I heART Japan

Japan holds a special place in my heart. I spent 3 years at university studying its culture and language, an amazing couple of years living and working there in my early 20s, and many of my family and friends hail from Japan. So it has been distressing, to say the least, watching events unfold there over the last few weeks. Kenji Uranishi - my dear friend, co-collaborator, studio buddy and all-round super guy - and his equally awesome wife Sonia have organised the I heART Japan online charity art auction to raise money for the Red Cross Japan and Pacific Appeal 2011. They have gathered together a wonderful collection of work from 20 artists from across the country (ceramics, painting, photography, design, sculpture) to be auctioned on eBay from 7-10th April. I'm so glad to be able to be a part of this and have donated the two bowls pictured below for auction.

It has been a tragic and surreal start to the year and the magnitude of the disaster(s) is hard to comprehend. But if you can, please support the I heART Japan auction and help out whilst also getting yourself some wonderful artworks.

The work of all participating artists can be previewed HERE in advance of the auction and bidding starts HERE on Thursday April 7th (8pm EST) and ends Sunday April 10th (8pm EST).

Forming Words

Well you know I love a bit of text, and I'm quite keen on ceramics too, so its nice to be part of a show that celebrates all things ceramicky AND texty. Here's the exhibition blurb, and a big thank you to Sophie Milne and Ingrid Tufts for organising the show. Its at Pan Gallery in Melbourne, and opens March 3rd. Pop along if you can!

"Text on ceramics has a long and rich history, from ancient pictograms scratched on clay tablets to provocative works from the conceptual art movement of the 60s and 70s. Forming Words is an exhibition designed to explore and articulate ideas within this popular movement in ceramic practice.

Ceramic art has the ability to communicate without words, through touch, sight and use, making the decision to incorporate text a deliberate and potentially provocative choice. Eight Australian ceramicists exhibit works that explore how the written word furthers our appreciation of a three dimensional artwork, merging text and form to convey a cohesive idea."

Exhibiting artists: Jane Walton, Connie Lichti, Kylie Johnson, Mel Robson, Jan Downes, Ingrid Tufts, Wendy Hadfield-Smith, Sarit Cohen

Waltjim Bat Matilda

We came across this the other night on NITV (National Indigenous Television). Its the best version of Waltzing Matilda I've heard! Keep an ear out for the baaaaaaaa.

Waltjim Bat Matilda - Ali Mills from Skinnyfish Music on Vimeo.

Flood Relief Ceramic Auction

I am sure many of you are aware of the devastating floods that affected QLD (and other parts of the country) recently. To help raise funds for The Premier's Disaster Relief Appeal the indefatigable Melbourne-based ceramicist Vipoo Srivilasa has galvanised and organised over 40 ceramic artists to donate work to be auctioned on ebay, with all proceeds going to the flood fund.

The auction goes live on Thursday February 3rd and will end on Sunday February 6th at 9pm. Its a pretty impressive list of both Australian and international artists so please go and have a look and support Vipoo's fantastic efforts and those affected by the floods.

You can preview some of the works here, and find out more information about the auction here.

Things i'm coveting from afar

I have been coveting this chair for a couple of months now, ever since my friend Laura, half of the dynamic duo of Lismore-based chair lovers Fourish and Blume, emailed me a pic of it. They’ve just started a blog, documenting the transformation of their finds of musty old chairs and couches (nicked from the roadside or garnered from the iconic Lismore Tender Centre) into beautiful pieces like this. Little dynamos they are! While the process of transformation is fascinating, one of the most interesting things is the astonishing amount of stuff they find down the back of the chairs and couches - everything from ten dollar notes, pens and keys through to miniature plastic tennis rackets and embroidered kookaburras.

Have a look at their brand new blog.

And this beauuuuuuutiful bowl from ceramic artist Maria Kristofersson (found via a plate a day). See more of her lovely work here.

Helter swelter

Geez....its hot out here. 42 degrees today. But strangely bearable.

This picture was taken out at Simpson's Gap. I wasn't trying to be all special effectsy with it. My daughter dropped my camera on the ground and now all the photos come out with this slightly pyschadelic blurry edge. Sometimes it kind of works!