SA ART TIMES
CERAMIC SUPPLEMENT SEPT. 2006
ARTICLES & PICS

1. Ceramics and Ceramics SA
Historically, clay has been used to create some of the world's best art: the tiles of the Persian mosques, the sculpture of the early dynasties of China, Pre-Colombian figures in Mesoamerica, the jars of Mycenae from 2000 B.C., and much more.

Famous architects of the past, such as Gaudi and Frank Lloyd Wright, decorated the facades of their buildings with mosaics, ceramic and carved concrete. It has ever been thus.

Some ceramic artists are fabricating by hand large modular units for floors, walls and facades. Others are using commercially produced tiles as backgrounds for glazed decoration, or as used in mosaic panels.
Today the ideas of contemporary clay artists for individual wall pieces, fireplaces, entire walls, building structures and freestanding walls have become expressions of "fine art".

Ceramics are unlike the other arts. We handle them every day, we welcome them into our domestic lives and place them at the centre of our rituals. They are often an unremarked constant in the background of our days. Clay vessels are amongst the earliest known objects made by humans. Actual containers of food, water, wood or ashes, the mundane and the precious, they have always been on the threshold of symbolic activities and rituals.

Contemporary pots, ceramics that were made in previous and this century, have diverse lives, live in many places. And where we find them can often radically alter our ways of understanding and approaching them. We find them in studios and workshops. We find them in people's homes: on mantel pieces, in display cases, filled with flowers or specially displayed to enhance interiors, outside in the garden or on the floor for the dog.

Ceramics cross peoples’ lives in manifold ways, looked at, collected and used. There are potters and ceramicists, ceramists and makers, artists in clay, and artist-craftsmen; all of these are members of Ceramics Southern Africa. There are a myriad ways that those who use clay define themselves, the places and ways in which they show their work, and the history of ceramics to which they ascribe themselves, tell you that these ceramics can be wonderful and beautiful and affecting.

Ceramics Southern Africa (founded in 1972, originally as the Association of Potters of Southern Africa) is a representative forum for the encouragement and fostering of the art and craft of ceramics in Southern Africa. In particular, it encourages and fosters the creation of awareness of the aesthetic, artistic, cultural and utilitarian value of ceramics. It also assists in the building of cooperative relationships between the participants in the value chain of ceramics from resource production through to public distribution; the development of the art and craft as a vehicle for economic empowerment and value creation; the professional and ethical management of the activities to increase the economic importance of the art and craft in Southern Africa.
Art produced in clay today is strong and valid, and is crossing the boundaries of other art forms and media.

A growing market of collectors; the shrinking world; selling on the Internet; mass media; instant communication; gallery dealers and buyers travelling the world: all this is producing a democratic art, belonging " to the people", unprecedented in any time.
(Acknowledgement: Querardien van Vliet – Coordinating Chair – Gauteng)

2. Clay Festival 2006

Clay Festival 2006 will take place at the new FADA (Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture) of the University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park campus in Bunting Road Cottesloe, Johannesburg from 23rd to 25th September 2006.

Ceramics SA is very fortunate to present Clay Festival in the spacious and beautifully designed buildings which include the sparkling new School of Tourism and Hospitality - STH (previously known as the Hotel School).

Clay Festival performs an invaluable service to all our members, non members and anyone interested in the wonderful world of Ceramics. Over a period of three days we will all be exposed to practical demonstrations, slide shows, series of lectures, glaze technology, firings and the main ingredient surely, the well known ceramist Janet DeBoos, all the way from Australia. It is testament to the ceramic world’s fascination with its own methods and materials that we will sit for hours watching someone work with clay, and we may also be plugging into a level of consciousness. The ‘object relations’ field of psychoanalysis suggests that our feeling for (art) objects is intrinsic to our make-up. We use them to mediate between ourselves and the work, as ‘a bridge between inner and outer reality’. It should be immensely satisfying to watch the creative process unfold during the three days of intense ceramic activity.

