Several Cape Creatives will have work on show at this year’s Ceramic Society Exhibition. This is a yearly event where artists submit work for selection. It is also a competition, with a top prize of R10,000! The opening is this Sunday at 5pm, but the exhibition itself runs until December 12th. The Clay Museum is well worth a visit in any case, and there’s a nice coffee shop. Durbanville is definitely a bit out of town, but it’s en-route to the winelands if you can plan it in that way!

Blog posted by Tessa Wethli

hi all
I just wanted to let you know about our first open studio event at One Roof Studio – this saturday 7th (9am – 2pm). We’re upstairs at the biscuit mill, and have been running since June. We have painting, ceramics, glass and leatherwork that our artists will be displaying and working on during the event.
We offer shared space for artists in our big open plan studio… and one of the (many) benefits is the access to the market public once a month.

We’re planning to run them on the first saturday of each month, so come along and have a look round – you might find something you like from our artists… or you might even consider renting space at One Roof yourself?

more details at www.oneroof.co.za

Blog posted by Tessa Wethli

The Light from Africa Foundation (LFA), an internationally recognised NGO situated on the awe-inspiring Constantia Nek, are thrilled to introduce and welcome some of South Africa’s leading ceramic artists to showcase their internationally acclaimed products in the gallery space.

Ardmore, one of South Africa’s greatest success stories in the ceramic world, will be showing their Summerhill Stud Equestrian Collection for the first time at the LFA gallery. Inspired by the caregivers of Summerhill Stud; the artists create everyday stud scenes of stallions, mares and foals being born; along with riders on their favourite mounts with hounds at foot. Familiar Ardmore urn and tureen forms are adorned with horses leaping from within and yearlings galloping to victory. Ardmore’s ceramics, which have earned the description of ‘modern collectables’ by Christie’s of London, will be on show from the 31 October – 25 November.

During December and January, art lovers will be treated to an exhibition by award-winning Stellenbosch ceramic artist, Laura du Toit. A common theme throughout her work is bringing her interest in shapes, textures and colours she finds in nature alive; finding inspiration in volcanoes, fossils and geological formations. Du Toit makes use of a variety of materials such as Kalahari sand, oxides and multiple stoneware firings to enable her to capture the essence of weathered surfaces and intriguing patterns of the earth.

The LFA foundation which raises funds, through the sale of unique handcrafted ceramic artwork, continues to support small, community-based homes for children whose lives have been severely affected by poverty. Many of them are affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

LFA is proud and honoured to host these two exceptional exhibitions and going forward the focus of the foundation will be to operate the breathtaking gallery space, purely as an exhibiting gallery for visiting artists.

Light from Africa Ceramic Art Gallery Hours: Mon to Fri 10h00 – 16h00
Also open every last Saturday of the month from 10h00 – 14h00
Tel: +27 21 794 0291 | Cell: 082 372 3135
Fax: +27 21 794 0293
Email: info@lightfromafrica.com |www.lightfromafrica.com

It’s always so exciting when you open a kiln that’s been fired to well over 1000 degrees and see what is inside it for the first time since it has undergone the process of change. But what with clay and glazes being unpredictable (to say the least!) this can sometimes be an unpleasant suprise. Recently I had occasion to be pleased when I opened the door and found these happy products. I’ve been experimenting with some new patterns and I like the effects it has produced.

Blog posted by Tessa Wethli

Here’s 2 pictures of my installation that was exhibited on the roof of the Grand Daddy last weekend, entitled GRASS and one picture of the winner by Red Hot Glass. It was the first Daddy Bloom competition and I was really glad to be a part of it. We all got a good response.
Thanks to those of you who came to support!

Grass by Tessa Wethli

Grass by Tessa Wethli

Winning Installation by Red Hot Glass

Blog posted by Tessa Wethli

Blog posted by Tessa Wethli

Blog posted by Helen Vaughan

Mr. Delivery is a great idea! It’s really simple and really clever. My fiancée and I often spend ages deciding what to eat. He prefers Thai and I have a weakness for pizza. We like staying in with a DVD, but we’re too lazy to cook. They bring the food! If I ever move back to North London in the UK, I’ll be taking a Mr. Delivery menu back with me and look for second hand scooters! It’ll be a sure-fire winner there too!

On the theme of how things cross over between the UK and SA, we have opened an Art Studio in Cape Town. I was part of a similar venture in London – where about 20 ceramicists shared a creative space.

We have called our space at the Old Biscuit Mill “One Roof Studio” – as all our artists are working under one roof. We so far have three artists working – a ceramicist, leather worker and a fashion designer. We have had interest from mosaic, wire, glass, jewellery and fashion artists, as well as more traditional paint-brush types!

It’s interesting that Capetonians seem to be private artists. Each expects their own, separate studio space; sharing isn’t in their comfort zone. In London, only the most successful (or independently wealthy) artists were set up on their own – meaning that sharing is much more common. The creative benefits from being in a shared space, however, convince me that this will take off here for different reasons. Working with others can be inspirational, educational, motivational not to mention less lonely!

If anyone reading this wants to get their creative juices flowing in our shared space for creative types… come visit us! We are there most Saturdays from 9am to 2pm to coincide with the great market. To make an appointment for weekday afternoons and evenings just drop me a message at art@tessawethli.com or call Alex on 072 721 6446. You can check out pics and our ethos at www.oneroof.co.za

Blog posted by Tessa Wethli