Ceramist Nikki Swanepoel finalist in Spier Contemporary

After an exhaustive nation-wide selection process 100 artists and over 130 art pieces have been chosen for South Africa’s largest contemporary art exhibition, the Spier Contemporary 2010. The Africa Centre’s art biennale, the Spier Contemporary 2010 will launch on the 14th March 2010 at the Cape Town City Hall.

The artworks were selected from a national call for submissions, with artworks collected at thirteen selection centres across South Africa. The final exhibition was chosen from over 2,700 entries, which represents an increase of 10% on the submissions received for the Spier Contemporary 2007/8. The selection was made in November and December 2009 by a curatorial team of five local and continental industry professionals.

Work has begun on the Cape Town City Hall, where the first leg of the Exhibition will be held. The Spier Contemporary has commissioned architect Nabeel Essa to design the exhibition. Nabeel’s vision is to contrast the contemporary nature of the artworks against the historic grandeur of the Edwardian building.

Ceramist Nikki Swanepoel was is one of the Finalists. "Well it was a huge surprise, one could enter 5 pieces and I entered 4, including a selection of my best cattle heads (and one horse) of the past year or so (since the National in 2008). I thought the collection of heads would be too figurative for a progressive show like this, and would probably not be selected, but as these particular heads showed some of my most experimental and successful surfaces (I think), I though, what the heck, enter them. And, to my surprise, the installation with heads named "Rydiere" was selected. The second entry that reached the final is a group of four skulls I call "the First Family". All four pieces made the semi-final stage of the selections, which I was chuffed with already, so I was really happy that 2 of the 4 made the finals. Opening on 13 March in the Town Hall - it should be a special event as the Town hall is beautifual but has fallen into disuse, and is being reveived especailly for this." says Swanepoel.

Tshwane South College Pottery classes

Pottery classes to start in February. Join this well equipped studio for pottery classes. We have 12 Wheels and ample working space, as well as Raku facilities. One of our students, Corne Joubert (image above) was the recipient of a New Signature award at the Glazecor Ceramics Southern Africa Regional Exhibition 2009.

For more information contact Marentia: 0845678296

Classes start: February 3, 9h00 12h00 and 18h00 to 21h00.
February 4, 9h00 to 12h00.

Porcelain Workshop

FOR BEGINNERS AND ADVANCED STUDENTS
FEBRUARY 2010

It has become apparent to me that there is a tremendous need for general and specialised instruction in the making of Porcelain in all it’s wonderful manifestations.

At the end of last year I started experimenting with different available porcelain bodies as well as making up a number of casting slips and have decided to offer a series of classes looking at exploring and working with Porcelain.

This course caters for absolute beginners and advanced students and anything that falls between these two categories. The course will be tailor-designed for each student’s individual needs.

We will also have visiting Porcelain Artists & Makers who are daily practitioners in this unique field of ceramic endeavour. Some of the people who will be visiting and sharing their knowledge with us are Katherine Glenday, Lisa Firer and Carolyn Heydenrych. Their work is featured on my gallery blog. The classes will be on a morning for three hours during the week.

Should this be of interest to you please mail me to discuss your needs and inclinations, or call (011) 726-6420.

Gauteng AGM and David Walters workshop

Notice is hereby given that the 30th Annual General Meeting of the Gauteng Region of Ceramics Southern Africa will be held at the Tshwane South College, Centurion Campus, Pretoria on Saturday, 20 February 2010 at 09:00 for 09:30.

To coincide with the AGM:

David Walters, well known Cape ceramist, will be the guest presenter. He will give a presentation and talk on his own work and demonstrate his considerable skills on the wheel and in his decorating and firing processes. David has a great ability to inform and entertain as he works and his workshop should put us all into the right frame of mind as we develop our own work for the year.

After the AGM, David will commence the workshop with his presentation and talk. We will then break for lunch, whereafter David will commence the demonstration part of his workshop.

Refreshments will be available from 08:45 to 09:30 before the commencement of proceedings. The lunch break will be from 13:00 to 14:00. Please bring your own lunch – tea and coffee will be provided. Proceedings should conclude at approx. 16:00-16:30.

