Flock of Sheep Wandered Into The Garden

            The Gallery Garden Will Be 0pen      

                   Tuesday 17th -  Saturday 21st
                              10.30am – 4pm

Bevere Gallery is supporting the RHS National Gardening Week by especially opening their garden – Usually open in July and August for our Summer Sculpture Trail - at this time so that visitors can enjoy a leisurely walk around this wild/natural part of a Georgian Family residence.

Ancient shrubs, a hundred year old weeping yaupon holly, laurel tunnel, lawns, woodland and wisteria which is bursting into flower can be discovered.
 There are a few hand crafted wooden seats scattered around for visitors to relax and absorb the atmosphere of this unique area.

An interesting selection of Garden Sculptures are available for sale in the courtyards between the café and the gallery, which houses a new collection of studio ceramics from amongst others ceramicists  David and Margaret Frith.

                 A small flock of sheep have just wandered in!        (Ceramic Sculptures by Jon Barrett- Danes)  

Admittance is free and there is plenty of parking

 

New Techniques From Old & Functional Pottery From New

THE CERAMIC CURATOR'S VIEW - April 2012

This month we at  Bevere Gallery are particularly fortunate to have the Friths - Margaret and David - as two of our featured makers. They have been making pots for fifty years and yet, the well spring of their creativity never seems to dry up or diminish. Here are two potters who are constantly experimenting with new glazes and techniques. In them, we have the perfect alignment of high craft and creativity. Not everyone can work alongside their spouse or partner, however for these two eminent makers they seem to draw inspiration from each other. Long may they continue to produce such beautiful pots - and yes, beautiful is the right adjective.

We are also featuring the work of two other fine makers. The last year has seen John Wheeldon develop his pots and his technical repertoire. The vessels in this show are all bowls but they display subtle differences in colour and pattern. He has returned to using lustre, this time applied to a terra sigillata surface, raku fired and smoked. The combination of gold and smoked polished terra sigillata is irresistible – a rich sensuous surface.


Jenny Southam is new to us but she has already established a following for her ceramic sculptures. This group of pieces shows the rang of her work.
 I particularly like her 'night' groups which are a unique way of showing form and movement. They also provoke a smile - not to be underestimated in these difficult times.

I am also pleased that we have new functional ware from Graham Williamson and Jo Davies.







You can see this work in the cafe which now has a different arrangement of pots - old favourites as well as our new makers.

Stuart Dickens

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.

40th Anniversary

Way Back in 1972