The Atrium will accommodate the suppliers of ceramic materials which will be easily accessible from the Ceramic department. The programme has been so structured that it will be possible to attend everything and indulge in every ceramic obsession. Let us also not forget the uninhibited chef d’oevre, the School of Tourism and Hospitatlity. Ceramics and cookery have much in common – both transform the “raw” into the “cooked” (or nature into culture). Both operate on more than one social/cultural level and both have a conceptual structure (a framework of thinking) that involves language. The STH will provide the necessary to sustain the hunger pangs in between demos and lectures.

As at previous festivals, an exhibition including the guest artists’ work will be displayed in the new FADA art gallery. This year we are having a small Regional exhibition which will also include work from the students of the Ceramic Department. The theme for the 2006 exhibition is “Ceramics for use and Ceramics as expression”. We sincerely hope that the theme will inspire all to produce work of outstanding quality. The exhibition will be on from 23rd September to 2nd October 2006.

On the face of it, the Clay Festival fosters the notion of an ideal creative community where all aspects of ceramics co-exist in relative harmony. It seeks to represent the various ceramic “modes” without raising prickly issues. It is a meeting place for people with many diverse interests and backgrounds and it affords us a unique opportunity for dialogue. We can swap ideas, recipes and compare ingredients and, over and above that we also learn something about ourselves.

(Acknowledgement: Querardien van Vliet – Coordinating Chair – Gauteng)


2003 Clay Festival venue – 2003 Clay Festival Lindsay Scott of KZ-Natal
Doornfontein campus – Technikon WWR conducting a throwing workshop


New building of the Fine Art, Design &
Architecture Faculty
University of Johannesburg Auckland Park
Bunting Road Cottesloe campus


3. Corobrik Collection

Ceramics SA (formerly the Association of Potters of Southern Africa, APSA), the Corobrik Collection and the Pretoria Art Museum have become a partnership in the endeavour to preserve and showcase South African ceramics. The Collection is housed in this prestigious venue where it is being catalogued and cared for by the curator, Hannielie du Plessis and her staff. A portion of the Collection is permanently exhibited near the main entrance of the Museum on a rotational basis.

Initially, Oude Libertas, who were the then sponsors of Ceramics SA, started the collection in 1977. They purchased the winning pieces from the National Exhibition held in Johannesburg. The pieces were a porcelain bowl by Esias Bosch, a stoneware vessel by Elsbeth Burkhalter and a sculpture by Ronnie van der Walt.

When, in 1982, Corobrik assumed the sponsorship of Ceramics SA they also assumed responsibility for the Collection and continued to purchase the winning pieces from the National Exhibitions until 1992. Ceramics SA also contributed pieces acquired form Regional and National Exhibitions. During this period the Collection was housed at the Tatham Gallery in Pietermaritzburg. In 1996 the Collection was moved to the Sandton Civic Art Gallery where it stayed until 2001. In 1996 a trust was created between Corobrik and Ceramics SA to preserve the Collection and for Corobrik to make funds available so that outstanding pieces of South African ceramics could be purchased.

The Corobrik Collection showcases the diversity of cultures in our country and there are the Anglo Oriental inspired pots that were so dominant in the 1970’s and the expressions of colour that started to appear in the late eighties and nineties. A sculpture, “Noah” by Bonnie Ntshalintshali is one of the important pieces in the Collection as well as sculptures by Austin Hleza and Henriette Ngako, Rebecca Matibe and Josephine Gesha.

South Africa has a long and rich heritage of pot making and in recent times the trustees have endeavoured to acquire work that makes this collection representative of the rich diversity of our country. Some recent acquisitions have been of the works of:

Peter Mthombeni,
Andile Dyalvani
Madoda Fani.
Vusi Ntshalintshali
Mthavini Masnanganyi
Mavis Baloyi
Nesta Nala
Thembi Nala.

In the present economic and social situation in South Africa the support and sponsorship of the arts by corporate business is very necessary and important. That Corobrik, the largest clay brick makers in the country, have continued to sponsor this ceramic collection is indeed greatly appreciated

The Ceramics Southern Africa Trustees of the Corobrik Collection are Gail de Klerk and Jerice Doeg.

