Newspaper Article 1991 – Ten potters to be proud of

Ten potters to be proud of

Hawke’s Bay potters, Exhibition Centre to December 15.

Ten Hawke’s Bay Potters exhibition on display at the Holt Room, Exhibition Centre, Hastings, shows diversity of style, technique, glazes and different firing techniques.

As a Hawke’s Bay Cultural Trust touring exhibition these works will move to Wairarapa and Manawatu following their display here.

Liz Earth’s trophies or cups are individual mixtures of vibrant colours, design and texture. While retaining an underlying body shape they go way beyond our traditional idea of pottery into ideas of whimsy and delight. Gary Hebley’s hot-water bottles take on human form in an extraordinary way. Couples, in the form of hotties, snuggle lean and ease over toward each other describing the emotions and feelings of  people. These forms have elegant details of pyjamas and nightie neckties and even feet, giving the idea of a bed. Their titles say it all.

Chloe King’s solid forms are timeless, unpretentious and very appealing. Her statement that the “chosen clay body should be all-important,” is clearly shown.

Ingeborg Jenssen’s interest is centred more on design. Her sure sense of style is demonstrated with simplicity and understanding of the amount of colour, depth of tone and linear form required. The balanced forms of her pots relate well to her added designs.

John Lawrence’s salt-glazed work has an intellectual aspect with its sensitively  thought out details. The plasticity of the clay is seen with an overlay of subtle etched and raised lines, echoing aboriginal designs.

Mandy Linwood’s distinctively decorated pots with carved and careful design and limited use of glaze make a strong personal statement.

Bruce and Estelle Martin have chosen an interesting selection of work showing the effects of different placement in the kiln for firing. The quality of their work is outstanding. Their pieces have a quality of stillness about them, as if quietly complete.

Gaeleen Morley has moved into a new sculptural interest using layers of glaze to create her dancing teapots. The anthropomorphised shapes are full of personality and make a lovely collection of dancing forms.

Keith Robinson’s finely-tuned work takes simple forms into sensitive shape and colour. The delicate tones from peach to warm orange with black make his work easily recognisable.

The Holt Room is an excellent space for these works and the video, showing the potters at work in their studios, is particularly successful. Portraits of the potters give a personal link with their work and adds to the liveliness of this exhibition. We should be very proud of our Hawke’s Bay potters and their dedication to individual excellence.

Alice White