THE GRADUATE SHOW 2016

The upcoming Graduate Show in January 2016 is the traditional opener to the Gallery year. This particular show has an added significance; it is our tenth and we want to celebrate the event's continuing popularity amongst our visitors.  Although the gallery was founded 43 years ago, it is the 10th anniversary of Bevere as a specialist ceramic gallery.

We have had strong feelings from the outset about the need to promote the work of emerging talent, as well as showing the established names in studio ceramics. It is, then, a good time to offer our thoughts about the ongoing regeneration of a craft which has been a major feature of human culture for millennia.

From a gallery perspective, it is sometimes a little depressing to see the same names featured in one gallery after another. This is not to suggest that they are unworthy; rather that the range and diversity of the craft is self limited. Visitors to Bevere frequently comment on the number of potters represented here and their individual voices. This is, in part, due to our continuing promotion of the best of our graduate exhibitors. Making a living as a ceramicist has never been easy – it could be argued that it has never been more difficult. Supporting emerging makers is a small contribution to getting them on the ladder and importantly bringing new ideas and approaches to the craft.

It is mainly through the graduates that we are beginning to embrace the new technologies of computer aided design and printing. Yes, they are much removed from the underpinning traditional approaches to studio ceramics, but, used effectively, they are no more than an aid to implementing creative thinking. The outcomes may surpass those that we thought were possible.

So, this is an early notice to put the Graduate Show in your new diary – 9th January to 2nd February 2016. We look forward to seeing you then and for your reaction to this year's selected graduates.

Foot note
 I have to say that whilst the calendar is a constant reminder of the passing of time, the numbers of fine pieces we show in the gallery accumulates at a rate which always takes me by surprise. We are about to reach 13,000 – that is the number of individual pieces that we have shown in the gallery since we specialised in studio pottery
It is entirely serendipitous that the vessel in question  is part of our annual Graduate Show. Emma Johnson is inspired by geometry and architectural design and her mixed media vessels offer different perspectives with the capacity to interact and change.

It is also appropriate that at the turn of the year we should be reminded of important developments in studio ceramics with the use of computer aided design and printing – more of this in my next blog about the opening show of the year.

Stuart Dickens
Ceramic Curator
19/12/15