John Maltby Returns This Month

CURATOR’S VIEW MARCH 2012

"The Gallery owner Alastair Taylor and I have just returned from one of our regular visits to see John Maltby and John Leach.

 John was in good spirits and clearly as creative and productive as he has ever been. His health has improved significantly in the last few months and as always conversation was wide ranging and robust. We have brought back only five pieces this time because of his current commitments and the constant demand for his work; however these are excellent small sculptures which demonstrate all that is unique about John’s ceramic voice.

Ceramics by John Maltby

Nick Rees & John Leach

We wanted to refresh the signature pieces of the Muchelney Potters and on our return to Worcester we visited John Leach and were able to choose new pots by him and Nick Rees. We will be having more Mark Melbourne work a little later. As always, we were made to feel very much at home and  were pleased to hear that Muchelney Pottery continues to flourish.

The new work of the two John’s and Nick Rees is now on show in the Gallery

Small Sculptures by Annie Peaker

Speaking of new work we are showing the remarkable sculptures of Annie Peaker for the first time. The quality of the modelling is excellent and the subject matter ‘Street Life’ is inspired by urban images from the past. We look forward to hearing the response of our visitors to this very different work.

Pots by Emily Myers

 Ekle Sada's Capriccio Beakers

Following a most enjoyable (and inspirational) visit to Ceramic Art London, we now have commitments from more makers to show during the next year. We also brought back small selections of work by Emily Myers whose finely crafted pots have been absent too long from the gallery; Martin McWilliam whose trompe l’oeil pots always draw an appreciative smile – sadly we only have eight small pieces this time and Elke Sada, who won the Innovation Prize at the exhibition preview, has provide another eight tea bowls to complement the striking group of larger pots that we already have at Bevere.

Ceramics by John Hoadley & Watercolours by John Harris

If your appetite is still not whetted, then we are showing the work of a well known American potter who we continue to represent – Thomas Hoadley

Once again we are delighted to maintain the Gallery’s strength in depth and to explore the rich diversity of contemporary ceramics."

 We will be pleased to receive your comments - Stuart will do his best to answer any questions

Curator's February's Message

 CURATOR'S VIEW

What a dour month is February. Fortunately, Bevere Gallery provides colour and light to lift the prevailing gloom as visitors to see the latest featured makers will already have discovered.

It is always a pleasure to have new work from Kevin de Choisy whose glazing must rank amongst the best of studio ceramicists. I know that he has had a particularly difficult year and it is so good to see his work in the Gallery again.

Matt Horn's ceramics with John Harris's watercolours

Matt Horne's crystalline glazes have been very popular and we are showing the third group of his pots in just a few months. These are some of the best we have had and the quality of his throwing as well as the striking colours are a must see.

Large pots by Sarah Purvey

A newcomer to Bevere, Sarah Purvey is showing two large hand built vessels in her Landscape Series, which have a powerful presence. They are redolent of ancient pots but with a distinct contemporary feel - a reminder that man has been making pots for almost as long as he has been on earth.


Christine Gittins last showed with us in the South Wales Potters Show. This group of smoke fired pots and her jewellery are beautifully designed and crafted with an effective use of porcupine quills!!

Smoke fired pots by Christine Gittins
with John Harris's paintings

Add to these work from Ben Davies, Lisa Katzenstein, Jitka Palmer and John Higgins and you have an eclectic mix of quality studio ceramics.

The gallery team works hard to ensure that the look and feel of the gallery is constantly changing. One of the functions of the gallery is to ensure that we show exhibitors work in the most effective way. Pots need space and I hope you agree that we get it right most of the time. Enjoy.

Bevere Gallery Graduate Award 2012

Congratulations to Chris Taylor who won the Bevere Gallery Graduate Award 2012
We are delighted with this win and look forward to working with Chris throughout the year

During February we staged the Annual Graduate Show

Chris Taylor gained his Masters degree in Ceramics and Glass at the Royal College of Art and submitted
an exciting new range of highly decorative one off ceramic pieces for us here at Bevere.

 With this award  Chris's will be one of our regular exhibitors in the Gallery.  He will be offered a weeks residency in the Stable Gallery space later in the year and he will be featured in the Graduate Show 2013 next February.

Chris at work on the Potter's Wheel

Chris says
"Currently I am exploring the idea of suggesting history through the application of surface decoration. This I achieve by layering combinations of brushed, poured and printed slip and glaze. In some areas the materials are haphazardly applied whilst in others they are rubbed back to reveal what is underneath. By working in this way I intend to produce objects which have a richness, a depth to the surface. A sense of what has gone before.

I am thrilled to have been voted the best maker at the graduate show. Since graduating from my Masters I have been further developing my ideas and this is the first time some of the work has been presented to the public. It is great to feel that my work is appreciated by the people who came to the show."




During this popular exhibition 323 Gallery visitors were invited to vote for their favourite exhibitor with a chance to join the draw and win £100 to spend in the Gallery.  Jenny Pearce from Hereford voted for Chris and her name was drawn out of the hat.  She will now be dropping in to spend her prize.

Printed slipware pots, predecessors of Chris's work that was exhibited at Bevere.

  

Image of some of Chris's previous work which was
thrown, white earthenware slipware.

This year the exhibition showed a great deal of diversity and and a  very high standard throughout.

Runner Up  was

Orli Ivano

& 3rd

Keith Varney

 Congratulations to all. 

