The Newcastle Art Gallery Youth Advisory Group acknowledges the Awabakal and Worimi people as the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and live, and pay our deepest respects to Elders past, present and future. The Youth Advisory Group is dedicated to honouring the culture and traditions of our local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities through the visual arts.
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Y2C
Ceramics
CURIOUS VESSELS
Emerging out of a time of prolonged isolation and fleeting creative connections, it’s fitting that the first focal art form of our ‘Youth 2 Collection’ project is the one that has been physically bringing humans together since the beginning of time.
For thousands of years ceramic vessels have connected humans through innumerable daily rituals and its presence continues to seep into many forgotten facets of our lives. 🍶 🍜 ☕️
Ceramics is an art form that cannot be removed from its utilitarian function, and ceramic artists precariously straddle creativity and commerciality, simultaneously pushing aesthetic boundaries while answering to a necessity for usefulness. But what is it that elevates these functional objects into works of art? 🎨
In ‘Curious Vessels’, local ceramic artists Brigitte Beyer, Grace McMahon, and Holly McDonald take you on a journey through ceramic practice, shedding some light on our eternal fascination for the humble medium ✨
Curated by Belle Beasley
Videography by Wanjun Carpenter
Collection
Shiego SHIGA Spherical White Pot 1978 stoneware with white satin glaze 19.5cm 17cm Gift of Prof Laurie and Mrs Elvie Scott through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program 2008 Newcastle Art Gallery Collection Courtesy the artist’s estate.
"THE WHITE STONE SURFACE OF SHIGA’S ‘SPHERICAL POT’ INDICATES SOME NATURAL TREASURE THE SMOOTHEST PEBBLE OR PALE EGG. IT SPEAKS TO AN URGE TO WANDER IN NATURE SURROUNDED BY ALLURING FORMS." — B. BEYER.
Dr THANCOUPIE Gloria Fletcher Wacombe The Bushman 2001 earthenware with oxide decoration on incised designs 28.5 x 27.0cm Gift of Doina Ward through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program 2011 Newcastle Art Gallery collection © Thancoupie Estate
“IN DR THANCOUPIE’S ‘WACOMBE THE BUSHMAN’ YOU REALLY GET A SENSE OF THE MAKER TOUCHING THE WORK. IT’S INTERESTING THAT IT LACKS A FOOT IT HAS TO BE PROPPED UP WHEN DISPLAYED. IT KIND OF COMPELS YOU TO HOLD IT, OR EVEN HUG IT. IT ASKS FOR A PHYSICAL RELATIONSHIP WITH IT.” — H. MACDONALD.
Honor FREEMAN Adding Glamour to the Simplest of Snacks 2008 slip-cast porcelain (overall) 14.3 x 35.0 x 35.0cm Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program by Steven Alward & Mark Wakely 2017 Newcastle Art Gallery collection Courtesy the artist
“HONOR FREEMAN’S ‘ADDING GLAMOUR TO THE SIMPLEST SNACKS’ TAKES ME BACK TO MY CHILDHOOD, WHEN MY GRANDPARENTS WOULD VISIT WITH CAKES IN OLD SCHOOL TUPPERWARE. I LOVE THE SIMPLE DESIGN, MIMICKING THE SMOOTH PASTELS OF 1960’S TUPPERWARE. THE WORK EXEMPLIFIES THE TIMELESSNESS OF THAT PERIOD.” — G. MCMAHON.
Otagaki RENGETSU Sake Cup 1833 earthenware with clear glaze 3.6 x 6.5 x 6.4cm Gift of Maryanne Voyazis and Ron Ramsey in memory of Ann Lewis AO 2011 Newcastle Art Gallery collection
Fiona HALL Home for Incurables 1995 stoneware with clear glaze 2.7cm 32cm Gift of the Newcastle Gallery Society 2008 Newcastle Art Gallery Courtesy the artist and RoslynOxley9 Gallery Sydney