy; if you do what you always did, then you’ll get what you always got!

This month’s group of featured makers reinforces the Bevere commitment to quality and diversity.

 RobinWelch is the doyen of studio potters and we have had the chance to handpick his pieces for this feature, following a visit to his Suffolk home and studio. As I write, I have been reflecting on what it is that attracts me to his work. He is fundamentally an artist. His pots evoke different responses from different perspectives; they are open to personal interpretation; colour contrasts may be striking or they may subtly reflect the landscapes which inspire him. This is abstract expressionism in clay.

Elke Sada has been shown by us for some time. She won the Ceramic Review Award at Ceramic Art London 2012 and her painterly decoration and use of vibrant colour combinations always catches the eye. This group of her latest work will not disappoint.

Maria de Haan is new to Bevere and her Japanese influenced tableware will, I predict, gain an increasing number of admirers. The interest in studio domestic  pots has been enhanced by innovative makers like Maria, as well as the appreciation by food lovers that these pots bring an added something to the simplest of meals.

Bevere Gallery is sponsoring the Annual GCSE and A level arts prizes at Worcester Grammar School. The ‘trophy’ in each case will be a Mike Bromage

 A Selection of Mike Bromage's  Pots

ceramic piece with a small painting by Mike for the fortunate winners to keep permanently. In anticipation of the presentation of these awards in June, we are showing a small group of Mike’s ceramics and paintings throughout May.

For those of you that enjoyed and indeed purchased work by 
 Margaret Curtis's when last featured, we will be also showing a small group of her latest pieces.

This has been a packed blog this month; however, I need to light the blue touch paper on a very important exhibition coming up in June. It is called Ceramics Now and involves four galleries across England who between them will be showing the work of sixty CPA members. We will be showing a significant number of those including a number of established names that we have not shown before. We are excited about this event, which is the first of its kind, and we hope that it will generate new interest in ceramics as well as highlight the important role that galleries have in promoting as well as selling the best in studio ceramics. It opens on the first Saturday in June at Bevere – put it on your calendar now – it is not to be missed!

THE CURATOR’S VIEW - April 2013

"This month we are once again demonstrating the virtues of diversity with three featured makers who are regularly shown at Bevere and have provided new bodies of work for this month.

Eric Moss is one of the distinctive voices in raku and his squid shapes and tactile pieces will be known to many of our visitors.

This latest group has some of those forms but there is more colour here and a new series called ‘knives’ which unites rocking pieces into interactive sculpture.

Matthew Marsh

is a Wolverhampton Graduate who first appeared in the Bevere 2010 Graduate Show and has been in the gallery regularly since then. There is a unique quality to Matthew’s work which embraces classical forms and yet through alteration and his striking decorative technique gives all his pieces an almost decadent quality.

John Maltby is amongst the best known of studio potters. His response to the growing demand for his distinctive and singular work has been met with burgeoning creativity which belies his age. We are genuinely delighted to be showing another hand- picked group of his sculptures. They will not disappoint.

Visitors will also be able to see new pieces from Alan Birchall, who has trained in Japan and gives a fresh feel to oriental inspired stoneware.

  Emily Kriste-Wilcox is another contemporary potter whose new work has a reflective quality and an elegant contemporary presence. I like Emily’s new work which is more nuanced with subtle shading and texture. It would be good to know what you think of them."
Stuart Dickens

THE CURATOR’S VIEW - March 2013

It is time for some blue sky and the occasional appearance of the sun. Spring may be near but the last vestiges of winter linger. I hope that our featured makers this month will lighten the gloom and herald a change in the weather.

Raewyn Harrison is new to Bevere. I first saw her work at Ceramic Art London and was impressed with her craft skills and her imaginative use of print on clay. This work is different and has already created great interest. New Zealand born, Raewyn combines English heritage with contemporary ceramics in a way that sits well in any setting.

Sculptures by Gaynor & Paul

Ostinelli and Priest have delivered a new group of work for this month. There is a growing interest in ceramic sculpture and the quality of Gaynor and Paul’s modelling is among the best. Their appeal is the character which they give their subjects. Even two pieces which may look similar have a different set of the eyes or a turn of the head. We are delighted to be featuring their work again.

Rachel Wood has also been a regular exhibitor at Bevere. She is currently in Australia undertaking a residency and before leaving, she has let us have a group of pots which were a pleasure to unpack. The influence of landscape is evident in texture and her colour palette. Although each pot varies in scale and look well in groups, they individually command attention. This is some of the best work we have had from Rachel, who is committed to developing her craft and opening up new possibilities.

 Collection from Louise's green/frog range

We will also be showing a new collection from  


Louise Darby
which shows her decorating skills to great effect.  






Gayle Ansell is just setting out on her ceramics career and we are much taken with her saggar- fired dishes.

Pete Higgs has new pieces in too and he is developing a series based on natural forms such as hazelnuts and conkers, in porcelain and raku.

The weather may not be anything different, but you can be sure that the gallery will always have something new and exciting to lighten the spirit.

Stuart Dickens- Ceramic Curator