THE CERAMIC CURATORS VIEW
OCTOBER 2022
Autumn is here but, as always, we hope that the quality makers that we feature each month along with many other fine makers will bring sunshine and a smile to our visitors. This month we have one new face in our group of makers and two that have already made their impact on our clients. They have been selected by us because they offer contrast in style and making techniques.
Michele Bianco is a welcome new exhibitor. Like so many artists, she is inspired by the natural world around us and this is manifest in the shape and design of her work. In her studio, she works with a range of stoneware clays and enjoys the way the forms she builds are affected by the structure of the clays. Her hand-built pieces use the full range of techniques – pinching, coiling and slab-building. As her work dries, she carves the clay to produce the textures and shaping that make her work so attractive. I think that she will capture the interest of visiting ceramophiles.
Bronwen Grieves is a ceramic sculptress whose work is instantly recognisable. Her monochrome pieces are abstract in design, compact yet expressive. We have enjoyed showing her work at Bevere because of the presence each piece carries and the sheer quirkiness of her creative thinking. As we have so often experienced, makers who prefer monochrome decoration place strong emphasis on the impact of shape and form. This work will draw your attention from the outset.
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Kim Colebrook, after a career in the tourism and heritage sector, discovered a passion for ceramics. She works in porcelain along with iron-based oxides and in her own words integrates narratives about people history and geology. Since appearing in a Graduate Show at Bevere in 2018 her work has never been out of the Gallery. We are very much aware of the attraction it has for our visitors. Good to be featuring her work here once again.
Ant and Di Edmonds have been making together over many years – Ant is the pot maker and Di the decorator. We are pleased to have examples of their latest large vessels which have been immaculately made and decorated. As with geometric style decoration, the precision is impressive and changes in scale to reflect the shape of the vessel. This is stunning work by potters who have high level skills developed over a long time and yet continue to make work which has a strong contemporary look.
Paul Dalrymple has let us have a range of his tea bowls in different sizes. He is clearly a decorator who likes to use texture as the underpinning of his well thrown vessels. They are tactile and it is difficult to resist handling them. Colours are subtle and primarily created through the the added aggregates which are very earthy. We are confident that they will generate a lot of interest.
This group of makers will provide considerable interest for our visitors and, once again, spending time looking will enhance interest and enthusiasm for these expert makers.
