Master ceramicist Victor Greenaway (standing) gives advice
to potters (from left) Kathryn Gates and Barbara Nicholls,
both of New Plymouth; Liz Clark, of Tauranga; and Jeavons
Baillie, of Waikanae, at the New Zealand Potters Clay
Conference "fusion2010" masterclass at Otago Polytechnic
yesterday. Photo by Jane Dawber.
New Zealand potters have received high praise from
Italy-based master of ceramics Victor Greenaway.
Mr Greenaway is one of two internationally renowned
ceramicists holding masterclasses at the New Zealand Potters
Clay Conference "fusion2010" being held in Dunedin this week.
Conference co-organiser Nicole Kolig said the masterclasses
were a new initiative for the national conference, and were
made possible by Otago Polytechnic's lending its ceramics
facilities.
Normally, only demonstrations were held at the potters'
conferences.
Forty potters from around New Zealand were attending the
two-day classes, conducted by Mr Greenaway, Kurt Spurey, of
Vienna, and Otago Polytechnic diploma in ceramic art
supervisor Neil Grant, she said.
"It has given potters hands-on experience with masters
directly," Ms Kolig said.
Mr Greenaway, who is Australian but has lived in Italy for
four years, said working in porcelain was very demanding, but
all in his class showed a very good skill level for the work.
The class involved learning about throwing and forming clay
on the wheel with an emphasis on altering it after it had
formed so "it was not simply a bowl any more but a
sculpture".
"I've found the standard to be very high."
The more traditional part of the conference will begin
tomorrow night with the opening, at the Otago Museum, of the
national show of potters' work, which runs until April 25.
Also attending the conference was one of China's leading
porcelain ceramicists, Huang Yunpeng, who would give
demonstrations along with Mr Spurey, Mr Greenaway and potters
Jo Howard and Kate Fitz Harris.
About 90 people were expected to attend the weekend
conference.
Otago Museum is holding ceramics-related events for the
public alongside the conference, including lectures,
demonstrations and children's activities.
- rebecca.fox@odt.co.nz
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