(Acknowledgement: Gail de Klerk – Trustee – Corobrik Collection

Corobrik Collection:
Artist: Peter Mthombeni
Title: “Sax Player” Teapot

Corobrik Collection
Artist: Bonnie Ntshalintshali
Title: “Noah”
4. Information about Clay Festival Presenters

Janet DeBoos (Canberra, Australia)
Janet DeBoos – Head, Ceramics Workshop, School of Art, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia – Award Judge – Ceramics SA 2006 National Exhibition, Artscape, Cape Town – 8-22 October 2006
After completing a science degree, Janet studied ceramics at East Sydney (National Art School) in 1970/71. Has taught at and been in charge of ceramics at various colleges in Sydney (St George and Randwick TAFEs) and was Head Teacher at East Sydney when
she retired from fulltime teaching in 1980 to run a production pottery for almost 20 years.
She has written (or co-authored) three books on glazes (Glazes for Australian Potters, More Glazes for Australian Potters and Handbook for Australian Potters), been invited speaker at national and international conferences and conducted workshops or demonstrations in most states of Australia, the USA and China. Janet also conducted workshops and gave lectures at Aberystwyth, Wales in July 2005.
Janet is an editorial consultant on Ceramics Technical and Ceramics-Art & Perception, and a regular contributor to these and other journals. She received Australian Research Council Grants for 1996, 1997 and 1998 to examine the stability of barium glazes.
She exhibits regularly both in Australia and overseas and is represented in public and private collections.
The focus of her work is the domestic arena and functional pottery – the processes that form it from clay, and those rituals that reform it through use.


Janet DeBoos in the studio
Janet with the work of a prize winner

Janet DeBoos “Solitary pleasures” Janet DeBoos Studio work

Willem Basson (Gauteng)
Willem Basson (BA) Fine Arts (ND) Architecture - Matriculated in 1975 at Alberton Hoërskool and studied Fine Art at the University of Pretoria. In his final year he won the New Signatures Award in the Sculpture division. Immediately after he graduated he was appointed lecturer in sculpture at Potchefstroom University.
During that period his interest in the design aspect of all the three dimensional arts grew. This led him to enroll for a course in architecture at the Witwatersrand Technikon (currently part of the University of Johannesburg) graduating in 1987.
He then spent time working in various architectural practices and companies until he opened a practice of his own, operating presently under the name Right Angle Building Design. During that time he also did numerous architectural perspective illustrations for top property developers and advertising agencies. Some of his house designs and numerous perspective renderings were published in- and on the front cover of SA Homeowner magazine, as well as the book Elite Homes of Southern Africa published by Avonwold Publishing Company.
Although mostly active in the field of architecture during that period, he maintained a tenuous link with fine arts, but returned in full force in 1994 when he joined the Art Department of Roodepoort College (currently known as South West Gauteng College) where he teaches Drawing, Sculpture, Three-Dimensional Design and Ceramics. All in all Willem has 14 years of teaching experience.
He is a member of Ceramics Southern Africa (CSA) for whom he recently wrote a series of articles under the title An Introduction to Ceramic Sculpture published in the National Ceramics magazine. He currently serves on CSA's Gauteng Regional committee. In 2000 a sculpture of Willem’s was accepted for the international APSA Ceramics Biennale.

