Gallery Shop 1—31 May 2024
Benalla Art Gallery presents MUD in the Gallery Shop throughout May. The exhibition showcases a range of ceramic pieces, both functional and ornamental by members of the The Broken River Potters Club of Benalla.
The Broken River Potters studio is a communal space for ceramic artistry and social connections. The artists explore diverse pottery techniques, crafting pieces ranging from bold statements to subtle marvels, showcasing a spectrum of colour, form, and detail.
Pieces crafted from Stoneware are fired to C9 or 1280°C to ensure both artistic quality and food safety.
Participating artists:
Linda Anker, Bruce Every, Juliet Ferguson, Pauline Fraser, Melissa Grimwade, Linda Lees, Alison McIvor, Katrina Neil, Kym Stubbs, Ruth Terry
Linda Anker has dedicated seven years to her membership at the Broken River Potters Club, where she has honed her skills and nurtured her passion for hand-building. Through her craft, she hopes to share the joy and artistry imbued in each of her pieces with those who encounter them.
Bruce Every is a retired engineer with a lifelong passion for construction, Bruce now channels his creativity into working with clay. He explores various techniques, finding equal joy in crafting a ball mould as he does in shaping clay into a ball within it.
After intermittently pursuing pottery over the years, a chance encounter led Juliet Ferguson back to the Broken River Potters, rediscovering a group she had previously been part of some 25 years back when the collective operated within the Benalla Art Gallery. Drawn to clay’s potential for diverse forms and textures, she now favours hand-building, especially sculpting birds and animals.
Pauline Fraser specialises in crafting small batches of wheel-thrown stoneware pieces. Each creation is made with an emphasis on both aesthetic appeal and practicality, designed to elevate either the sideboard or the dining table with its unique blend of form and function.
For years, Melissa Grimwade honed her craft in hand-building pottery, sculpting large vessels and intricate structures. In 2023, she embarked on a new journey, mastering the art of the wheel and gracefully transitioning to crafting smaller, delicate pieces through throwing techniques.
For over forty years, Linda Lees has delved into various artistic mediums, with photography and ceramics remaining constant passions, particularly in sculptural forms. Inspired by country living near Wangaratta, Linda’s recent artworks explore the subtle presence of people in their environment, transitioning into a more introspective series of sculptures characterised by clean lines and curves.
Alie McIvor’s joyful pottery creations are crafted with care, designed to bring smiles for many years to come as they brighten up daily routines with their charm and functionality.
Katrina Neil finds great pleasure in the art of glazing, particularly in her innovative combinations of vibrant colours, which lend her platters and bowls a distinct and captivating character but is best known for her signature windchimes. As the President of Broken River Potters, Katrina carries on a rich family tradition of exceptional pottery craftsmanship, adding her own flair to the legacy with each piece she creates.
Originally from Melbourne, Kym Stubbs excels in various art forms such as jewellery, sculpture, ceramics, printmaking, life drawing, and pastels. Her work has been exhibited locally and abroad, with recent acclaim for her ceramics, including winning the ‘Poets of Pottery’ exhibition in Mansfield.