The necessity of it's own nature

I've been reading "Distraction- a philosopher's guide to being free" by philosopher/blogger Damon Young. Damon talks about how 17th century philosopher and lens maker Spinoza came to define being free. In Spinoza's "Ethics" he says something is free "when it exists solely by the necessity of it's own nature, and of which the action is determined by itself alone"

Spinoza has a lot to teach contemporary artists. He saw his profession of lens grinding as a mainstay of his philosophical practice and refused a position at Heidelberg University for fear of being distracted from his thoughts. He wrote to the professor who offered him the position that "I am not holding back in the hope of getting something better, but through love of quietness...." Spinoza lived in poverty, known for the fine quality of his lenses and for his commitment to being free to pursue his philosophy.... and died at the age of 45 from tuberculosis worsened by glass dust.

I don't suggest the Spinoza's bitter poverty and early demise be an inspiration to contemporary artists (although there is a romantic, and crazy streak amongst some artists that is perversely attracted to poverty and picturesque demise!) I think Spinoza's definition of freedom can also be the definition of what makes a successful work of art that it "exists solely by necessity of it's own nature"

I also take heart from Spinoza's commitment to the humble work of the hand. I really believe in the physical and philosophical value of working hard and I find that working with my hands does indeed create a quiet space in which thoughts form. Sometimes people say to me that I'm lucky because I'm so talented. I'm not lucky...I work really hard to make beautiful pots, there are plenty of ugly failures before the beautiful ones come out. Hard work is the key, not talent.

Clare Belfrage at Canberra Glassworks

When I was in Canberra I went to see the Canberra Glassworks. This magnificent gallery/workshop is housed in an old powerhouse and is "Australia's only cultural centre that is wholly dedicated to contemporary glass art."



The gallery is an intimate size which I consider perfect for viewing craft, it means you can get really close to the works and immerse yourself in the surface. The works of the new Creative Director Clare Belfrage were on display. These beautiful works use the medium of glass to talk about nature. Belfrage's use of opaque glass and gestural textured line brings attention to the refractory quality of glass. From a distance the forms are mysterious and beguiling the light just catching on the rough lines winding around the form, in detail they are rich, and textured, changing colour with the play of natural light through the gallery windows.

Nibble, nibble little mouse.....

“Nibble, nibble little mouse.
Who is nibbling at my house?”
This is what the witch in Hansel and Gretel asks the intrepid children. Contemporary Jeweller, Rebecca Ward and I have created a whimsical range of porcelain and silver jewelery with a seductive (and slightly greedy) edge.

Rebecca Ward creates delicate, evocative pieces of jewellery from found objects, such as beach glass, pebbles and vintage beads. Rebecca says, "I love fossicking and responding to the poetry and stories of the found object Rebecca's jewellery was recently showcased in Dave Evans’ "Cool Hunting Green" book .


“Nibble” delves into the surreal, strange and fairytale aspects of food and desire. It is a world of absurdist dreams about flying pumpkins, naughty peas and magical rings. Double meanings, wordplay and hidden clues take the wearer up the beanstalk and into another dimension where all is not as it seems. Explore the possibilities of finding yourself in a world of delicious and deceptive food in this range of seductive porcelain and silver adornment.



*ADORN, a group ceramic jewellery and glass exhibition of leading Australian makers opens *Friday 6pm -9pm the 23 January 2009, the show runs until Saturday 7 February.

Venue: Fusions Gallery, 483 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley
PH: + 61 7 3358 5122



"Nibble" is also showing at Craft Victoria in Melbourne

ANU Summer School

I have been away for a week at the ANU Summer School. This year the visiting artists were Ann Linnemann from Denmark and Trudy Golley from Canada. It was great to see the ANU ceramics department, visit the library, and bask in the dry Canberra heat! (actually that was my least my favourite part)

Ann runs her own gallery in Copenhagen. Half the space is dedicated to tableware and the other half to ceramic art and exhibitions. It is always lovely to see a master throw....









The other tutor was the fabulous Canadian artist Trudy Golley. Trudy and her husband, jeweller Paul Leathers have a collaborative practice spanning over a decade. Trudy's complex slab built forms engage with formal issues, challenging use of space and channeling light through the forms to activate the space around them. Both Trudy and her sculptural pieces are really dynamic and exciting, she continues her tour of Australia in Perth with a residency at SODA and an exhibition in Perth.

the driest twig....

I started "The Magnolia Project before I had my second child. In those first blurry months I trudged up and down the huge hill in the Magnolia orchard every Tuesday stopping to take photos and make sketches, then push Sweet Pea, in her pram to the next tree When it came time to make the drawings on the pots I was puzzled, when I've drawn flowers before it was about the human body, blossoming sexuality, the sensual joy of flesh, my body felt worn out and practical. I was connected to the subject mater but it seemed strange to me that I was drawing these fleshy pristine flowers.



At the very end of 2008 I made a small series of work for Salmon Galleries in Sydney As I was making this work and idly skimming thoughts around about the year drawing to a close I realized that these flowers were not about the body at all. They are about the triumph of hope, about creativity, the resonance for me lies in the knobbly,gnarled magnolia branches putting forth fragile, fragrant blossoms, the deception of appearances. The unstoppable, reassuring rhythm of reproduction is a powerful metaphor for the well-spring of creativity. Sleep-deprived, time deprived, worn out, the driest twig still produces a blossom in Spring.

Gallery of Modern Art

Last week I went to the new Brisbane Gallery of Modern Art. The architecture plays a major role in the experience of GOMA. I think it is an excellent example of the use of industrial processes and materials in an sensitive site-friendly way.



The artwork I loved the most were these ceramic vessels from Iran ( I can't remember the date on these but I think it was around 800 AD). They are ancient but the shapes are so refined and modern, they remind me of Gwynn Hansen-Piggott's family groupings.