Prof. Alex Duffey (Van Tilburg Collection – Pretoria)
Alexander Edward Duffey was born in Zeerust and completed his schooling at the Nelspruit High School, where he matriculated in 1965.
He enrolled for a degree at the University of Pretoria in 1967 and obtained the BA (Fine Arts)-degree with four Majors in 1971. After completing the Transvaal Higher Education Diploma at the Pretoria Education College in 1972, he started teaching art at the Lyttelton Manor High School in Centurion until 1974. In 1975 he obtained the BA(Hons)-degree in History of Art while studying singing full-time at the State Opera School. In 1977 he obtained the MA-degree in History of Art (with distinction) at the University of Pretoria with a dissertation entitled: “Openbare beeldhoukuns in Suid-Afrika met spesifieke verwysing na vollengte losstaande standbeelde” (Public sculpture in South Africa with specific reference to full-length free-standing statues). In the same year he was appointed as lecturer in History of Art at the University of Pretoria and sang part-time opera for P.A.C.T. In 1980 he was promoted to senior lecturer and lectured divergent courses such as History of Art, Museology and Art Education. In 1982 he obtained his doctoral degree with distinction with a thesis entitled: “The Equestrian Statue. A Study of its history and the problems associated with its creation”. In 1988 he was promoted to Associate-professor in the Department of Art History and from 1988 head of History of Art in the new Department Visual Arts and Art History. In 2003 he was appointed as the head curator of the heritage collections of the University of
Pretoria with the task of integrating the collections into the different academic programmes of the university.
From 1991 to 1995 he was Board Member of the National Cultural History Museum and from 1995 until 2004 Council member of the South African Association of Art Historians and at present he is Council member of the National Heritage Council, the South African Arts Association and the Art Advisory Committee of the South African Academy for Science and Arts. From 1991 until 1994 he was a moderator for the
Department Education and Training and is at present still the external examiner for Art at various South African Universities. He is a member of numerous national and international associations and is generally considered an expert of Chinese Ceramics, the work of the Pioneer South African artists such as Anton van Wouw, Frans Oerder and Jacob Hendrik Pierneef and Ancient trade with southern Africa. He is the author of numerous scientific publications and a number of books on South African art and culture.
As a hobby he restores and preserves veteran and vintage motor cars and is very interested in the history of motor vehicles. He is a member of the Veteran Motor Association of South Africa and has published nationally and internationally on the history of motoring in South Africa. He is at present preparing a book on Veteran motor cars in South Africa.

Prof. Alex Duffey Views of the van Tilburg Collection

Andile Dyalvane (Western Cape)
Majolandile Dyalvane is a young Xhosa man. He is a ceramic designer and has been in the industry for seven years. After receiving a scholarship to study ceramic design at the then Port Elizabeth Technicon Art and Design Department, he graduated with merit and is now a qualified ceramic designer.
Andile (as he is otherwise known) grew up in rural Eastern Cape and after high school moved to Cape Town. He studied at Sivuyile (an art college in Gugulethu, Cape Town) and later worked for the Potters' Workshop and Studio for 3 years painting on ceramics. In 2001, he was one of the nine ceramic designers selected to represent South Africa in Denmark where they took part in a 5 week workshop. It was there that his talent and love for clay was spotted by a then P.E. tech lecturer, Charmaine Haynes who later offered him a scholarship to study extensively in this field. After obtaining his diploma
he returned to Cape Town and worked for six months towards an exhibition which was held at the UCT Erma Stern Museum where his work sold out. Andile has exhibited nationally and internationally and has work in the following collections: King George Gallery (Port Elizabeth), National Gallery (Cape Town), Corobrik Collection (Pretoria Art Museum), Danish Museum. He has received the following awards: FNB Vita Award, Cape Town regional exhibition 2001, EDIDA award 2006 was recognised as a craft icon by the Cape Craft Design Institute - 2005/2006 and selected as a master crafter and trained in product development.
Five years ago, the Danish Government sponsored a residency for nine of South Africa's best ceramists. They spent five weeks working in the Northern hemisphere, which had far reaching effects on their work. Three of these artists Clementina van der Walt, Lisa Firer and Majolandile Dyalvane felt the need to re-unite with a collaborative exhibition. The exhibition "North meets South". Northern influences with Southern Stars ran from 22 April to May 14th 2006 in Cape Town.


Andile Dyalvane (Western Cape) Andile Dyalvani piece

In May this year (screened on 25th May) ( Episode 9 of the SABC1 : Headwrap series) Andile participated in a very successful Ceramic Collaboration with Hylton Nel, well known South African ceramist of Calitzdorp. Below is one of the pieces which resulted from t his interesting encounter between two artists with a large generation and artistic gap.


