The Journal of Australian Ceramics Vol 48 No 3 November 2009
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Amy Kennedy discussing her ceramics with Anna Maas (left); photo: Chris Sanders<br />
Skepsi on Swanston<br />
Owen Rye in conversation with Anna Maas<br />
Skepsi is a Greek word meaning "thought and reflection" . Skepsi on Swanston is a Melbourne gallery<br />
run by Anna Maas and a vital centre for ceramics in Melbourne that has shown work by more than 300<br />
<strong>Australian</strong> artists, mainly ceramics but also glass, paintings, drawings, sculpture and jewellery.<br />
Owen Rye: What is your background in ceramics?<br />
Anna Maas: In Melbourne in 1989, I studied at Outer Eastern TAFE, with Kevin Boyd and Dawna<br />
Richardson Hyde. Ceramic work then was a celebration <strong>of</strong> colour, a movement away from Japanese<br />
glazes. <strong>The</strong>re was a recession and when times get tough people bring in colour and joy. My work was<br />
the opposite. It was about ugliness from clay, savagery and sombreness.<br />
OR: How did Kevin and Dawna react to that?<br />
AM: <strong>The</strong>y guided and encouraged me. Dawna was a most encouraging person and Kevin shared his<br />
technical knowledge.<br />
OR: Good teachers deserve a mention. So why run a gallery rather than being a maker?<br />
AM: Well the gallery came along and the challenge was there. When I first came here 12 years ago they<br />
had just started planning the building in a dead, grey area <strong>of</strong> town. <strong>No</strong>w there are a lot <strong>of</strong> people living<br />
here. My brother built the building. He was the project manager. This gallery works so well, the storage<br />
86 THE JOURNAL OF AUSTRALIAN CERAMICS NOVEMBER <strong>2009</strong>
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