How long have you been at WWAS?
I think I started with WWAS in 2022.
Where do you travel from each week?
I am a local resident so being able to have access to the ceramic studio is incredibly convenient.
What class do you do at WWAS?
I have been attending Catherine Tate’s hand building studio class once a week, however in preparation for and in the lead up to exhibitions I have enrolled for twice weekly sessions.
What do you do when you are not creating?
When I am not at WWAS I work daily at my home studio in Bondi. When I am not creating I am most likely sleeping!
What are you reading or listening to?
I just finished reading a wonderful book titled – “The Surrender Experiment” by Michael A Singer and am now revisiting another book by the same author titled: “The Untethered Soul”
Who is your tutor and what do you like about them?
Catherine Tate is an accomplished ceramic artist and is a technically skilled and knowledgable tutor at WWAS. I absolutely love the way she spreads herself around the room giving people individual attention and support so that they can get the most out of their work. She has a calm and approachable manner and is quite intuitive when presenting ideas and guidance to students. Catherine’s knowledge on hand building large vessels was easy to understand and she gave me in depth knowledge about how particular clays behave. I will always remember her quote to me: “Clay has memory so be mindful when handling it”
Why did you join WWAS? or Why do you keep coming back to WWAS?
I needed to find a studio where I could fire my ceramic artwork that was close to home. I wanted to make large hand built vessels for an upcoming Exhibition at M Contemporary in 2022 and was beyond pleased to learn that there was in fact a studio very close to home! This made the transportation of large and somewhat fragile pieces less of a concern for me, although it was at times met with trepidation considering there are so many pot holes on Bondi Road!
What are you currently working on?
I am currently working on a large commission for Lola’s Italian & Bar in Bondi, I have completed and installed the first stage of the brief. I created a series of hand built terracotta wall plates with a nod to classical Italian sculpture, the faces on the plates reflect the idea of people coming together around a table to share a meal, drink wine and most importantly connect by the sharing of stories. The next stage of the commission is to create a large ceramic mural which will be suspended from the ceiling with a span of approx 2 metres. This is an exciting commission as I will need to consider the overall flow and form of the artwork, its hanging parts, how they relate to one another, whilst focusing on both the negative and positive space that they will occupy.
What inspires or motivates your art practice?
I am a very keen observer of things. At times Inspiration can be bountiful and somewhat abundant for me. Often I take the time to build upon ideas by drawing and work through form, balance and then realise these concepts by hand building with clay in the studio. I set myself to work on something with an open approach to discovery and by releasing fear I am able to test and strip back those ideas. This is how I usually find my way back to the heart of a concept. Art in itself is great teacher and I will forever be grateful for my practice.
Who are your favourite artists?
I have always had a keen interest in figurative artwork and started collecting Australian Artists work from their early age of 16 years.
Some of these artists that still hang on my walls and bring me great joy are works by: David & Arthur Boyd, Charles Blackman, Mirka Moira, Robert Dickerson, and contemporary Australian artists like Rick Carlino, Susan Norrie and Maria José Benvenuto.
What would you say to someone thinking about taking an art class at WWAS?
I would encourage anyone who has an interest in exploring their creative side to dive in and look at the extensive list of art classes available through WWAS. Often when people approach me about my work they often speak about their love for art and regret not ever pursuing it. It’s a wonderful way to de stress and become immersed in the process of being present by taking time out from the business of life!