Christine Thacker - Because the World is Round

Scott McFarlane - Exhibition Opening Tonight

Scott McFarlane's exhibition of his latest work, "The pictures of the past change their meanings fast" opens tonight at 5.30pm.  Come along and have a glass of wine, meet Scott and view the 400 tiles that are now hanging in our upstairs gallery.

(Click on images below to view larger)

Scott McFarlane - Exhibition opening next week

 

Scott McFarlane

The pictures of the past change their meaning fast

11 - 22 September 2012

You are warmly invited to meet Scott at the 

artist's preview, in our upstairs gallery

Tuesday 11th September 2012 from 5.30 - 7.00pm.  

John Parker - Negatives Positives

John Parker's latest show, Negatives Positives has been very successful, with many collectors delighted at being able to add some new shapes and a new glaze to their collections.  It is not too late however, there is still a handful of amazing pieces left, if you are wanting to add to, or start your John Parker collection.  We also have official John Parker Orb tee-shirts for sale in a variety of sizes.  They are printed on 100% organic, pre-shrunk 160 GSM cotton, and retail for $59.

John Parker - Negatives Positives

John Roy - Digging Holes

 

John Roy 

Digging Holes

19 - 30 June

AVID Gallery would like to introduce a new ceramic artist to the stable; John Roy.

John trained at Wanganui Polytechnic, graduating in 1997 with a Bachelor in Fine Arts majoring in ceramics.

Since then he has become a prominent New Zealand ceramicist who as Greg Donson said "has determinedly stuck with ceramics and successfully pushed the boundaries of the medium and over the last few years, has also created multi-part works that have occupied spaces in unexpected way". Based in Tauranga, John creates work that revolves around iconic forms and the social memory built around them.

Paul Maseyk - Naked

'Naked', Paul Maseyk's exhibition of new work will be opening on Tuesday 29th May at 5.30pm and will run through to June 16.

Andy Kingston's 'Droogs'

Andy Kingston - Droog (front & back)

Andy Kingston - Droog (front & back)

We have just received the five vessels Andy Kingston subbmitted into the 2011 Portage Cermaic Awards, and was a finalist.  His earthenware 'Droogs' are fantastically detailed and very much need to be viewed from all angles.  In the Portage catalogue Andy had the following to say about this series of work:

"the old man was chasing his son round the room;
he was chasing his son round the room!
And while he was chasing his son round the room,
he was chasing his son round the room!"

This song was sung by my old Poppa when I was a child. It still makes me smile.
These Droogs were teased out over a long time of being draped around the lounge shelf during an unsettled time.  Sad songs were sung to them and a slow dance teased the numbers and clues out of them..
These Droogs are phone doodle friends.
These Droogs remind me of an op shop in Bristol, England called La Freak Boutique. It was a place where you would choose the most peculiar outfits for the coming music festival. Oh, to character up and slink off into the dark, chasing the heart of Saturday night.
These Droogs are you sink a my swan.

Andy Kingston - Droog (front & back)

Andy Kingston - Droog (front & back)

Andy Kingston - Droog (front & back)

Bronwynne Cornish - Consulting the Oracle

Our gallery space has been transformed by Bronwynne Cornish for her show Consulting the Oracle. The Oracles stem from a body of work that Bronwynne begun in Delhi, at an artist's residency at Sanscritti in 2006.

India has one of the highest rates of potters per capita and the majority of these are village potters, making local deities out of clay. The first Oracle was made for the show 'Lugosi's Children' at Object Space in Auckland and as I gathered more mirrors others followed.  I think of the accumulated faces behind the mirrors, all the people who have looked into them over the years. What were they looking for? What did they see? Look into the mirror and a question may come and maybe, even an answer found.  In uncertain times we pursue unusual ways.

Bronwynne Cornish
2012

Oracle with Jackal - Bronwynne Cornish

 The exhibition runs until the 17th of March, and features an 'Oracle Box', where you can consult the oracles and find answers to questions on love, fate, destiny, health, wealth or prosperity.

