Four decades of East Asian influence
LEARNING the craft and delicacy of creating pottery for more than four decades, local potter Geoff Thomas insists he is still learning new techniques every day.
Combining his self-taught techniques influenced by East Asian practises, Geoff admits no two items are the same.
“The beauty of an East Asian influence is that the point of them is to be quirky and not perfectly centred,” he continues, saying all the pots are carefully made by hand.
Asian techniques allow for a softer approach, he says, adding that making pots by hand or on the wheel resulting in little wobbles, bends, or off-centres, teamed with wood-firing, results in something that shows lineage.
The latest Homeground exhibition at Western Plains Cultural Centre, All About Material, focuses on the processes involved in creating wood-fired pottery in an Anagama kiln.
In conjunction of his kiln, Geoff uses locally sourced and imported materials such as feldspars, ash, silica, limestone and bentonite to create glazes, which are combined with seashells to set the work.
“Wood firing in the kiln adds to the finishing touches of the pots giving more colour and texture to each design,” he says.
Geoff says that it is a four-day firing process with the kiln being lit only once a year.
“You never know how the pots will turn out after the firing process as it is a chemical reaction influenced by the temperature, glaze, moisture and materials,” he explains.
Geoff shares that his process of creating pottery is “very close to force” as he produces his own clay and glaze blend and collects wood off his property.
His passion fired up in 1972 when he took extension pottery classes with an art teacher, and he trialled a few lessons in experimenting with different materials and modern techniques.
This exhibition will showcase his growth in pottery from the past 40 years, and Geoff tells Dubbo Photo News he is honoured for the opportunity as it is his first solo exhibition.
All About Material runs at the WPCC until May 1.
The official opening and artist talk is being held on Saturday, February 26, at 2pm.