Collections is a group exhibition by Sue Cant, Julie Roberts, Lynne Thomson and Jo Townsend, exploring the environment and the way we move through life through each artist’s practice. 

Exhibition Statement:

Our lives are a tapestry of connections that define us, each thread representing a collection of moments that shape our individual journeys.

In Collections, we contemplate the essence of our existence, exploring the myriad collections that compose the fabric of our lives and our relationship with the environment.

Through ceramics, print, and paint, we delve into the interplay of light, surface, texture, shape, and colour. These artworks invite us to pause and contemplate, encouraging us to reflect on our interactions with the environment.

Each artist brings a distinctive style and perspective to the exhibition drawn from their own individually collected experiences. Together the works form a mosaic that celebrates the richness and diversity of the human experience. 

Important Dates:

About:

Canberra Potters’ annual Student | Teacher Exhibition is an opportunity to celebrate the skills and creativity of the many students who attend classes at Canberra Potters. Designed to give students a welcoming environment to publicly display their work, participation is open to all students – adults and children – who have attended classes at Canberra Potters in the previous 12 months. Participation is free of charge.

Classes offered at Canberra Potters range from those suitable for beginners to experienced potters, and cover techniques such as handbuilding, wheelthrowing, decorating techniques, glazing and firing processes. Our strong, experienced team of teachers is invaluable in guiding students in their exploration of clay and creativity and we are fortunate to have a broad spectrum of teachers who are all excellent potters in their own right. Teachers’ work is exhibited alongside the student work. 

 Image: Michelle Ho, Barbie (Q), 2023 Student | Teacher Exhibition, Best Overall Winner

Surfacing.

What’s on the surface is a manifestation of what lies within. Like human skin or a landscape; surfaces map experience and the passage of time. The surface tells the story of an object through its marks and scars.

The surface of my work is marked and textured, layered with slip and glaze, salt and ash. Through the process of making and firing some layers are revealed and some are obscured. These surfaces tell of my experience working with clay, my response to the material and of the ceramic traditions that influence and inform my work.

The mark of my hand is evident in this work. For me these marks are a connection between my hand as the maker and the hand of the imagined user.

- Moraig McKenna, 2024

Surfacing is a solo exhibition by Gundaroo artist Moraig McKenna. 

Moraig has been working with clay for over 30 years and for the majority of that time her focus has been on wood fired pottery in long firing Anagama style kilns and wood fired salt kilns.

In 2001 she received a Master of Arts by research as part of which she developed a porcelain clay body specifically for wood firing Research into porcelain in wood and salt firing continues to be a rich and rewarding part of her practice.

Moraig has travelled extensively internationally, speaking at conferences, conducting workshops and exhibiting most recently in China but also in Singapore, the United States, and Korea.

Her work is held international and national private and public collections including the Canberra Museum and Gallery.

 Photographs by David Paterson.

Celebrating 55 Years of Ceramic Mastery: 55: Exhibition by Malcolm Cooke

Canberra Potters is proud to present 55, an exhibition celebrating 55 years of Malcolm Cooke’s ceramic practice. The exhibition will be on show at Canberra Potters Gallery from 22 August to 22 September 2024, showcasing a compelling selection of Cooke’s work that spans five decades.

55 highlights Cooke’s expertise in the art of ceramics, featuring a variety of wheel-thrown, woodfired forms, including bottles, large jars, and platters. Each piece is meticulously crafted, displaying intricate decoration achieved through brush work, stamping, etching, and traditional inlay and carving techniques. Cooke’s works are a testament to his exploration of the interplay between ash, flame, and glaze, resulting in subtle yet striking effects that elevate the decorative elements of his ceramics.

Cooke has spent his career refining his approach to pottery, constantly pushing the boundaries of the medium. This exhibition not only honours his past achievements but also reflects his ongoing commitment to innovation and artistic excellence.

In conjunction with the exhibition, an Artist Talk will be held at 6pm Friday 20 September 2024 at Canberra Potters Gallery, providing attendees with a unique opportunity to hear directly from Malcolm Cooke about his inspirations, techniques, and the stories behind his works.

55 is a must-see for art enthusiasts, collectors, and anyone interested in the evolution of contemporary Australian ceramics. 

The Places We Inhabit: Vessels from the Villages is an immersive journey through the rugged and beautiful landscape surrounding the ACT, through the eyes of the artists who live and make there.

In this exhibition of diverse and beautiful ceramics forms, we are invited to share the intimate and individual relationship these artists share with the land of this region. Whether it’s the earthy reds of local clays, the imprints of the non-human world on pure white porcelain, or the distinctive softness of a wood-fired vessel, each piece bears the distinct imprint of the place these artists call home.

Coming together from the landscapes and villages of Braidwood, Sutton, Bungendore, Collector and Gundaroo, and the beautiful places in between, the exhibition includes artists Kate McKay, Robyn Booth, Joey Burns, Moraig McKenna, Ian Jones, Mahala Hill, Lisa Maddern, Michael Warner and Lea Durie.

The exhibition brings together a celebration of the rich artistic life in the region’s rural and mountain landscapes.