THE CURATOR'S VIEW - November 2013

"Visiting Oxford Ceramics Fair at the end of October provided an excellent opportunity to gauge the current market and the mood of the makers. I was struck as always by the quality of the exhibitors but also the extent to which many had taken their work forward over the last year. The atmosphere was generally optimistic and whilst visitor numbers appeared to be down there was no lack of commercial activity.

 The issues facing ceramics are complex; to blame the economy as the sole driver is far too simplistic. What everyone seems to agree is that, if we do nothing but grit our teeth and hope for a return of the good times, then we will be disappointed and bereft of income.

New designs and approaches from established makers are attracting attention. The new generation of collectors is more eclectic in taste and open to wider possibilities. Makers and galleries need to have greater insight into their markets and respond with initiatives that stimulate interest and forge new networks. I suspect that we are now in a new era of collaborative working, innovative approaches to promoting and selling ceramics and anticipating potential changes rather than the post hoc agonising that has been a feature of past years.

Having got that off my chest I am delighted that we have featured makers in the gallery to take us up until the end of the year who have never stood still and produce pieces which I find enormously satisfying.

JACK DOHERTY

 has been through considerable change in recent times. He was lead potter through the exacting renaissance of the Leach pottery and has now established his own pottery in Mousehole, Cornwall where he is producing pots that are undeniably his voice but with that distinctive Cornish colour palette. It will be good to show these lovely pots at a time when the light and weather deteriorates here.

SALLY    

   

and ALASDAIR NEIL MacDONELL

have shown work at Bevere on a number of occasions over the last few years and I am delighted that they are here again. They show together regularly and share a common fascination with human physiology – Sally mainly the whole body; Alasdair the face in particular.
Their influences are many and varied but individually they have an original and distinctive voice. Both are talented sculptors with a skilled use of colour. For me this is world art. It is not obviously British but nor is it easy to categorize. It makes you smile; stand back and admire and step forward to take in the detail. There is joy here and those who know Sally will know that so much of her personality resonates through her work. If you have never seen their work before you are in for a treat.

SYLVIA RYAN. I suspect that it is the humour, draughtsmanship and the strong blue and white decoration which has appealed so much to gallery visitors.

was literally one of the sell-out makers in the 2012 Cornwall Show and I am delighted to have her work back at Bevere. For those of you who bought or admired her work – and there were many of you – a new group of pieces will be in the gallery by Saturday 9

During the coming weeks we will also have new work from the Bevere list – Richard Heeley,  Japanese inspired tea bowls and boxes:

Richard Godfrey, whose new work is amazing as is his painting to which he has returned; Hennie Meyer whose bowls were a sell out in the summer:

 John Wheeldon teabowls – I love them –

Annie Peaker,

whose sculpture sold out last time round and hopefully other surprises.

Those who know me understand that I am not an enormous fan of Christmas, or to be more precise the crass commercialisation of a religious festival; nevertheless I am in no doubt that we will have much to bring cheer this festive season and importantly inspiration for that special gift.

Stuart Dickens