Auckland celebrates the art of ceramics

Mermaid Cup by Paul Hartigan, from the exhibition Vivid, at the Gus Fisher Gallery.

Auckland celebrates the art of ceramics

Looming bigger and brighter for its second year, the Auckland Festival of Ceramics celebrates all things clay with exhibitions, talks, demonstrations and tours throughout November and December.

This year a total of nine galleries are involved, proudly putting on shows of pottery.

The participating venues are: Anna Miles Gallery, Brendan Adams Front Room Gallery, Gus Fisher Gallery, Masterworks Gallery and Objectspace together with Auckland Studio Potters in the South and the West’s Corbans Estate Arts Centre, the very new Crown Lynn Museum Te Toi Uku and Titirangi’s Te Uru where the prestigious annual Portage Ceramics Award will be on show.

This year’s Portage judge is renowned Irish ceramic artist Ingrid Murphy, whose focus on new technology is creating state-of-the-art ways to work with clay.

Murphy’s practice is distinctive for its focus on digital technology and interactivity as a way to explore the potential of ceramics.

Murphy says “For a selector to have the chance to see innovative ideas given permanent form through dextrous skill and material understanding is indeed a thrilling thing. I am greatly looking forward to viewing the works submitted for selection in this year’s Portage Ceramics Award.”

A special feature of the festival is the Clayathon bus tour taking place on Saturday 14 November. The public will be able to visit galleries taking part, accompanied by ceramics experts who will provide on-board commentary. The leisurely tour across Auckland, which includes lunch, is expected to be popular, so bookings are essential.

Another highlight of the festival will be the Big Clay Day Out taking place on 6 December at Auckland Studio Potters in Onehunga. A community event celebrating pottery, there will be hands on activities, food, an exhibition of work plus a big pottery fair.

The Auckland Festival of Ceramics operates with the co-operation of presenters and the support of The Blumhardt Foundation, The Gus Fisher Gallery and Objectspace.

Bookings for the Clayathon should be made before Friday 6 November 2015. Emailgusfishergallery@auckland.ac.nz or phone (09) 923 6646 for a ticket.

The Auckland Festival of Ceramics 2015
November-December 2015
Anna Miles Gallery, www.annamilesgallery.com
Brendan Adams Front Room Gallery, www.badams.co.nz
Gus Fisher Gallery, www.gusfishergallery.auckland.ac.nz
Masterworks Gallery, www.masterworksgallery.co.nz
Objectspace, www.objectspace.org.nz
Auckland Studio Potters, www.ceramics.co.nz
Corbans Estate Arts Centre, www.ceac.org.nz
Crown Lynn Museum Te Toi Uku, www.portageceramicstrust.org.nz
Te Uru, www.teuru.org.nz

© Scoop Media