Collaborations - artists coming together - part 1

In addition to creating the White Heat Touch Table, Graeme Bannerman also collaborated with Zara Collins on a small collection of sculptural pendants. The trio of black and white pendants entitled Brancusi's Balls are a tongue-in-cheek homage to the sculptors beautiful body of work. The earthenware forms have been burnished to create a smooth, shiny surface. Originally designed to be handled, Brancusi's Balls feature tiny little beads inside each form to create percussive sounds. Each form has a different size and shaped bead, creating subtle sound variety in each 'maraca-like' pendant.

 G Bannerman & Z Collins Brancusi's Balls (Black) earthenware, thread, silver

G Bannerman & Z Collins Brancusi's Balls (Black & White) earthenware, thread, silver

Creative collaboration can be fruitful for both artists, sharing each others skill sets, ideas and learnt tricks of the trade. But when two individuals come together with varying ways of creating, it can take time to adjust to each others methods. Collins says "I like to work ahead of schedule to allow time for play and for trouble shooting disasters - I soon realised Bannerman preferred the pressure of a deadline as motivation. This key difference in the way we work was definitely challenging!"

Rita Bila from Powerhouse Museum interviews Zara Collins on DHub

http://www.dhub.org/white-heat/

Interview post Sydney Design Week from September 2013.
Thanks Rita!

Artist of the Month: Graeme Bannerman

In addition to being a secondary visual arts teacher at Waverley College in Sydney's Eastern suburbs, Graeme Bannerman is a multi-talented artist, who works in a variety of mediums. He has dabbled with 'old school' cut & paste, installation, sculpture and paint. But his true penchant is ceramics. During his ceramic studies at Sydney College of the Arts, Bannerman made a series of miniature sculptures and figurines. He laughs as he tells me Mitsuo Shoji used to joke that Graeme was lazy and should make his pieces larger!

G Bannerman Bowie would know what to call them...  earthenware, glaze, thread.

G Bannerman Untitled  porcelain, thread

 G Bannerman In & Out and Degustation earthenware, glaze, found object

G Bannerman Moonrock earthenware, thread

For White Heat Bannerman was invited to create a collection of ceramic jewellery that could be handled and explored by gallery visitors. His 'Touch Table' is an exploration of earthenware and porcelain jewellery, including large-scale, sculptural beads. For the first-time 'jeweller' the process was fun but also challenging.

He wanted to celebrate the diversity of clay working techniques: from hand-slapped porcelain beads to painstakingly hollowed earthenware beads to high gloss, giant, green beads. The individual pieces look as unique as they feel.  During the White Heat exhibition opening at Gaffa Gallery in August 2013 the feedback from gallery visitors about the temperature and sound of his pieces moving when handled was a delightful surprise.

 White Heat installation shot, Touch Table

 G Bannerman Touch Table

   G Bannerman Touch Table

 

Happy Chinese New Year & Canberra here we come!

Its been a hive of activity so far in 2014 and its only February!

Kris Coad has been working on a large-scale commission through the summer & Manon van Kouswijk has been developing new work for an exhibition at Funaki which will open on 11 February. Zara Collins & Graeme Bannerman presented children's clay workshops at City of Sydney Libraries for Chinese New Year - making little horses to celebrate the Year of the Horse!

The White Heat team are currently designing the exhibition catalogue with Blue Melon Design who work out of Gaffa Studios. Jane Hunterland edited the catalogue essay - many, many thanks!

First stop is Canberra in April and we look forward to exhibiting at Craft ACT in Autumn!

Confirmed Touring dates:
Craft ACT                                        11 April 2014 to 17 May 2014
Jamfactory                                       11 July 2014 to 14 September 2014
Wollongong Art Gallery                 29 November 2014 – 29 March 2015

Manon van Kouswijk invitation

 

Graeme Bannerman Moon Rock (from White Heat Touch Table)

 



Fired clay horses from the CNY children's workshop, ages 4 to 13 years

 

Photo shoot images - November

Our talented friends Josh Morris and Chardae Jorgensen have done it again!

Here are a few shots from our second photoshoot.

Graeme Bannerman  Untitled  Porcelain, thread

Graeme Bannerman In & Out  White earthenware, glaze

 Graeme Bannerman  Degustation  White earthenware, glaze

Zara Collins  Sunshine Square  White earthenware, glaze, underglaze, silk thread, silver

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

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

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

Lia Tajcnar  Wing Bone Brooch White & Wing Bone Neckpiece Silver   
Porcelain, resin, mixed media, rare earth magnet (brooch worn as ring)

Manon van Kouswijk   Perles d'Artiste no. 2 & 4   Porcelain, pigment, ceramic, glaze
(No.2 worn as bracelet)

Manon van Kouswijk   Perles d'Artiste no. 2 & 4 & 3   Porcelain, pigment, ceramic, glaze
(No.2, No. 4, No. 3 worn as bracelets)

Manon van Kouswijk   Perles d'Artiste no. 2 & 4 & 3   Porcelain, pigment, ceramic, glaze

Manon van Kouswijk indepth article Conceptual Rigours by Lousje Skala

Craft Arts International featured a great story on Manon van Kouswijk back in 2011 entitled Conceptual Rigours. The article gives a great insight into Kouswijk's conceptual ideas and inspiration. Thank you Lousje Skala for an insightful piece!

Spring Artist of the month - Bridget Bodenham

Bridget Bodenham's work has a lovely immediacy to the shapes and forms she creates. The individual links in her porcelain Chain Neckpiece or Blue &White Rings  leave a trace of the maker's hand and the ceramic process. A very talented artist who is equally comfortable hand making porcelain jewellery or tableware. Her range of Tea Towels ( that compliment her spoons, cups and bowls beautifully) show her deft line work - freeform, expressive and delightful!

Chain Neckpiece 2010 (porcelain)

Blue & White  porcelain 2011 (Image Courtesy Pieces of Eight)

Blue and White Rings porcelain 2010 

 



I am thrilled to have Bridget's work in White Heat!  To see more of Bridget's work:

http://bridgetbodenham.com.au/works/
http://www.thefinderskeepers.com/blog/2012/10/featured-designer-ridget-bodenham/
http://mrkitly.com.au/collections/bridget-bodenham-1