The Journal of Australian Ceramics Vol 49 No 2 July 2010

Ceramic Spaces
we introduced the annual Australian Craft and Design Showcase and other wonderful exh ibitions.
Through the doors came the work of Gwyn Hanssen Pigott, David Ray, Phil Elson, Sandra Bowkett and
many others. After acquiring some pieces, contemporary ceram ics has been my passion for the past 15
years .
And so, Potier came into being after many years of trying to decide what shape it would take and
then finally deciding to dedicate my business entirely to promoting the work of Australian ceramic
artists. I had long admired the galleries and other outlets who have worked so hard to show the work
of our potters and ceramicists, but I wanted a more dynamic energy to the space, hence retail. This was
probably the result of coming from a family with a strong commercial orientation.
Then the real work of researching the artists began and went on for many months. In the meantime,
I had also spoken a number of times to Helen Stephens from All Hand Made Gallery in Sydney - so
generous with both her time and knowledge.
The more hours I spent learning and looking, the more I realised how important it was to me that I
not only sold the work, but was able to promote the practice of ceramic art and be able to talk about
the artists - how they worked, their materials, their directions. This had been the most satisfying part of
my job at the NGV: having an involvement with the exhibitions from the first time they were discussed
in exhibition planning meetings, through to sourcing funding from sponsors.
And this is how I feel about Potier. I want to showcase the incredible work of the artists, and be able
to talk passionately about ceramics. Artist evenings and discussions are to come - and, obviously, more
The work of Gregory Bonasera (left) and Ingrid Tufts (right)
THE JOURNAL OF AUSTRALIAN CERAMICS JULY 2010 83