Artist collaboration piece / Hylton Nel and Hylton Nel during
Andile Dyalvani the collaboration

Christo Giles (Western Cape)
Christo Giles was born in Johannesburg in 1970. He matriculated from Durban High School in 1988 where he studied art and ceramics. In 1992 he opened a pottery studio at his parents’ home in Durban and produced a range of reduction fired stoneware and porcelain using a gas fired kiln.
At the beginning of 1997 Christo moved to the Natal Midlands where he worked with Lindsay Scott at Hillfold Pottery. There he gained valuable experience from one of the country’s leading potters.
In 1999 Christo moved to Cape Town and works from his home-studio in St James. He Produces a range of wheel thrown high fired stoneware and porcelain. The pots are fired in either a gas or wood-fired kiln to about 1300°C. The unpredictable results and uniqueness of each soda-glazed pot are the reasons for Christo’s fascination with this technique of firing. Soda bicarbonate is introduced into the kiln chamber at high temperature using a pressurized garden sprayer, theh soda vaporizes and combines with the clay to form a glaze on the pots. He believes that the form of the pot is primary and that glazes and decoration should enhance rather than overwhelm it. He is also included in the book “Craft Art in South Africa” by Elbe Coetsee, published in 2002.
Christo won APSA awards in 1994 (Natal Regional), 2000 (Western Cape Regional) and 2001 – National Ceramics Award.
He has exhibited since 1994 at various galleries throughout the country.



Christo Giles Jug and Teapot exhibited at the CSA Gauteng Region Reflections in Clay Regional Exhibition – Association of Arts Pretoria – October 2005

Clarissa Hathorn (Gauteng)
Clarissa Hathorn has a Higher Diploma in Education, Art, University of Natal; National Diploma in Ceramics, Technikon Witwatersrand; B Tech Ceramic Design, University of Johannesburg. She taught Art full time for five years, and lectured part-time in ceramics for eight years. Currently lecturing History of Ceramics part time at the University of Johannesburg. Clarissa has participated in exhibitions from 1984-2002 at various events in South Africa, amongst others in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Pretoria and Paarl. She has a sculpture in the permanent collection of the Touch Gallery, SA National Gallery, Cape Town.


Michelle Legg (Gauteng)
Michelle Legg obtained a National Diploma in Ceramic Design from the Technikon Witwatersrand, Jhb. in 1997 and a Bachelor of Technology in Ceramic Design, cum laude from the Technikon Witwatersrand, Jhb. in 1998. In 2003 she held a successful Masters exhibition at the Zuva Gallery, Melrose Arch, Johannesburg. Her Masters of Technology in Ceramic Design will be awarded from the University of Johannesburg in 2007.
In 1997 Michelle was awarded the Tim Morris Scholarship for best studio work produced by a final year student at the Technikon Witwatersrand (TWR). In 1998
Michelle received a Medal for Academic achievement: Bachelor of Technology Cum Laude, this resulted in her receiving a TRC (TWR) Research Grant in 1999. She was the Glazecor Award winner for Design at the 1995 A.P.S.A Regional Exhibition and
received the Bronze award for the Vita Craft Now Millennium Awards Exhibition. In 2001 she was selected for a residency at the International Ceramic Institute, Skaelskor, Denmark. 2001.
She has conducted research on “The design and construction of handbuilt ceramic products/artifacts with reference to indigenous rural ceramics incorporating appropriate surfaces with reference to European Lace”.
Michelle has exhibited in numerous exhibitions in South Africa from 1992 to date.
Has been teaching part time at the Technikon Witwatersrand (now University of Johannesburg) from 1997 to the present.

