Clay still amazes Yasuda
Japanese potter Takeshi Yasuda opens an exhibition of celadon-glazed porcelain works in Dunedin tomorrow.
The exhibition, which includes new porcelain works, bottles, cups, bowls and a signature "plateau" work, is being held to complement the New Zealand Society of Potters convention and exhibition at the Art Station.
"Even after 40 years of handling this strange material called clay it continues to amaze me," Yasuda says.
"You only need your bare hands to form it.
"It responds to the touch of a feather or to the blow of a hammer accurately and proportionally, and remains thus unless any other force is applied."
Yasuda trained at the Dasei-Gama Pottery in Mashiko between 1963 and 1966.
The exhibition opens at the Brett McDowell Gallery tomorrow and runs till April 29.
The art of crystal glazes
Waikouaiti potter Peter Gregory is exhibiting new work at Gallery On Blueskin at Waitati.
The show features Gregory's recent experiments with crystal glazes.
"Given the right conditions, it is possible to grow beautiful - and sometimes spectacular - crystals in pottery glazes when the pot is being fired," he says.
"Crystal glazes are tricky to fire and losses are high, so most potters are too sensible to try them."
The exhibition opens today and runs until April 25.
Gregory will attend the opening at 6pm today.
Berry carvings have depth
Printmaker Manu Berry has dived into the deep end for his latest exhibition, which opens in Dunedin today.
"Watermarks" features a series of relief carvings inspired by water and aquatic activities.
The works are a reflection on Berry's time working from a studio overlooking Lyall Bay in Wellington.
"Water and its transient reflected light have been an influential element in my current work," he says.
"I have also been engaged in an ongoing process documenting the unusual light of specific moments from my watery vista and reconstituting these colour studies into larger representations of time passing."
"Watermarks" opens at 5.30pm today at the None Gallery in Stafford St.
Talk on Hotere's garden
Artist Ralph Hotere's garden will be the subject of a colourful talk next week.
Landscape designer Wayne Butson will reveal the secrets inside the reclusive Careys Bay artist's garden to the Dunedin Gardening Club.
The talk will be held at 7.30pm on Tuesday in the Church of Christ hall, corner of Filleul and St Andrew Sts.
All members and intending members welcome.
For more information, phone 488-2796.
Course set in stone
Calling all would-be carvers . . . at Anzac weekend, sculptor Suzanne Emslie will be teaching Oamaru-stone carving at the Convention Hall, Pounawea.
The course runs from 10am-4.30pm on Saturday and Sunday and costs $125, which includes stone and tuition.
For inquiries and enrolment forms, call Natalie on (027) 217-4666.
