Work of 23 talented potters now on show
The annual South Canterbury Pottery Group exhibition is on display at the Aigantighe Art Gallery.
Earth and Fire brings together the work of 23 talented locals, and two special guest artists from around the country.
Rick Rudd (b.1949) is one guest potter whose work is included in the show. Rudd was born in Great Yarmouth on the east coast of England. He trained in the UK, and attained a Diploma of Art and Design in ceramics in 1972.
Though originally pursuing a qualification in textile design, one elective course in pottery was all it took for Rudd to be devoted. For the rest of his time at art college, he concentrated on the craft and developed an interest in pottery’s sculptural potential, rather than its traditional and domestic uses.
The influence of Modernist sculptors such as Barbara Hepworth and Henry Moore is evident in the gentle, yet complex, curved forms of his ceramics.
One year after graduating, Rudd emigrated to New Zealand where he settled in Wanganui and continued to practice pottery. His unique and ambitious style gained him popularity among locals, and today his works are held in galleries and museums across the country.
Five of Rudd’s iconic teapots are on display at the Aigantighe. Each of the works is carefully hand-built over a period of several days through an intricate process of adding thick coils of clay to each piece. The artist then pinches, squeezes and shapes the clay into his desired form.
The teapots are eccentric: one looks like a mouse with a long, curling tail, and another, like an elephant, another still, is a stack of geometric forms in a seemingly precarious formation. Nonetheless, all of the teapots remain functional, with a spout and handle for pouring a delicious brew.
Rudd is a brilliant example of an experimental potter who is committed to exploring the many possibilities of clay.
The South Canterbury Pottery Group exhibition will run until September 22.