fresh from the kiln

New things for the exhibition in Östersund later this week. I surprised myself with a new pink slip this summer.

New blog by Gothenburg ceramic artist:
Marianne Hallberg

tiles by gunilla råberg

I share the exhibition space at Nääs with Gunilla Råberg and Anita Carlsson (her work in this post...). One of the mini-cottages in the Nääs exhibition is filled with our ceramics, meant for public and private spaces.

These are the fine bathroom tiles by Gunilla (who also opened her show Vitt/White at blås & knåda yesterday). Subtle and strong at the same time.
www.gunillaraberg.se

The mini cottage exhibition at Nääs is open one more week, until Sept 4.
www.bvn.se

LAB 2011 - biennial in the north

This summer was the first time I could visit the art biennial in Luleå: LAB 11. It is truly inviting, welcomes applications from all over the world. The biennial is the work of a group of artists, local art heroes!!! They are also behind the snow sculpture event that takes place every year. And now the webpage keeps me busy:
Kilen Art Group

Above: only two of my favorite pieces at the biennial by Sarawut Chutiwongpeti, Thailand and Roger Rigorth, Germany (download a so inspiring catalogue with his work here)

Another is a video I wanted to go swimming by two Finnish artists Marjukka Korhonen and Raimo Uunila, so clever. They are part of the Waterscape Project (link to blog) where you can see the film and other art projects about the water of our planet.

And there is so much more here, at Kilen...

cooler

It's getting a bit cooler, I'm afraid most of the summer is gone. There is still more to share; what I will remember from this summer: having lunch in Karin's garden.

Bronwyn Oliver sculptures at Red Bubble
and more here...
I also like her earlier works.

what I am doing

For the Östersund show in September: the space is a nice, small room with a checkered red and white tile floor and the walls a mix of white plaster and red bricks. I felt a need to connect with the materials. So, I dug deep and found some old dark red earthenware clay, dry and hard as stone. After some days it was great to work with again and turned into smaller wreaths.

I stick to a theme of joy and sorrow.
For every clay leaf I put there, I think of all the sorrow that friends and families of the victims in Norway feel. So much sorrow. No joy.

Shelley Martin vitrifiedstudio.wordpress.com so generously shares ceramic artists that  she finds inspiring, and I'm delighted and thankful to be posted as one of them. Simple handmade ceramic forms, a long list since March this year.
Her work blog here: vitrifiedstudiowork.wordpress.com/