INVITATION: Artist Talks at Wollongong Art Gallery 4 February 2015 11am to noon

Please note this is the final public program for the White Heat - contemporary ceramic jewellery exhibition and project.
Join Graeme Bannerman, Nelia Justo and Zara Collins for an informal chat about their ceramic work, their practice and the making process.
Hope to see you there!

White Heat opening at Wollongong Art Gallery

Thank you to everyone who popped into the opening of White Heat and the Touch Tour on the 3rd of December 2014. I was overwhelmed and thrilled to see such a wonderful turn out! Especially for the middle of the day on a Wednesday!

And to top off a wonderful event WIN News Wollongong came into the gallery to film the last few minutes of the Touch Tour. Great day - many thanks to everyone who supported the project.

Final touches on White Heat in Wollongong

Thank you to all of the amazing Wollongong Art Gallery staff!
Install went so smoothly and quickly!

Here are a few shots from the installation process.
A BIG thanks to Zuza who popped in for moral support too!

Red dots!

Pleased to see some red dots on artworks in the White Heat exhibition at the Jamfactory this morning! Congratulations to Graeme Bannerman, Katherine Wheeler and Zara Collins! One of Deirdre Hoban's neckpieces was sold at Craft ACT in April.

Congratulations to all of the artists! Artworks will be sent back to the respective galleries at the conclusion of the final exhibition destination - Wollongong Art Gallery for collection.

Thank you for supporting Australian artists and the handmade!

Graeme Bannerman

Deirdre Hoban

Katherine Wheeler

Zara Collins

Gaffa Gallery - Curio Cabinet invite

Co-curator and artist Zara Collins will show a playful selection of new ceramic jewellery at Gaffa Gallery during September.

Midnight & Blue Noon Neckpieces

Hotch Potch opens 18 September to 14 October 2014 at Gaffa Gallery's Curio Cabinet on the ground floor. Openings during the exhibition period: 18 September & 2 October 6pm-8pm
gaffa.com.au

Pieces of the Puzzle

Donuts

Double Donuts

Meroogal Women's Art Prize 2014

I am very pleased to announce that my Victorian Vinaigrette Neckpieceshave been selected in the Meroogal Women's Art Prize 2014. For this year’s Meroogal Women’s Art Prize women artists from across NSW have created works in response to Meroogal, our 19th-century house museum in Nowra. Selected artworks will be displayed in and around the house and grounds, throwing new light on the stories of the people who lived there and the house’s rich collection.

Join us on Saturday 20 September 2014 2pm–4pm as we announce the winners of the 2014 Meroogal Women’s Art Prize in a celebration at Meroogal. View the exhibition and stay for afternoon tea in the garden.

Exhibition runs 21 September 2014 to 25 January 2015

sydneylivingmuseums.com.au/events/meroogal-women

White Heat at the Jamfactory - last days!

White Heat finishes next Sunday 14 September at the Jamfactory, do yourself a favour and have a peek at both exhibitions. Nick Mount's exhibition in the main gallery is a wonderful celebration of a talented maker, designer and artist!  His poetic sculptural forms are a delight to behold!

Nick Mount

Nick Mount

Nick Mount

Here are some install shots of White Heat:

Graeme Bannerman's Touch Table

Graeme Bannermn

Katherine Wheeler

Nelia Justo

Kris Coad

Prue Venables

Sarah Hudson & Pennie Elliott, Zara Collins + Graeme Bannerman (both collaborative works)

www.jamfactory.com.au

August Artist of the Month - Deirdre Hoban

From the first time I saw Deirdre Hoban's ceramic artworks I was intrigued and beguiled. There is a lovely light-heartedness to her pieces, something that reminds me of childhood - crafting with plasticine, stretching the material, squishing it between your fingers and marbling a mix of colours until they are unrecognisable.

In Deirdre's artist statement she begins with a series of questions, “Is that rubber/resin/fimo… what is that made of?... oh, it must be very delicate… how did you make the shapes…I love the sound it makes… it looks very heavy!... can I touch it?”

And these questions point to the curiosity and playfulness in her work and her pieces. Huge centrepieces in rhombic and dodecahedron like shapes are hand crafted, keeping with the organic nature of porcelain which is at the heart of her practice. Deirdre enjoys playing with scale in her designs - bold geometrics dance on thick natural rope around the wearer's neck. They are brave but never heavy or imposing.

Here are a few shots from Deirdre's studio and pieces during the making process:

 Fro more information on Deirdre's work www.deirdre.com.au

White Heat in Canberra - last week!

Last week to see White Heat at Craft ACT. Exhibition closes on Saturday 17 May 2014.
www.craftact.org.au

Image Details: Kris Coad Necklace of Haikus
Photo: Joshua Morris

Craft ACT Touch Tours

Join us at Craft ACT on Friday 11 April for a Curator-led Touch Tour at noon.

Tour is free but bookings are essential. Limited to 10 participants.

www.craftact.org.au

Please email mszaracollins@gmail.com to book in.

White Heat - Touch Tour will be led by curator and artist Zara Collins, who will discuss the motivation behind the exhibition and each artists’ ideas, techniques and methodologies. Get up close and personal with an object from each artist featured in the exhibition. Raw clay and selected ceramic tools will also be presented to the group to touch and explore. Numbers limited to 10. Bookings essential - all ages welcome. (45-60 mins duration)

Zara Collins Victorian Vinaigrette (vanilla) White earthenware, glaze, thread, silver, essential oils, reclaimed cork

Touch Tours @ Gaffa

Thank you to everyone who popped into Gaffa today to see the show, join the intimate Touch Tour or discuss the exhibition, artists and materials. Its been a lovely day with so much positive energy and feedback!

Love Australian craft? Help support our project!

Zara and the team at White Heat are looking to raise $5,000 to help contribute to the costs of touring the exhibition to Canberra and Adelaide in 2014 & Wollongong in 2015. In each venue the team will deliver free public programs for members of the community with sight & hearing impairments, creating an exceptional, inclusive experience for gallery visitors.  

We are seeking your support to make this touring program a great success. All donations great & small are greatly appreciated and donations of $2 or more are tax deductible through the Australia Cultural Fund. Please consider supporting our unique, independent project before the end of the financial year rolls around!

Donations can be made online OR via the link below
Thank you for considering our project and we hope to see you at the Sydney exhibition in August, continuing to engage with our blog or ‘like’ us on Facebook to show your support.

We would also like to acknowledge the team at Australia Cultural Fund for all of their guidance and support!

White Heat team
www.creativepartnershipsaustralia.org.au/donors/artist-projects/white-heat.html

Feature Artist - Katherine Wheeler

I've been a big fan of Katherine Wheelers work since the first time I saw her collaborative project Goldenink with Abby Seymour at Gaffa Gallery a few years ago.

Sea Jelly Neckpiece
Her work is so unique, unlike anything I have seen before which is honestly - very very exciting! Her jewellery and sculpture are made from a wonderful mix of tactile materials and techniques in ghostly whites and creams. Quite a talent!

Existence Ring

White Series

To see more of Katherine's work please visit:
http://katherinewheeler.com.au/category/jewellery/
http://katherinewheeler.blogspot.com.au/
http://www.etsy.com/shop/katherinewheeler?ref=em