Michelle Legg piece

Michelle Legg (Gauteng)


Clive Sithole (KwaZulu-Natal)
Clive Sithole was born in 1971 in Soweto, Gauteng. From a young age Clive developed a flair for fashion design. He attended the London International School of fashion design and from there started a business designing and sewing clothing. In 1986 Clive met and was inspired by Philemon Lerata from Pietermaritzburg University Ceramics Department. In 1997 he moved to Durban and joined the Babumbi Clay Project which was coordinated by Cara Walters. Cara is a graduate of the Pietermaritzburg University Ceramic Department. During his training at the Babumbi Clay project, his potential was noticed by Juliet Armstrong who invited him to attend classes in the department. He gained further knowledge and developed a love for traditional firings. In 2005 he went to Nigeria to experience the culture of undo making and playing (undos are clay pots used as a musical instrument used by Ibo women).
Clive has participated in exhibitions since 1994 and has won awards from APSA, FNB Vita Craft Now and won the first prize for Trophy Design for Price Waterhouse Cooper Premier Award and the 2000 Pick of the Month Internationally for designing the Millennium bridge sidewalk. He has conducted Clay workshops for children as well as Clay Pots workshops at the BAT Centre. In addition he has conducted workshops at the Ntsika Clay workshops in Venda as well as Teapot workshops with Sue Greenberg at Endlovini with rural potters. Clive has also attended many APSA workshops, Magdalina Odundo workshops held in South Africa in 2003, Magdalina Odundo workshops held in London in 2005 and Smoke firing workshop with Magdalina Odundo 2006. In May 2006 he conducted a workshop with 10 different schools making undos (musical instruments) in Kent, England. His work is in many collections (private, museums and galleries) nationally and internationally. He has received commissions to make a Design Trophy for a Premier Award, designed sidewalk panels on the Millennium Bridge and pots for each of the Heads of State in Africa in 2001.

Clive Sithole (KZN) demonstrating at Clay Festival 2003


Anton Smit (Gauteng)
Anton Smit, sculptor, was born in the Transvaal town of Boksburg in August 1954.
He entered his first sculpting competition at the age of sixteen, and won the first prize. Completely self taught, he was awarded the first prize in the SA Association of Arts' New Signatures Competition in 1979. Following successful exhibitions in Nelspruit, White River, Cape Town and Pretoria, Anton turned to sculpting full-time to cope with the demand for his work by galleries and private collectors alike.
With works permanently on display at the Pretoria and Pietersburg Art museums and major art galleries across the country, he is fast becoming one of South Africa's more important sculptors.
He was responsible for the design of the Millennium Art Gallery in Pretoria. Anton is a true friend of Ceramics SA and has not forgotten that in his early years as a sculptor he had work on two APSA exhibitions.
During 1990 international recognition came in the form of exhibitions in Rome and Milan, an invitation to exhibit in New York and Hong Kong as well as a return exhibition in Italy in 1993. More exhibitions have followed in Bonn, Washington, Singapore, Koln and Amsterdam.

Anton conducting a Ceramics SA Anton Smit with one of his beautiful claybrick sculpture workshop in sculptures October 2005

Gerhard Swart (Gauteng)
Gerhard Swart and Anthony Harris studied together at Art School. Their respective backgrounds in Fine Art, Printmaking and Ceramics forms a good basis for the designing and manufacturing at Ceramic Matters.
All the products available from Ceramic Matters are individually made and decorated. Expertise from the team ensures a product that is aesthetically and technically well designed. African and Oriental Designs influence the work. The parallel between the bold designs of Africa, the sophisticated minimalisms of the East, supplement a “Contemporary” design. Exclusive designs for specific projects are often designed and produced for a decorator or designer – usually for domestic and smaller corporate interiors like guest lodges and offices. Merchandise such as lamps, vases, urns, large pots, torsos and other sculptural pieces are made in ceramic, resin, wood or mixed media, eg. glass and ceramic. Large chandeliers made for Monte Casino made in fiberglass and resin and finished in an “old cast iron” finish. Apart from the range of decorative ceramics the studio also produces corporate and promotional gifts to order.
Ceramic Matters won a National Design Award during 1999, sponsored by “House and Leisure Magazine” and “Buy Africa”. Elle Décor Award 2002.
(Note: Please crop to show centre piece only)

Gerhard Swart and Anthony Harris Gerhard Swart & Anthony Harris
of Ceramic Matters (Gauteng) Ceramic Matters pieces

