27.5.14

shirakami-sanchi

Recently, i've been thinking about shirakami-sanchi, which is a mountainous area in the very north of Honshu, Japan. 
It's a world heritage listed area, with rare beech forest and an abundance of clear springs. 

I've been thinking about this because I'm part of a show coming up at Mr. Kitly called Sake to Utsuwa. In this exhibition, each artist chose one sake from a list of small independent boutique sake makers from Japan. I chose Tokubetsu Junmai, from the Andosuigun brewery in the northern most point of Honshu, the main island, and in a couple of weeks I came home to a bottle of it on my doorstep with a hand written note. :)

This sake is made using water from the natural spring that runs through these mountains! Apparently this special water helps to produce a 'very clear and well structured sake'. In response to this beautiful sake and beautiful story behind the sake, I collected water from the (not-so-world-heritage-listed) water sources near my studio - the Merri Creek and the Yarra River. I then throw the vessels using this water. Some stones and debri have remained through the firing process. 

Andosuigun Brewery collection spot: 




Merri Creek collection spot:




Yarra River collection spot:



This is a lovely project and will be a beautiful show. Opens 6th of June! 


26.5.14

VVv VvV v v


Getting through the glazing after tributary and finding lots of burnt out and melted rocks from the river. 

/ \\ || ' ' ' // : : \ | / ' "" | |


19.5.14

residency finished.






Thanks so much to C3 Contemporary Artspace, Arts Victoria and Abbotsford Convent for giving me an opportunity to spend time with the Yarra River, Abbotsford. I was my first time working with a tidal river, and one that is so intertwined with the urban environment, it's history, politics and culture. 

Not an end point, this residency is instead a catalyst, a mid-point, or a beginning. I leave with new materials and new knowledge to continue the projects from the space. 

Thanks also to all the visitors (friends and new friends) for sharing countless stories about the river and their relationship to it. 

x x x x x 



13.5.14

sieving, finished.

 






Today I finished the final stages of sieving of the hand dug clay. Lots of washing, sifting, rinsing, spillage, and mess, and now one beautiful big tub of new clay. Exciting! 

(sunrise on the Yarra)


12.5.14

new shows

In June I'll be in a group show at Mr. Kitly where each artist has made sake vessels in response to specific sakes imported from small boutique breweries. Very exciting! 

In July, I'll be showing some river water pottery and a video work as part of the Nillumbik Prize at Montsalat Gallery in Eltham, and in a separate gallery at Montsalvat, I'll be showing with Melbourne ceramicist Yoko Ozawa, and textile artist Yuko Yokota in a show called fuyu no hinata

home for one more week



11.5.14

8.5.14

ごちそうさまでしたのあと(のあと)




Last year, whilst in Japan for Kofu Art Festival 2013, I was asked to do a project for a closing party happening in an old school house in the mountains. The party was in celebration of the local community around the school (mostly older generations) who had supported the artists who had temporarily inhabited the space as a studio for the two weeks of the art festival. 

The community had cooked for them and taken them of walks around the area telling them about local history and specific sites. 

In Japan, before eating, it is customary to say a thank you for the food (ita-daki-masu) and a thank you after the food (gochi-sou-sama-deshita). The thank you is not just for food, but for the effort of preparing something for someone else. Hands are clasped together in a prayer like position when these phrases are said. 

I decided to make a record of this notion of graditude. Visitors came to a table where I had prepared some clay, and put the piece of clay between their palms whilst performing the ritual of gochisousamadeshita.The clay held the memory of the persons hands, and of the process of saying thank you. 

Once dry, the works were bisque fired. They were then sent to me in Melbourne. Today, I glazed them, will fire them here, and will then send to each individual in Japan. These works are glazed so that they can be functional as chopstick rests. Made as an initial signifier of thanks for food, they will now be used in the ritual of eating and carry on that connection. 

The title: ごちそうさまでしたのあと/gochisousamadeshita no ato Translates to  After giving thanks 
Interestingly, the word Ato can mean after, or trace/remains. 


7.5.14

..........



Went for a walk to the Yarra with Ali, collected water from the Yarra with Ali, threw a cup from porcelain and this water, for Ali. 

abbotsford volcanic rock




4.5.14

C3 collecting river


(Photo by Jimmy, walk participant number three.)

2.5.14

C3


Day two.