June 2015 - Curator's view

Difficult to believe that we are already half way through the year and our evolving collage of fine ceramicists continues to unfold. The three makers featured this month you will have seen before. They are as diverse a group as one could bring together, however they share many of the same qualities – craft skills, a distinct voice, innovative design and a love for their chosen materials.

Gabriele Koch has been amongst the elite of studio potters for many years. She has provided us with a small group of pots which demonstrate her ability to create vessels with great presence, whatever their scale. She has two styles of work on show – smoke-fired (the technique that established her reputation) and black stoneware with inlaid porcelain (work which she has developed over the last two years). They make for a striking contrast. Handling these fine pots brings me particular pleasure - they epitomise, to my eyes, the meaning of ceramic art. I would be surprised if you were not similarly impressed. Tell me if you agree - or disagree for that matter!

 

Keith Varney has exhibited at Bevere a number of times since appearing in our Graduate Show in 2012. His singular work, meticulously designed and constructed, has made a significant impact on the ceramic landscape. His engineering background is more than evident and his attention to detail enhances the geometric designs that have become must have pieces, judging by his recent sales.

Annabel Faraday has been showing at Bevere for a number of years. My last posting on this blog gave notice of a commission undertaken by Annabel to translate images we had taken of Worcester and environs – some familiar and others less well known - onto her distinctive pots. We are delighted to be showing these for the first time; they are evocative reminders of this historic and attractive city. I hope that you will like them too. We will also be showing some of Annabel’s framed collagraphs – she still sees herself as a printmaker whatever the medium

 Stuart Dickens - Ceramic Curator
 

ANNABEL FARADAY – THE WORCESTER POTS

Annabel has shown at Bevere on a number of occasions. She is amongst a small number of ceramicists who have thoroughly mastered print on clay techniques to produce evocative pots which reflect the essence of the many places she illustrates in her work. It was this ability which led us to commission a series of pots using images of Worcester. Whilst there are one or two views that will be instantly recognisable, there are several new takes on familiar landmarks. 

We  are delighted to be featuring these fine vessels in June and hope that you agree with us that they are beautiful reminders of the wealth of striking architectural and riverside imagery that the City of Worcester offers residents and its many visitors.

THE CURATOR’S VIEW – May 2015

"Keeping the gallery as a stimulating visitor experience is a major part of the curatorial challenge at Bevere. Our approach is to maintain the quality standard which defines the gallery and to ensure that there is always something new – either in terms of first time exhibitors or new work from our regular makers. The studio ceramic environment is dynamic and we are seeing more technical and aesthetic developments than at any time I can remember.

This month we have one new featured maker and two previous exhibitors.

Kate Scott is someone whom I have wanted to feature at Bevere for some time. She was particularly known for her tin glazed earthenware; however over the last two years, Kate has developed a range of stoneware which has attractive and innovative decorative features. The work is elegant and instantly attractive and hopefully visitors will have the same response as I did when I first saw it at Ceramic Art London.

I have always had an interest  in ceramic sculpture and this month I am delighted to see the return of Sheila Spear,

one of the most successful exhibitors in the Cornwall Show we held in 2012. Her distinctive figurative pieces display her fascination with the medieval. Once you have seen her work you will always recognise the idiosyncrasy of her modelling and the subtlety of her decoration. Her artistic voice is truly original.

Tim Andrews is

amongst the elite of studio ceramicists who have been a major influence over the last two decades. His smoke-fired raku is technically of the highest order and his design skills are evident in every piece. I have always been struck by the presence which his work has and the way in which it so readily communicates with the viewer. Tim has literally just returned from Japan where he has had a very successful exhibition. The Japanese are the most discerning of ceramophiles and to sell well there is an indication of the impact of Tim’s fine work.

So there we are, once again I hope that we have fulfilled our key criteria – craft skills, original voices and contrasts which reinforce the joy of difference".

   Stuart Dickens