Baby Owl on Stump - Bronwynne Cornish

Paul Maseyk at the Wellington City Gallery

Paul Maseyk has a collection of  his highly decorated vessels as well as a series of imperfect works, as part of 'The Obstinate Object: Contemporary New Zealand Scultpture' at the Wellington City Gallery.  The exhibition is running until the 10th June, and blends object art with performance by some of  "New Zealand’s most compelling artists". A statement on Paul's installation can be found here.

Bronwynne Cornish - Consulting the Oracle

Janet Green wins award

Janet Green has won the Wairarapa Review with her piece, 'Conversation'. This is a selected exhibition that is open to artists living in the Wairarapa and is the second time she has won it.  You can view the winning piece at the Aratoi Museum in Masterton.

'Conversation' by Janet Green

John Parker Christmas Stock

John has kindly sent us a shipment of his work just in time for Christmas. The red and white is very festive, and perfect as a gift or to display some freshly cut flowers.

Bronwynne Cornish - New Stock

We are delighted to have some new 'Niads' from Bronwynne Cornish in stock.  Also look out for some new Owl Jugs in the comming week.  The new Hoot Owl Jugs have now arrived, along with some Nativity Rabbits , that Bronwynne has made especially for the season. 

Paul Maseyk - Maquette

Paul Maseyk's show 'Maquette' is the last exhibition for the year.  Paul has given us a fantastic show to see the year out; he has used the "Shelf Show" concept to experiment, and develop a range of small, intriguing  sculptures.  Calling the show "Maquette" indicates an intention to develop larger works from these forms.  These forms are works of art in themselves, exuding a huge amount of character.  The show will be on until the 10th of December.

 

New Richard Parker Work

We have just received thirty new Richard Parker signal dishes and two stunning vases.  Now is the time to come in if you would like to add some fantastic new designs to your collection.

Richard Parker - Signal Dish

Richard Parker - Signal Dish

Richard Parker - Signal Dish

RED - by John Parker Opening Tonight

RED is opening tonight!   Come in from the rain and meet John in person from 5.30 pm - 7.00 pm.

John Parker - RED

John Parker is next to have a show in our object gallery space.  He will be deviating from his traditional white ceramic forms, to 'non-white'.  The shows' title, RED, is a bit of a clue to what to expect in this exciting exhibition.  Opening night is 11 October, from 5.30 - 7.00pm, where you are welcome to come along and meet John.  The show will be running from the 11th to the 22nd of October, and all of the pieces will be listed on our website as soon as they arrive in the gallery. 

Artists at Portage Ceramic Awards

Congratulations to several of our ceramic artists for making it into 2011 Portage Ceramic Awards.  It is a must-see exhibition at Lopdell House in West Auckland.  We wish all the best, and good luck to:
Andy Kingston
John Parker
Sue Scobie
Katherine Smyth
Chris Weaver

Katherine Smyth - 'Pollen'  Vase

Chris Weaver - 'Made to Measure'  Bucket

Alice Rose - Still Life

Still Life, 16 - 27 August, is the latest exhibition of works by Dunedin ceramic artist, Alice Rose.

Still-life Painted Objects are 3dimensional painted studies of the domestic vessels that placidly fill our houses as naturally occurring still-life groupings of domestic-ware, often becoming a pictorial part of the background surface. Almost real, these pieces challenge us to take notice before returning to the quietly unobtrusive and ordinary objects that they really are.

There is a connection with the past that surrounds each object, often with nostalgic associations, that goes beyond the simple representation of a domestic form. As a sometimes subconscious awareness of a source of light or situation, our mothers’ china or past eras and the Artists that represented them.

I view still-life studies by Artists as if I am standing in their studio looking at the original collection of objects. I take these pieces out of the painting and make them into 3dimensional objects again, in the painter’s style. This gives me an insight into their technique and a connection with the original setting.

It has been a concern for me that Pottery has not always been accepted as a ‘Fine Art’ and is usually relegated to the more homely status of ‘Craft’. My family background and employment in the Arts, has given me an opportunity to have a foot in both camps. I like to think that by representing my pottery through the medium and presentation usually exclusive to ‘high Art’ I have blurred the line that often separates them.

Alice Rose

Dunedin, 2011

Alice Rose - Dali's Cubist Fruit Bowl

Alice Rose - Seurart's Vase of Flowers

Alice Rose - Butter Dish after Lichtenstein