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04/04/2005: "Taking matters in one’s own hands" by Ausra Larbey
Pottery expo 2005, Warrandyte, Melbourne:
A picturesque park on a river bank, colourful artwork on the display, shaded by striped airy marquees, clusters of chatting people among all that. It’s a Pottery Expo 2005 @ Warrandyte. There was a music band, aromas wafting from a bakery next door, providing gourmet focaccias and sandwiches for the hungry artists and art lovers alike. There were journalists and reporters snapping away their cameras and sharpening their pencils. Children immediately planted themselves firmly at the activities area, where everyone willing could make ephemeral sculptures out of balls of clay (generously provided by the sponsors), sticks, pebbles and anything else that could be found in the park. In no time a whole zoo grew full of caterpillars, giraffes, bugs and many more animals still unknown to the science of zoology.
It’s a two day event designed to promote the art of ceramics and pottery and help the artists to support themselves. Warrandyte is located about 20km North from Melbourne CBD. The surrounding area has an impressive history of artists’ studios, various art movements and groups. It’s probably the highest concentration of artists per capita in the whole of Australia. This year – about 40 participants from all over Victoria, one guest from France plus colleges offering pottery courses and suppliers had their displays. The event is styled after potters’ markets held in small towns in France. “Pottery Epxo” is an ambitious title and surely an indication of things that organisers have in mind for the future. The idea of the show has been generated by the artists and all the logistics was done by themselves with the event growing every year, attracting increasing numbers of visitors. It is a chance for the artists to get together, compare their notes and display work with an added financial benefit of selling them to the enthusiastic and supportive public. Sponsors and suppliers made a much needed contribution. I just can imagine enrolments to pottery courses souring for the rest of the year.
There was a general feel of an open air market rather than that of a show, despite the ambitious title and good quality artists present. The work was sitting on or hanging of the temporary folding structures with mostly handwritten signs on sheets of paper. One stand housed an interesting collection of decorative objects. When I commented how much I liked them the artist to my surprise replied: “I just brought them here for a show only, I know they will not sell”. I looked around, it was true - there was no one else at the stand admiring the work: only me and the artist. Meanwhile stands that were selling functional bowls, vases, garden ornaments were doing brisk business. Of course, the participants could bring along only the objects that travel well. Their saleability obviously was an important consideration as well. A demanding and critical art lover would find the work occasionally touching area of mainstream wares. While a pragmatic observer would say: “better this market than nothing”.
Events like this would be a good opportunity to display more conceptual work as well as functional items, raising profile of ceramics and educating public. (Children’s ephemeral sculptures were great success being most photographed and talked about). However, experimental work is not expected to sell. Giving up too early? Or is it too complicated to cover two fields, not cost effective? Contemporary pottery and ceramics are in a precarious situation – it‘s becoming harder and harder to compete against advancement of mass production technology and efficiency. However, conceptual pieces seem to pass unnoticed by a wider public. Reducing prices of functional wares does not offer a great future either – there is a danger of costing artists out of business. The conceptual, provoking work without doubt would attract wider public, however not necessarily bringing financial rewards, not in the immediate future, anyway. At the same time, very few people, who buy functional pieces for their house or garden, can support designer pottery studios on a regular basis.
However the truth is that instead of waiting for some unforseen intervention to help, the most realistic solution is to take the matters into one’s own hands, even if it means selling work in an open air market.You will find more information and pics from the event at www.potteryexpo.com.
Next month there is an open artist’s studio weekend in the area, when a group of various media artists open their studios to the curious public. I am going to have a good look at it as well.
Melbourne, Warrandyte
