10 August 2003

Congratulations to Sophie Thomas. Sophie is the winner of the Ceramic Art Gallery Award in Next Wave, an exhibition held at the Ceramic Art Gallery in Paddington representing recent graduate students from around Australia. I managed to take time-out from an increasingly busy schedule (I thought life was meant to slow down after graduation) and flew to Sydney from Canberra. I've never flown before - usually it's been the train three hours late due to work on the tracks or the bus, or the car - that's the favourite, taking in the magnificence of Lake George. But for a one day spree, air is the way go. I spent time catching a few shows. Susan Norrie's Notes from the Underground at the Museum of Contemporary Art was a favourite.

Ambiguity lies at the heart of NorrieÕs recent projects Ð between darkness and light, surface and depth, tension and rupture. Characterised by their meticulous, austere presentation, they simultaneously evoke a sense of tranquility and unease.Museum of Contemporary Art

20 July 2003

Kent Swanson joined us in January, said he would be leaving in August. "Awhile", I thought to myself. The time has just gone and Kent will be exhibiting the culmination of his visit and experiences in Australia at the Watson Art Centre from the 24th to 27th July. Occasionally we get to meet people and see work that enrich's our lives and experiences. This is one. For details of Kent's exhibition seeWhats On

19 July 2003

On commencing research during my Honours year I realized how diverse and intriguing the development of ceramics in Australian was and spent much of the year reading and researching.

Bubbling away under the bronzed-Australian image of ourselves was a cultural diversity that was being developed through a variety of media, communities, artists and personal experiences. Such diverse backgrounds and experiences, motivations and expectations brought an unexpected hybridity to Australian art and culture.

Read the full essay Muse

12 July 2003

Slowly but surely my previous life is returning. Whilst my life may have been in static mode the rest of the world moved along. The Distance Diploma students are now safely tucked up in their own beds, far from the ice-chilled snow field winds of Canberra and Jasmine Scheidler has been busy preparing for her exhibition at the Raglan Gallery. Jasmine is the recipient of the Raglan Gallery Award at the Canberrs Potters' Society 2002 Exhibition. Shona Boyd Goggin will be exhibiting photographs in dialogue and response. Indeed, a compelling show. SeeWhats On

28June 2003

A quiet word .... Gail Nichols, Cover Story and moi! SeeWhats On

22 June 2003

Where have I been, you may well ask. A move from one house to another, mere minutes away has rendered me static. You just know it's going to be a nightmare when the voice informs you "I'm sorry, you will need to be issued with a new number, you are moving to a different exchange." "How long will it take?" you ask nervously. "Oh, twenty-four hours" replies the voice. Sorting, packing, unpacking, cleaning, and numerous calls later I am again connected! Just in time for the distance diploma winter school. This winter we welcome Bev Hogg and Gail Nichols as our lecturing artists. Best of luck (and congratulations) to the first of the graduating students.

12 May 2003

Water Trade an installation by Sadashi Inuzuka

Water Trade is a mixed media installation which explores the issues of water as a commodity. It focuses on the Great Lakes, the proposal to sell its water to Asia and the ultimatae bottling of it by Perier.

28 April 2003

The Art Theory Workshop at the National Institute of the Art invites the public to attend a stimulating series of free public lectures featuring notable local, interstate and international members of the arts community. The lectures are held on Wednesdays at 1.00pm and Thursdays at 12.00 noon in the School of Art Lecture Theatre, first floor, Childers Street, Acton. Check the ArtForum program - this series promises to be inspiring. See you there.

31 March 2003

Manisha Gunawardena was awarded the ANU Research Centre for Pacific and Asian Studies (RSPAS) EASS Award 2002 and was invited to speak of her work by the Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies. This is the talk she gave.

25 March 2003

As one sifts through the murk and propaganda you occassionly find something which is very real.

Where is Raed?

23 March 2003

Kent Swanson has impressed me. Seeing his works inspired by the polar regions had me making enquiries on ways to head off to the icy pole. Kent says in developing his work:

..attention to processes, materials and their relationship is in a sense an analogue to the evaluation of landscape. Utilizing a variety of materials and processes allows me to explore and reflect structural and surface relationships freely. I approach the making of each piece as though I were entering a new terrain, as an experience of comprehension, which may reveal what lies within.

5 March 2003

Workshop is now in full active mode. Welcome Kent Swanson and Sadashi Inuzuka, the first of the visiting artists to visit our shores. There will be more of them so stay tuned.

3 March 2003

So here it is...the new beaut Avicam for your viewing pleasure. What will this year bring? The usual suspects, no doubt. I am planning to bring a little focus to the site. Over the past months I've been researching the development of ceramics in Australia and have found myself fascinated. My plan is to speak with peers and colleagues to glimpse a world untold. Then again, perhaps my Gemini will have me bouncing all over the place - there is politics and the world we're about to create for ourselves....sigh.... wasn't I mentioning focus....oh well....