Traditional Smoke Firing

Smoke firing is an ancient traditional African technique. Pots are usually handmade using the coiling technique and the surface may be burnished prior to firing by rubbing with a suitable instrument of wood, steel or stone, to produce a polished finish that survives firing. It is possible to produce very highly polished wares when fine clays are used, or when the polishing is carried out on wares that have been partially dried and contain little water, though wares in this condition are extremely fragile and the risk of breakage is high.

An interesting method is used by Nic Sithole when his hand coiled pots are highly burnished and bisc fired in an electric kiln to 900 °C before the smoke firing. The pot is then covered with cardboard and newspaper, which is set alight. This second smoke firing takes about 20 - 30 minutes and the results are unpredictable and always very exciting. The pot is taken from the hot fire and polished immediately using ordinary floor polish. Once completely cooled, the pot is again polished until the surface is shiny. Only then can the artist see whether he has the results he was hoping to achieve.

Ceramics Southern Africa KZN region AGM

Ceramics Southern Africa KZN region will be holding their AGM on 30th January 2010 from 10a.m. at Kearsney college

Our first workshop of the year is an illustrated talk by Professor Ian Calder, followed by a slide show of images of current British Ceramics given by Lynette Morris-Hale

'South African Studio Ceramics ‘ by Ian Calder
This talk takes us to our roots and hopefully, by understanding our roots , we can make work that is authentic. Prof Calder will be discussing 'South African studio ceramics of the 1960s and 70s'. His talk, illustrated with slides, will look at some stonewares of the 1960s by founding SA studio ceramists (such as Esias Bosch, Marietjie van der Merwe, Hyme Rabinowitz, Tim Morris, and Gordon Mbatha for example) and ask pottery questions like:
- Can the influence of Bernard Leach can be detected in our local forms, glazes and imagery? And Oriental ceramics?
- Is there any of the spirit of the Hippie era expressed in the pottery?
- Do the ceramics express any ideas about South African locality?
-Reflections on contemporary SA ceramics (Rorke's Drift Pottery , Ardmore Studio, the Nala family, Clive Sithole, Ian Garrett)

It has been said that there are more valid facts and details in works of art than there are in history books. “ All art is an individual's expression of a culture. Cultures differ, so art looks different”.Charlie Chaplin

This will be followed by Lynette showing us a wealth of images of ceramic art made by contemporary British ceramic artists . This is not a lecture but a sharing .

Weekend Sculpture Workshop Presented by Karen Murray

Sculpting figures is one of the oldest art forms in existence. Starting with sketching the model, participants will learn about facial structure and how to age and add expression to portraiture.
The 2 day workshop is suitable for beginners and even those who have never tried their hand at sculpture before. Accept the challenge if you are interested in improving your skills, or developing skills that can be applied to other aspects of your creative work.

All materials and firing included, bring your favourite modeling tools and an apron.
CSA Members : R800 Non members : R1000
Saturday 30 January and Sunday 31 January 2010

10am till 4pm at Colleen Lehmkuhl’s studio, 24 old Kilcullen Road, Bryanston.
Early booking essential as space is limited. Contact Cynthia McAlpine at email ceramicssa@icon.co.za to reserve your place.

More about workshop facilitator Karen Murray ;
After studying Fine Art at the Durban Institute of Technology, Karen received her Fine Art Diploma in 1985. Karen has been involved in the Film and Television Industry for the past 22 years where in the Art Department her skills included Art Directing, Sculpting, Model making, Scenic Painting and Special Effects Make-up. Karen has worked on many International and Local Feature Films and Commercials. From 2000 to 2003 Karen was Head of the Art and Special Effects Make up Department at City Varsity Film, T.V. and Multimedia School in Cape Town. Karen received her Btech Degree in Ceramic Design at the University of Johannesburg in 2008. At the 2009 Gauteng Regional Ceramics exhibition, Karen received the Potters Supplies & Mail Order Award for her Bone China vessels.