The Changes show was initially the brainchild of glass artist Robyn Campbell and myself. We invited poet Lesley Lebkowicz, illustrator and curator Anne Langridge and musician Georgina Bryant to join us. Most of the artists were already well established in their first field. And all had come to work with clay.DH Lawrence believed that what characterized an artist was the factor of creativity, and that an artist could work in many forms. He was a painter as well as a novelist and poet. So it’s not surprising that some artists diversify their work. What is interesting is the relationship between the different forms. How does a poet make a pot? How does a musician? What happens when a painter or an illustrator steps outside the frame on the wall or the page of a book? What difference does a change in material make to the work? These questions are the implicit theme of the show. The ceramic styles of the five artists vary enormously: I work with sometimes whimsical, sometimes caricature-like figures most of which are designed for display outdoors as are Langridge’s large sculptural pots. Lebkowicz’s bowls are coloured with free-flowing patterns. Campbell’s work focuses on texture and a precision of form and Bryant creates elegant harmony between wood and clay. I hope you can come along and learn more from these fascinating artists. For me it is also a celebration of the people I have worked with at Watson Arts centre.
My work for this show: For me this is not a show where I am working to a theme. I have just had one of those. My work is largley based on valuing my imagination and letting it go where it wants resulting in a broad investigation of images fand material. I tend to produce fairly individual pieces. I work through an idea or image until I have achieved what I wanted, which is normally a few times times. More than in previous shows, the works here vary enormously in size and detail- I have both the simplest big pieces I have made and the most detailed small pieces. There is raw clay and bright colour, and even (shock horror!) glaze. I have pushed into numerous new areas, and consolidated others (even Bob appears, although with out Bob). And not only but also- the ceramics will be accompanied by drawings and paintings.