Pottery In Australia Vol 36 No 2 Winter 1997

lexibility is the key, with
wooden sculpture of a dead
ell-laid plans sometimes
kangaroo is the centre-piece
"Dming unstuck hya sudden
of the Yoram Gross Film
uneral, a ceremony or a
Studios foyer and walls are
OPical down-pour.
adorned with Karen's pencil
"Anything and everything
sketches and paintings.
hat can happen does "She is a very good artist.
appen ," she says.
One of my favourite pit'Ces is a
"I have to be flexible with sculpture Karen made with
fmy teaching too. Some painted bones - a clever idea
fhi ldren simply don 't have
and very effective; Yoram says.
anywhere safe to store ceramic
Yoram is a Polish immigrant,
bowls or mugs Or functional
and his wife andra - Karen's
pOlS. So sometimes we end
mother - is from Israel , so
up adorning the schools in
Karen 'S choice to discover
wall-mosaics or tiled pathways."
Australia before trekking
Karen is always welcomed to
overseas is not a maller of
he communities with open anns
'finding her roots'.
nd says she never has anything
The idea to discover outback
but a positive, wann reception.
Australia emerged 10 years ago
But her classes are sometimes
when Karen was studying
treated with a Iinle trepidation. Boggabilla, New South Wales. pottery and heard about the
"Pottery is something tOlally Teenage Roadshow, an
foreign, totally new to some of
independent arts project. In
hese people," she says.
1992 she was offered a place in
"I met a fantastic woman in dle program and soon became
roydon who had been
one of the youngest tour
igging wells for the Water
leaders and the first woman to
Board all her life. She looked
drive the roadshow's ex-army
at my clay and said 'I can't
tnlck to four Slates. These days
touch that - it reminds me too
Karen embarks on her missions
much of cow shit'. But she did
alone, but still embraces the
touch it and ended up chance to teach in schools,
producing some really prisons, women's cemres,
beautiful pots.' Croydon, Queensland. "anywhere that will have me".
What Karen puts imo her classes, she definitely gets "It is the most incredible experience - jU5t phenomenal:
back in personal satisfaction, having seen some awesome Karen enthuses.
Australian landscape and made some invaluable "It is like being invited to share a completely different
friendships.
culture. It makes me realise that cities like Sydney are so
' I can't tell you how exhi larating my work is. I'm devoid of any influence from the culture of indigenous
constantly meeting new and amazing people. I've met people."
some incredible aboriginal women who tell me about When asked about future journeys, she smiles and
their remarkable lives, like their first contact with white shnlgs her shoulders.
people. It's just a famastic opportunity for someone from "Aims and aspirations' is not my best subject. I have so
the city like me.
many ideas, I don't know if I can fit them into onc
'The second time I went to Goodooga, I had a whole lifetime."
lrail of children running behind my truck say ing 'the Her plans for the fonhcoming year include a trip to
pottery's here, the pottery's here'. I felt like a bit of Poland and Europe with her father. Then she may settle
sideshow coming back to town - but it was fantastic.' down and create altWork to the aroma of basil, from her
[f you want to catch a glimpse of Karen's art-work, just Manto studio.
visit Yoram Gross Film Studios in Sydney's Camperdown. "But above all, I want to ensure that arts programs like
Yoram Gross is Karen 's proud father and director- these continue to service remote communities." G\!)
producer of some of Australia 'S best known children 's
films (Bl inky Bill; Dot & th e Kangaroo). A striking 1(a,;eSu,hcrland, Tel""les PUbl;c;