Minette van Rooyen- Zaaiman (Gauteng)
Minette Zaaiman - Art education: Pretoria School of Art at Technikon (now TUT). Further art studies: London and Munich. National Art Teachers Certificate, Pretoria Technikon. Minette has taught various art subjects, as well as pottery, at the Art school, Pretoria Technikon.
She has been teaching pottery at her studio in Brooklyn since 1972 and gives morning, afternoon and evening classes – beginners and advanced students are welcome.
Minette works mainly in terracotta, mostly handbuilt, slips and underglaze used for colour. Burnishing and sawdust firing preferred.
Students are taught all the disciplines – handwork, wheelwork, decorating techniques and glazing.

Minette Zaaiman (Gauteng) Minette’s “Stripy Horse” – African Earth Exh.
MuseuMAfricA, Newtown Johannesburg - Sept. 2002
_________________


5. CELEBRATING CERAMICS 2004 NATIONAL EXHIBITION - Pretoria Art Museum – 28 August – 19 Sept. 2004 - Award Winners
National Arts Council Premier Award Best
overall piece Karen Sinovich (Gauteng) – “The Guardians”


National Arts Council Awards
Runette Kruger (Gauteng) Sculpture – Depart/Impart

Sharon Mitrie (Gauteng) - “Moss”

Karen Kotzé (W. Cape) - “Woven Vessel”

Sandra Goercke (Gauteng) - “Indian Dream II”

John Shirley (Gauteng) - “Pierced Vessels”

6. HISTORY OF THE ASSOCIATION

First 25 years – 1972-1997 (Ackn. Gail de Klerk – National Ceramics mag. No. 41)

In 1972 a few potters got together in Johannesburg to form the Association of Potters of Southern Africa (APSA). Within months branches were formed in Cape Town, Durban, Pretoria, Port Elizabeth, Bloemfontein and the Vaal Triangle. Namibia was also an associate member. The objectives of the association would be to promote ceramics in South Africa both by improving the standard of the work being produced and to foster an interest in ceramics by the general public.

At the time of the founding of the association the seminal influence at that time was that of the philosophies of Bernard Leach. Among the prominent potters of the day were Esias Bosch and Hyme Rabinowitz, who had both spent time with Michael Cardew at
Wenford Bridge. Another was the late Tim Morris, who had studied at the Central School of Art under Dora Billington and thus, at exhibitions mounted at the time, reduced stoneware was the predominant genre. This Anglo-Oriental aesthetic was to remain the dominant until the early ‘80’s when the influence of the art schools made a great impact on the work being created around the country and more and more potters started to experiment with different firing techniques, to explore colour and more conceptual themes for their work. Artists such as Suzette Munnik, Tina van der Walt, Lesley-Ann Hoets, Sue Sellschop, Eugene Hön, Peter Mthombeni are but a few names that come to mind who were leaders in the field of this new exploration. In the more recent years there have also been artists such as Wilma Cruise and Gael Neke who have used the medium of clay to create life size sculptural pieces which in the main dealt with our country’s traumatic history.

Exhibitions have played an important role in enabling the association to raise standards and to bring ceramics to the notice of the public. Each region holds an annual exhibition that encourages both established and novice potters to show their work. An annual national exhibition was held in various centres and this has developed into a National Ceramic Biennale which is the most prestigious ceramics exhibition in the country and carries both recognition and a large monetary award.
To achieve the set objectives of raising standards, workshops by leading potters both local and from England and the United States have been presented throughout the country on a regular basis. Over the years such visiting potters were Elsbeth Woody, Glyn Hugo, David Middlebrook, John Gibson, John Maltby and Sandy Brown. One of the highlights on the workshop calendar is a Clay Festival organised by the Golden Reef Region/Gauteng (Johannesburg) which is held bi-annually. The festival is held over a long weekend and ceramists have a choice of attending both demonstrating or participation workshops and generally indulging themselves for three days. A trade fair is held at the same time and all the presenters of workshops exhibit their work.

