Blogs

'The Deconstruction of Trade' has been selected for the 5th World Ceramic Biennale in Korea in 2009. 1,726 artists from 70 countries submitted work and 186 artists were selected by the panel consisting of 5 experts from the field of ceramics and contemporary art. The Biennale will take place at the Icheon World Ceramic Center (WOCEF) 25/4 -21/5 2009. www.wocef.com

Just returned from the 'Crafticulation' conference at the University of Helsinki - where I gave a paper titled Decentred Meaning: Ceramic Materiality -Relocating Process and Technique. The conference consisted of an international audience who gave some interesting papers on the contemporary craft arena. See image of myself with Joseph McBrinn from Ireland and Sandra Alfoldy from Canada - editor of 'NeoCraft' and organiser of the conference of the same name last year in Canada www.neocraft.ca - the reindeer I am afraid was unavailable for comment...

There are some interesting texts around art and craft at the minute of which some of you, I'm sure are aware. I have just taken possession of 'The Intangibilities of Form: Skill and Deskilling in Art After the Readymade' by John Roberts which holds seven interesting chapters including 'Modernism, Repetition and the Readymade' - this seems almost essential reading for any artists like me that engage with installation and found object. Will report back on the book when I have read it - maybe there are comments from readers already?

Auto-materiality is now part of the permanent 'Garth Clark Mark Del Vecchio Collection' at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, USA. Garth Clark and Mark Del Vecchio have been leaders in the field of ceramics for over 25 years and this collection is seen as one of the most important private collections of contemporary ceramics in the world.

The collection comprises of over 375 works including works by, Peter Voulkos, Beatrice Wood, Lucio Fontana, Claes Oledenberg and Grayson Perry.

Just to say thanks to all the staff at The Old Museum Arts Centre who helped with both the set up of the show and the organization around such an event. More images to follow from the opening.

This is a screenshot from a New York Times article on the decoration of the home of art collectors, Mark Del Vecchio and Garth Clark- showing some of my work in situ.

"The New York Times > Real Estate > Interactive Feature > Rooms With a View Video clip" 1 Jun 08
Article by Robert Caplin for the New York Times.

An exhibition of new works titled "Juncture" will be on show at the Old Museum Arts Centre, 7 College Square North, Belfast, from Wednesday 11 June to Saturday 19 July. This new body of work examines ceramics and the junctures it exposes through seven new works. The works engage varied media and aim to reconfigure previous associations to ceramic towards the medium in new contexts.

Reception to launch the exhibition on Tue 10 June at 7pm. Gallery talk at 7.30pm.