AT FULL TILT, SINGING AS I GO

This week has been one of those full-tilt-singing-as-one-goes sort of weeks. The days have been glorious, though cold enough to wear a tartan coat and a sunbeam....

I finished the door commission, mentioned a few posts ago......



...... and visited my "good luck" gallery in my favourite little mountain village ....


..... ate lunch next to a waterfall, at a restaurant overlooking the farm where I spent most of my childhood.

I also treated myself to a Clementina van der Walt plate, something I've been wanting to do for a long time.


Ceramics by Clementina van der Walt at The Underberg Studio. The plate I bought is in the top left corner.

The Underberg Studio gallery stocks art by leading South African ceramists. This little gallery is my lucky charm ..... and I'm not saying anymore in case I jinx it ;-)

Quirky ceramic jugs by Hennie Meyer.

Ceramic Tile by Cathy Brennon. (I happen to have this tile on my wall :-)

Cathy and Lawrance Brennon, the owners of the gallery, are both recognized artists in their own right. Cathy is a ceramist who creates a range of amazing pieces, from delicate, detailed bowls to earthy, African inspired body masks.

Delicate bowl by Catherine Brennon at The Underberg Studio gallery.

Lawrance is a photographer who captures the stunning beauty of surrounding mountains with his camera. He also makes pinhole cameras and has a blog where he shares his passion for photography.


Potter at Work by Lawrance Brennon. See more on Lawrance's blog, here.

The ceramics studio (attached to the gallery), is full to brimming with bits and pieces that grip one's attention from the moment one walks in the door.

Ceramics Studio. The clay busts you see are also made by Cathy.

Have you ever tried holding a conversation with someone while your eyes are darting around the room and though you are hanging onto every word because the words are important you are battling to pull your eyes back into their sockets so that you don't appear rude? That is what it is like for me when visiting the studio. There is just so much I need to look at! Shelves of art books ...... half finished ceramic pieces ..... new ideas carved in clay .... pottery tools ..... sacred treasures gathered on walks ..... shards of blue and white porcelain, stumbled upon during a trip to Japan .... pinch pots filled with found objects and inspiration.

"There are mountainous, arduous days, up which one takes an infinite time to climb, and downward-sloping days which one can descend at full tilt, singing as one goes". - Marcel Proust

AFRICAN AMBIANCE

The Kim Sacks Gallery link has been in my sidebar for a while now but it is easy to miss so I think its time I introduced you to one of the most well known galleries in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Kim Sacks has a knack for finding extraordinary art and craft for her gallery from all over Africa, ranging from the old and valuable....



to the unusual and quirky .......

...... as well as the traditional to the contemporary.

Telephone Wire Bowls


She is also an accomplished ceramic artist herself and loves to share her appreciation for this artform. The Kim Sacks School of Ceramics is known nationally as one of the most important Clay Environments in South Africa. See website here.

Exquisite Bowls by Kim Sacks

"I am by inclination a Nomad, who is also a Ceramicist of 40+ years. A teacher, Gallery Owner, Photographer, Obsessive Collector, Social Anthrolpologist, Joyful Gardner and Cook." - Kim Sacks



One of Clementina van der Walt's bowls. Visit Clementina's website, here and blog, here.


"In the 21st century, we are aggressively being catapulted into this cyber age of information overload. Making contemplative and utilitarian objects by hand, may appear anachronistic and at odds with the spirit of the times. However, the ceramic discipline, with cultural and historical links to rituals of everyday life, encompasses society, religion and philosophy. Like music and poetry, it expresses a world of complexity and awe, with the capacity to touch the soul. The archetypal significance of the home, as a point where our spiritual and earthy lives interconnect is where I have attempted to explore these ideas." - Clementina van der Walt.

Clementina van der Walt at Kim Sacks Gallery. See blog post, here.

Tiles by Clementina van der Walt

Bus by Richard Sithole

Master Bus Maker, Richard Sithole

Detail of Widow and orphan by Samuel Musharu

There are many more photographs of Sam and Lindelani's amazing work on Kim's blog.

Kiss Eternal Kiss. Copper wire woven and constructed sculpture by Lindelani Ngwenya.

If you visit the link here, remember to view the slides in the sidebar too. Beautiful images to inspire!