I have always been captivated by the Australian bush. My childhood was spent exploring our property; my adventures and imagination fuelled by the stories of May Gibbs and her big bad banksia men. Time stood still. Days lasted forever.
These little ceramic banksia forms seem friendly and familiar, they make me smile as I picture them chatting away about nothing in particular. Their newspaper coiled, basket-woven tops resembling garden gnomes, jolly and stout. Proudly taking up space, nostalgic and perhaps a little bit kitsch. But memories are like that: taking you to happier, simpler times where anything seemed possible.
These sculptural ceramic-based banksia vessels reinterpret traditional basketry with repurposed everyday materials. Cordage made from newspaper is used in the construction of the basket-woven top. The use of newspaper explores themes of communication, censorship and bush politics as reported or omitted from the daily ‘news’, and is through the action of ‘making’, that takes time and care, they are transformed into a new structure that is cherished and valuable. Coloured cotton thread is used to stitch the coiled basket form.
Works in this series are available at Gallery Lane Cove. Enquiries can also be made via website Contact Page.
description/materials
ceramic, newspaper, 4ply cotton
glazed earthenware and newspaper coiled vessel. size: variable - approx width 14cm each