Clay works explore surroundings

THE relationship between creativity and rural living are at play with clay as part of an upcoming exhibition at Ross Creek Gallery.

Launching tomorrow and running until Sunday 20 October, the venue’s latest show called Our stories in clay explores the impact of regional living on the featured artists’ ceramic output.

“The idea is that not all of us have lived in this region our whole lives,” said Chandra Paul, the exhibition’s curator.

“Many of us have come to the region from urban areas, but we all live here and engage with the rural landscape and it shapes our practice in certain ways.

“I wanted us to come together to have a safe creative space and to be able to give the viewer an insight into this creative community and what being a rural artist means to us.”

Paul, who’s lived in Clunes since 2016, said the exhibition’s central theme has been informed by her own upbringing.

“I’m originally from Melbourne,” she said. “I wasn’t encouraged to be creative when I was a kid so I came from a psychology background and didn’t enjoy it.

“It was only until my late 20s when I could engage with a meaningful form of self-expression with ceramics.

“I grew up in the inner suburbs and was never comfortable. I need nature around me so when I moved out here it was a meaningful escape and a big turning point.

“There was an opportunity afforded to me through moving out here.”

Alongside Paul, the exhibition will feature the works of Marian Fox, Ella Hughes, Felicity Burman, Kirsten Ives, Jan Alexander, Minna Graham, Ox McColl, and Tameka Hague.

The majority of artists are Ballarat-based, while four others live between Castlemaine, Daylesford, and Bendigo.

Paul estimated each creative will display between two and six works.

“Some will work in a sculptural way, some work just with vessels like bowls and vases, some go  on the wheel, some handwheel,” she said.
“There’s different temperatures you can go to which has a strong stylistic effect.

“Felicity Burman, for example, loves to work with stories and is into fantasy and play school imagery so she does a lower firing so the colours don’t burn out.

“Then there’s Ox McColl who’s like an old-time potter who does throws on the wheel and high fires right up to 1300 degrees with traditional glazes and muted effects.

“What links us is community.”

Ross Creek Gallery is open Fridays to Sundays from 11am to 4pm or by appointment.