The Journal of Australian Ceramics Vol 52 No 2 July 2013

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Shigeo Shiga, Bottle, 1976, porcelain, h.24.2cm, w.26cm; Shepparton Art Museum
Gift of the Victorian Ministry for the Arts, 1987; photo: Amina BaroUi
The rich historical and contemporary culture of ceramics in Japan has clearly influenced and inspired
many Australian studio potters. It is wonderful to see evidence of this in so many different touches
throughout this exhibition.
Trained in Japan, Jane Sawyer throws deftly, as if gently pulling the clay with dancing movements.
Alan Watt turns clay into a dense waxy structure like burnished stone, energetic and flowing but
held still like a wing frozen in flight. David Pottinger uses the Japanese technique of neriage, with
softly merging coloured clays at times like graphite drawings of rivulets of smoke or flowing water,
then suddenly focused into a draped fragment of structured textile pattern. Edwina Kearney presents
cushions of pure, delicate bone china holding gentle references to Japanese cloth and implements.
Christopher Sanders uses sleek coverings of rich oriental blushing glazes on refined and elegant forms
while similar glazes appear as robust sweeping strokes enveloping a large blossom jar by Koji Hoashi.
There is such variety and adventure of exploration here.
This is indeed an exhibition not to be missed.
Crawling Through Mud: Australian Ceramics and the Japanese Tradition
25 January 2013 - 19 January 2014
70 Welsford St, Shepparton VIC 3630
T: 03 58329861; F: 03 5831 8480
www.sheppartonartmuseum.com.au
70 THE JOURNAL OF AUSTRALIAN CERAMICS JULY 2013