Art Workshops Gallery
Recent scientific theory states "clay might have been the birthplace of life on earth". Scientists now believe ancient clays contained amino acids which could support the formation of DNA and our genetic fingerprint.
It has been well established that life has originated from blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) known to inhabit natural clay at the bottom of ponds, rivers, and lakes. Ancient texts on dead sea scrolls in Greek mythology and Chinese legends state that all creation came from mud. The Holy books from the Abrahamic religions ,the Bible, the Qur'an and the Tora all document the moment first man was created. "God moulds clay into the shape of man and then breathes life into him."
Thus ,we can assume that we, and the earthly creations bear the fingerprint of the creator. My fascination with creating clay forms using the 'pinching process' is born from the realisation that my unique signature, my fingerprint, hundreds of times over, is there upon. As I gently coax the clay with my fingertips it slowly metamorphises into organic form bearing the fingerprint of its creator.
My ever present love for playing with mud is strongly connected with the joy of playing in the garden as a child and it has evolved into my present compulsion with creating ceramic objects from clay. During my school years I was fortunate to have a supply of pottery equipment in the art room. I was encouraged to participate in some local art exhibitions and won some awards for my achievements.
In the 1970s I studied art and ceramics at TAFE NSW and then went on to obtain a degree in visual arts through Alexander Mackie College of Advanced Education which is now recognised as Sydney College of the Arts. I enjoyed discovering colour and design and also continued to learn more about the possibilities of working with clay. Under the guidance of Australian Ceramic Artist Peter Travis I developed a fascination with creating pinched forms as well as wheel throwing.
In 1980 I decided to study nursing so I could get some money to fund my pottery career. In those days you were paid to learn on the job. As it turned out I did well at nursing and passed my exams with distinction. The demands of shift work and the commitment to the job took my life in a different direction for a while and l worked for many years as a registered nurse whilst struggling to attend part-time ceramic classes at TAFE NSW. In 1994 some of my works were featured in the graduate students issue of Pottery in Australia. In 2006 my mother (my number one fan) passed away. Before she died I promised her that I would continue to do pottery. The following year I re-enroled in a diploma course at TAFE NSW and participated in a student exhibition where I won an award for outstanding achievement.
Presently, my creative space is the ceramics studio at the Hazelhurst Gallery in Sydney. Many of my thrown forms have aquatic images etched into them using underglazes and the sgraffito technique. All things aquatic representing sustenance in relation to the ebb and flow of life. On a physical level, human beings maintain a relationship with earth and water to survive. My present works of water lilies and aquatic life signify my own hope amid the struggles of life. Symbolically water lilies are said to represent resilience in overcoming adversity as they emerge from the bottom of a muddy or stagnant pond, floating on top, perfectly formed and untouched by the quagmire.
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