In 1973 the first ceramics magazine, SGRAFFITI, edited by the late Mollie Fisch, was the official mouthpiece of the association until 1987 when it was replaced by the NATIONAL CERAMICS QUARTERLY that is edited by Michael Guassardo. It is a glossy magazine and carries articles about current work and artists, features “how to do” articles as well as keeping the members informed of international trends and events.

In 1997 APSA celebrated its Silver Jubilee with many challenges ahead of it within the new dispensation in the country and a very strong South African aesthetic became visible in the work emanating from the talented ceramic artists in the country.

1998 – 2003
With sponsorship, the first international Biennale was held at the Sandton Civic Art Gallery in September 1998 and National Exhibitions were introduced to cater for South African exhibitions only. Another international Biennale was held in September 2000 at the Pretoria Art Museum. The decision was then made to change the Biennale to a Triennial, the first of which was held at the Nico Theater, Cape Town in September 2003. Due to loss of sponsorship, the holding of international events was suspended thereafter.

Clay Festivals
The first Clay Day was initiated in 1990 by Yochie Silove (ably assisted by Philip de Kock) and was held in the Trade Fair Hall on the Witwatersrand University grounds. Thereafter the 1991 and 1992 Clay Festivals were held at the Danie van Zyl Recreation Centre. The 1994, 1996 and 1998 events were held on a larger scale, still at the Danie van Zyl Recreation Centre under the guidance of Marlies Feldmann. Querardien van Vliet, the current Regional Chairman organised Clay Festival 2001 at the Berario Recreation Centre Clay Festival 2003 at the Witwatersrand Technikon Doornfontein Campus. 2006 will see the 8th Clay Festival being held for the first time in the new Faculty of Fine Arts, Design & Architecture (FADA) building on the new UJ Auckland Park Bunting Road Cottesloe Campus.

The 2004 Celebrating Ceramics National Exhibition was held at the Pretoria Art Museum in September 2004 and the 2006 National Exhibition will be held at Artscape, Cape Town from 8-22 October 2006. The 2008 National is planned for September 2008 at the new UJ Art Gallery in Auckland Park.
APSA AFRICAN EARTH EXHIBITION & FNB VITA CRAFTS NOW AWARDS EXHIBITION held at the MuseuMAfricA 121 Bree Street Newtown Precinct Johannesburg from 17 August to 24 September 2002

For the first time, the National Craft Council of South Africa and the Association of Potters of Southern Africa (APSA) joined forces for this prestigious event in side-by-side exhibitions presenting a wide spectrum of South African craft & ceramics. APSA presented the art and craft of clay – from the rural craftspeople to the urban interpretations of the clay of Africa – everyone being asked to use the theme “African Earth”. The Craft Council showcased a wide variety of Southern African Crafts including; wood; basketwork; beads; wire; glass; jewellery; fibre; cloth; including clay. The exhibitions appeared at the same time as the World Summit on Sustainable Development 2002, which was held in Johannesburg from 26th August to 4th September 2002. The joint exhibitions were viewed by thousands of international and national visitors and was a first of its kind in South Africa.

First National Bank sponsored the Craft Council exhibition. The Royal Netherlands Embassy was the major co-sponsor of the APSA “African Earth” exhibition with the second sponsor being the Arts, Culture & Heritage Services of the City of Johannesburg.

Professor Ian Calder, Director: Centre for Visual Art, University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg was the Award Judge of the APSA African Earth Exhibition. The Award judge for the FNB Vita Crafts Now Awards was Professor Karel Nel of the Department of Fine Arts, University of the Witwatersrand.
The exhibition was opened by DENIS BECKETT Journalist.

Namibia disaffiliated in 2003 and became an independent association representing ceramists in that Region. Close ties are maintained with this association.

Members of the association voted for a name change in 2004 when The Association of Potters of Southern Africa officially became Ceramics Southern Africa. The association has grown substantially over the years and is recognised as the only official body representing South African ceramics.

7. MESSAGE FROM THE AUSTRALIAN HIGH COMMISSION

Will be emailed when it comes in.