WINNER 2023 KLYTIE PATE CERAMIC AWARD

‘you and i are earth’

you and i are earth

First of all a huge thank you to my friend Jack Latti for the privilege of putting this work into his kiln. I was on the firing crew of Jack’s freshly minted anagama and this work was in that kiln. It is no wonder that woodfiring has me hooked and I seek out opportunities to woodfire whenever and wherever I can. Jack’s kiln is located on Wurundjeri Country.

I am a contemporary ceramic artist working on Boon Wurrung Country. My process driven practice is full of conversations and collaborations with materials, constantly being attentive to their capacities and tendencies. This work highlights the preciousness of the earth and the care we should be taking of it and explores the vibrancy of material interactions through wood firing.

This work has a personal back story which I did not mention in my application to the Klytie Pate Ceramic Award. This makes the win even more special and is testament to the work speaking for itself, which is always the intention of an artist.

A wonderful friend had recently died and, prior to her death at the age of 87, she had gifted me a pebble, which she had picked up at the age of six and carried with her throughout her life. This pebble, for me, is the perfect example of the vibrancy and energy of matter. There is a pull, a tug for humanity towards the inorganic - you and i are earth.

My studio is located on the stolen lands of the Boon Wurrung People of the Kulin Nation and I recognise that Aboriginal sovereignty was never ceded. I respect their ongoing culture and connection to Country. I pay my respects to their Spirits, Ancestors and Elders, past, present and emerging and extend this respect to all First Nations Peoples across the lands and waters on which I visit, live, work and make.