The Journal of Australian Ceramics Vol 50 No 3 November 2011

Focus: Cera mics + Narrative
IS iT TOMORROW, TODAY?
Vivonne Thwaites digs the dirt on Gus Clutterbuck
The 1400 kilometre drive out from Adelaide to the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands
of Northwest South Australia is rough, isolated and lonely. It is a road that Gus Clutterbuck has travelled
many times for his work as an artist in various indigenous communities, most recently at Amata. His old
Toyota diesel ute is stocked with supplies, fuel and spare tyres, just in case.
I had the opportunity to make the journey w ith Gus recently. You think you know the landscapes of
Australia but until you go out to this country and stand in it you don't really see it. The impact of the
colour is so overwhelming that it affects your outlook generally; you realise you are in a special place.
There are moments where you simply stop by the road am idst the astonishing orange, green, yellow
of the landscape. At other times a storm may seem to chase you across the flat landscape as you head
towards Coober Pedy, the last major stop before you hit the dirt road .
Gus knows the country and many of the indigenous families at Amata and Ernabella. He initially
worked at Ernabella Arts, then moved with his family to Amata Community for a twelve-month stretch,
teaching part time at Amata School while looki ng after his two children. Gus's wife Kris worked at
Amata Clinic as the Women's Health Nurse. Their personal journey of reconciliation has sprung from
a desire to be immersed in another culture and learn firsthand through looking, listening and working
with people.
Gus is regu larly involved in artist residencies at communities. His most recent project in Amata was
working with the 'watis' (young men) to redevelop the school entrance with a long sculptural wall
Gus Clutterbuck, Plastic Geology, 2011 , slipcast, midlire clay, monoprinted; h.30cm, w.13Ocm, d.20cm
Photo: Granl Hancock