New Year Message from Stuart our Ceramic Curator

THE CERAMIC CURATOR'S VIEW- January 2012- our 40th Anniversary year

There are few events in the Bevere calendar to match the buzz from the Annual Graduate Show. This year is no exception. Although somewhat smaller in scale, the quality of the show is very high and importantly contributes a real sense of optimism at a time when one  could argue that ceramics is facing a 'perfect storm' of an indifferent market, reduced potter incomes and shrinking infrastructure.

Stuart Dickens talking to visitors

There is clearly an appetite for the new and the provocative. Interestingly, work which was initially dismissed as " not to my liking" was after some time spent standing in front of the display, talking with the maker, understanding what inspired and motivated the potter, ended with an enthusiastic appreciation - even if it would not find a place in that particular home. The key message here is that
 we all need time to look and absorb.

Here is a show that majors on craft skills and creativity. Each of the exhibitors has an original voice with the energy and commitment to make good, despite the prevailing gloom.

The response of the visitors to the exhibition has been very encouraging and the exchanges between them and those graduates who were able to make it for the opening, confirms once again, that the relationship between studio potters and an enthusiastic public is part of the bedrock of ceramic culture.

The feedback from the first day as been very positive and the number of red spots in the gallery is the best feedback of all for this years graduates. For those who have yet to see the show, try not to miss it - you will not be disappointed.

A December Message from Stuart Dickens our Ceramic Curator

 A CURATOR'S VIEW

Pottery by Tim Andrews with paintings by Jessica Leighton

Whilst we take pride in the range and diversity of ceramics on show at Bevere, there are occasions when the juxtaposition of work has a quite extraordinary impact on both eye and hand. I say hand because so many visitors have found it difficult to resist handling the sensuous burnished vessels of Tim Andrews who must surely rank amongst the best of raku potters in the UK.

A selection of Marcio Mattos's Pottery

New work by Marcio Mattos is always welcome. He is a jazz bass player and a potter and the free, organic nature of his pots reflects his love of improvised music. He is one of a small group of potters who also make music professionally. 

"Pack of Hounds " by Ostinelli and Priest

Once again Ostinelli and Priest have exceeded expectation with two extraordinary sculptures. A pack of hounds which for me is so redolent of Boxing Day and the Quorn Hunt captures the barely contained enthusiasm for the chase and a splendid horse with two riders - a knight and maiden - entitled ' Then We Shall Journey Together'.  Their work has a very special quality which captures the essence  of their subjects whether beast or human.

We have new work from Lara Scobie. Her use of Parian clay accentuates the freshness of her decoration which reflects the sunlight beautifully and makes you wonder why anyone would not want to have fine handmade pieces at the table.

Lara Scobie's Display in the Cafe

The annual Graduate Show is being held next month and in some ways the current work on show is the benchmark for the work that our chosen graduates will be showing.

They may not be as accomplished -yet - but we will be looking for craft skills, creativity and innovation.

Above all it will be that individual voice that we value so much in the many ceramicists on show here. There is already a great sense of anticipation.

THE CURATOR'S VIEW - November 2011

There are times when Bevere has a particularly stunning group of pots made by talented and original voices. It is also becoming apparent that an eclectic mix of work can excite and stimulate as well as demonstrate once again the diversity and contrast in contemporary ceramics.

Tina Vlassopulos

Sam Hall

Sam Hall  sits next to Tina Vlassopulos with the contrasting abstract expressionism of Sam's flat forms and Tina's monochrome sensuous organic vessels.

Add to the mix a striking small group of Tim Andrew's constantly developing pots and once again serendipity proves to be the surprise element in the curatorial process - sometimes chance provides the most exciting and unexpected connections.

This is the first work from Sam that we have had and we are delighted with his selection. This is his first show for a year and his flat forms show how he has recharged his creative batteries. Sam is now an established member of that small group of painter/potters.

Tim Andrews  with Jessica Leighton's paintings

Tim Andrews new work takes him in a new and to some extent experimental direction. His tiered saggar pieces combining porcelain, stoneware and raku elements are very different from the work we expect from Tim. We look forward to seeing even more examples of these vessels as they develop.

Tessa Wolfe Murray

I should add that we have new work from Tessa Wolfe Murray, vases, small wall pieces and her jewellery.

Jane Blackman

They provide, along with Jane Blackman's landscapes in clay, a genuinely contemplative atmosphere in the gallery.





I hope that our visitors will be as enthused as I am about this great coming together of ceramic art and craft.

Stuart  Dickens  

Message from Stuart Dickens - October 2011

The Curator's View

The last quarter of 2011 is set to provide a rich variety of new work in the gallery. The first of these is Tina Vlassopulos who has long been a favourite of mine. Among the hand-builders, Tina's vessels stand out for their elegant organic line and subtle burnished shades. The small group of her work currently in the gallery

demonstrates the qualities of her pots very well. There is now a serene corner where, as someone else said, the pots have been made contemplatively for contemplation.

Why is she such a favourite of mine? All the above, plus a real timeless quality which ensures that her work sits well in both contemporary and more traditional settings. The work is made with painstaking craft and her choice of a soft monochrome finish enhances both volume and line. In the hand they are pebble smooth and cool to the touch - no PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH signs here!

There is clearly no hiding my enthusiasm for Tina's work - do come and see for yourself.

Last month I wrote a piece about a new (to us) ceramic artist - Mike Bromage.
I am so pleased with the positive feedback we have had from our visitors. A truly original talent and someone we will continue to promote. The impact of his pots and painting at the entrance to the gallery is such that we intend to leave it for a while longer - do come and see his pieces if you have not had the chance already.

Stuart