Prize Winning Ceramics

Amanda Christians "Treading Water" black fired stone ware

Amanda Christians may have won the first prize amongst the ceramic works in the "Vessel" exhibition - but there are plenty more to take you fancy - go and see for yourself.... fast before this exhibition closes on 30th March.

Mirta Ouro "Icebergs" cast porcelain 

Ted Secombe. Metallic Lustre Bottle Set. 
Photo by Adrienne Gilligan

Welcome to Ceramics Victoria

Vessel - HISAF 2014. Official opening Sat 15 March 12noon - 2pm. ALL WELCOME!

The President and Committee are proud to present an invitation to the Members exhibition  Vessel Part of Herring Island Summer Arts Festival 2014 Click on the image above to view the invitation We are excited to be showcasing a diverse and distinctive range of work from our Members, exploring the title theme for this exhibition. Please join us for the official opening of Vessel on Saturday 15 March, 12noon - 2pm. Click here for details on how to get to Herring Island  All welcome! Light refreshments will be provided

A Blast for Australia Day!

Ceramics Victoria - ready to demonstrate their art

The "resident " exhibition has been going pretty well - we managed great weather when we were open in spite of a week of 40° days between our first two weekends. The work was well received, a few sold, and the demonstrations inspired curiousity and admiration.

Then on Australia Day all the Groups set up camp in the courtyard and held "court" for an enthusiastic and cheerful flood of visitors.

All the groups were well represented and everyone was inspired to ask questions and try out their skills.

Saeed and a portrait...

Cressida has all the colours there - befitting someone representing the Contemporary Art Society and A4 Art Australia.

Cressida Fox did double duty for the Contemporary Art Society and for A4 Art Australia - so she had all the colours out!

Damien running a walk and talk around the island

Damien from Friends of Herring Island did a walk and talk all around the island - all the plants on the island not withstanding that they are locally indigenous, were planted and nurtured by the Friends. There are pictures on their website of the island in its various modes of construction - levy banks piled high with dredging from the river - you wouldn't recognize the current peaceful bush land setting!

Roulettes on their fly past

And the Basketmakers were there - twisting, weaving, twining - and of course chatting!

Basketmakers very relaxed about getting in a twist

The grand weaving!

Most definitely a  good time was had by all!

Monday 27th is the last day of the sculpture exhibition - and on the first of February Herring Island welcomes the Basketmakers of Victoria!

A sketch in clay

The Opening Buzzed - Now Easter Pops Up

The announcement of the prizes

The 23rd March saw the opening of the Ceramics Victoria exhibition Haven. And the opening saw the announcement of the Ceramics Sculpture prizes 2013 - the judges were Melissa Scheele, who studied ceramics at ANU and RMIT and works in the arts industry, and Dimi Sansico, Branch Manager of Commonwealth Bank RMIT and kind sponsor of our 2^nd and 3^rd prizes.

Glenn England "Forest Floor"

The prizes awarded were:

1^st Prize sponsored by DBM Graphic Design and Editing – Glenn England for her work Forest Floor.

Barry Wemyss "Barraranna"

2^nd Prize sponsored by Commonwealth Bank RMIT – Barry Wemyss for his work Barraranna.

3^rd Prize sponsored by Commonwealth Bank RMIT – Ana Maria Hernandez y Jensen for her Untitled  work.

Ana Maria Hernandez y Jensen "Untitled"

Highly commended to Mirta Ouro for Energetic Quietness, and Rosemary O’Neill for Belong.

Over the Easter weekend Ceramics Victoria will also offer their cash and carry pop up sale. Many of the exhibitors in the exhibitions proper will have smaller work in the pop up sale.

The gallery will be open until 4:30pm on Saturday, Sunday and Monday and the punt will stop nominally at 5pm - but best to be there early.

Haven Opens on Saturday

Here is a preview of work in the upcoming Haven exhibition featuring work by members of Ceramics Victoria:

And then ......

While we are waiting patiently for the opening of Ceramics Victoria's exhibition there is a review of the Contemporary Art Society Show at http://www.contemporaryartsociety.org.au/casvnews/reviews/herring-island/182-review-herring-is-exhibition-2013

And yes Haven promises to be another amazing show:

HAVEN is the last exhibition of the 2013 series and one not to be missed! Only one week to go before the official opening of Ceramics Victoria’s exhibition HAVEN, on 23 March from 12pm to 2pm. The exhibition will run every weekend (including Easter Monday) to April 7, 1130am to 4.30pm each day. Plus, don’t miss the unique cash and carry sale over the Easter long weekend – an opportunity to purchase small works by our exhibiting artists. We look forward to seeing you there!

Australia Day Public Holiday 2013

Cressida Fox from the Contemporary Art Society

With the tennis over, life on the river settles back to its normal rythm. You never know when 250 people might decide to spend the day on Herring Island in sunshine (not too hot) and pleasant company. The island's barbecues were well used and some people went on the tour of the island led by Damien from Friends of Herring Island.

The Basketmakers' display

Bridget Nicholson was out wrapping people's feet in clay.

Liz Reid's flying fingers working on a basket

Ceramics Victoria's display - in addition to working with clay for visitors

And in the courtyard the four exhibitng groups were well represented with demonstration and participation events.

ASV member, John Bishop nearly completed his limestone sculpture on the day

Right under the great tennis player's nose

Herring Island

Herring Island is hidden in plain sight between Alexandra Avenue and the South-Eastern Arterial – just a good crowd's roar from Rod Laver Arena. Many of our visitors say that this is their first visit to the island. Some, when we talk about the island, don't know where it is.

This Australia Day holiday all this could change – good weather will favour more than the tennis:  members of the Association of Sculptors of Victoria, the Basketmakers ofVictoria, the Contemporary Art Society of Victoria and Ceramics Victoria will be on the island in the gallery courtyard and giving demonstrations of their various creative skills. This is a collaboration between the Herring Island Summer Arts Festival – a series of exhibitions of work from members of each of these organisations and the Australia Day Council (Victoria).

The exhibition currently in the gallery is that of the Association of Sculptors of Victoria. All the work on display has been recorded and images are available on the ASV website http://www.sculptorsvictoria.asn.au.

Elsewhere on the island artist Bridget Nicholson will be working on her Touch This Earth Lightly project http://www.touchthisearthlightly.com/

Australia Day 2012

Cressida from the Contemporary Art Society working in the courtyard

We had perfect weather, a beautiful place and representatives from all the exhibiting groups to engage in conversation. There was John Bishop carving, three Basketmakers weaving, Cressida Fox painting and drawing and a lively contingent from Ceramics Victoria encouraging visitors in the delights of clay modelling. Plus a guided tour led by Damian Curtin from Friends of Herring Island.

A Weave of Basket Makers

A chip of a sculptor

A walk in the park

The Launch

The formalities were conducted with style

by ASV President Gillian Govan and

Cr. John Chandler, Mayor of Stonnington

Image courtesy Robert Lee

A president with people, food and great weather

It was a great day - food and people and drinks in correct abundance..... the speeches were made and the art admired... we are ready for a great festival. We'll add images as they come to hand...

The exhibiting sculptors also managed the hospitality.

In this case Monica Mauer Jan wields the platter.

Image by Robert Lee.

The first work sold
Image by Janice McCarthy

The throng

The throng admiring the art