In Bloom @ Casa Labia

I'll be participating in the In Bloom exhibition opening at Casa Labia, Muizenburg on the 16 November. I have a number of works on show which will be available to purchase. The exhibition is open until 29 January 2011.
For those of you in the area, visit Casa Labia, which has recently been restored. It was built in 1929 to reflect the spirit of 18th century Venice. The house is now run as a multi-functional cultural centre which includes an independent, contemporary South African art gallery and Africa Nova boutique.

Below are a few examples of my work on show

New Work: Mitosis

So the original idea for this work was to make a triptych which turned into a series of four. The second piece I made unfortunately broke as I was cleaning it, it wasn't meant to be (as my mentor always says). I remade it and then made a third piece and decided it needed a fourth piece to complete the group. I've titled this work 'Mitosis', which means cell division. I think it's quite obvious why :)

I really enjoyed making these. Each 'layer' of porcelain is achieved by rolling out paper thin strips of clay and carefully folding and laying them onto the previous strip and porcelain base of the piece. Only the bottom portion of the strip is cross-hatched, slipped and attached the previous layer. Enabling me to achieve the ruffled and slightly distressed edge.





This work can be seen at the 'In Bloom' exhibition, opening on the 16 November at Casa Labia in Muizenburg, Cape Town. So if you're in the area, why don't you pop in and have a look at the show.

Work in Progress

I started this piece over the weekend and I completed it late yesterday evening. The technique is something I've been toying with for a while now but this is the first time I've tried using this layered, fringed technique on a larger scale in porcelain. I usually work quite small in porcelain. I used a plaster mould for the basic structure of the piece, which I began by laying a thin slab of porcelain about 5mm thick into the mould. I then pressed the clay in gently , trying not to stretch or tear the porcelain.


I'm quite happy with the piece, it's now drying out before it can be fired. Hopefully it will dry and fire well. I plan this piece to be a part of a triptych making up a small group. I'll keep you updated with the progress. :)

2010 Ceramics SA - KZN Regional Exhibition

I recently participated in the KZN Regional exhibition of Ceramics Southern Africa, held at ArtSPACE durban. These are the works I submitted. The top row is a selection of porcelain "Wallflowers" and the bottom row are works from the 2009 series "Schema". I thought the combination of the two different forms worked quite well together as the textures on the pieces echoed each other.




I really enjoyed Naomi Klingenberg's work at the same show. Her organic, beautifully shaped seed-pod forms were interesting and a wonderful departure from the traditional vessel. The contrast in the textures on the forms were fascinating, from the burnished smooth surface of the body to the layered texture on the neck.

Naomi Klingenberg

Imprint: New Ceramics by Carla da Cruz

Opened on 27 October, until 15 November 2009 at the KZNSA Gallery, Durban, South Africa.

Photographs taken by Andrew Griffin, who specializes in photographing art works. He did a fantastic job, lighting and colours are spot on.

Wallflower series: 35 individually made, porcelain wall pieces.

Schema: 16 glazed porcelain wall pieces.

2010

It's a new year and lots of new ideas are buzzing around my head. I'm not sure where they are going yet but I keep getting flashes of what they want to become. It's a difficult thing to describe the creative process, for me it starts with an image, a shape, a form and even perhaps a texture. Sometimes its something I see in a film or in a book or magazine and sometimes I'm inspired by other artists. Two artists that I'm very excited about at the moment is South African artist Paul Edmunds and Brazilian ceramic artist Valeria Nascimento. Their work is incredible.

http://www.pauledmunds.co.za/
http://www.valerianascimento.com/

But before I move into the new year I think I need to post some more images of my second solo exhibition I had at the end of last year at the KZNSA Gallery, Durban, South Africa. These photos were taken by Andrew Griffin.

Also I'd like to thank Durban art writer, Peter Machen, for his review on the show. You can read it at
http://www.artthrob.co.za/Reviews/Review-of-Imprint-New-Ceramics-by-Peter-Machen-at-KZNSA-Gallery.aspx

More Wallflowers

Genus: large glazed earthenware wall pieces