Switched On! 2023

Pottery and Weavings
Pammy Faye (@bluedog) and Christiane Keller (@sculptNtwine)
Curated by Jacqui Malins

bluedog

What do creatures like us do in the face of devastation? After the shock of loss has dissipated? Stumbling around in the dark, we instinctively trace familiar walls looking for a light. When we can see again, we arrange what remains of the furniture of our lives. We start over.

Although I didn’t know it then, ‘starting over’ is what I was doing when almost a year ago I breathed into being an eccentric set of lamp bases, and asked Christiane if she would like to weave some shades to keep them company. It was a collaboration driven by a desire to remake my devastated home. I can see that now. At the time all I knew was that I needed more pots, more art, more light, in my life.

More life in my life.

The ceramic works in this show may have been born into grief, but they were conceived from the solaces and cravings of that time, informed by my love of the remarkable, transformative materiality of clay, and the powerful emotive potential of colour.

a deep desire for the blue of quiet oceans and endless skies an intense feeling of being lost, at sea the sense of flow that throwing produces soft clay moving through my fingers

To Christiane I say: Thank you for being such a generous, fearless, committed creative collaborator. I’ve had lots of fun, and I hope you have too.

sculptNtwine

To Pam I say: Challenge accepted for weavings and words.

I am not a word person, but a hand person. I don’t talk much but my hands are always busy and my head often spins with ideas that I can see so clearly already put into practice. When Pam sent me images of her lamp bases. I had a clear vision of how this could work. Getting the right hardware to bring the light was more difficult.

My approach is visual, but also deeply informed by my passion for recycling and sustainability. We need to throw away less and repair, reuse and create more with the affluence of things and materials in our world.

I see and start imagining I try things out, seldom measure there is no end of life or use for objects, they just need to be reimagined

All woven works are sourced from sustainable sources like my weaver’s garden, the neighbour’s flax plant (thanks so much Mini) or gifts from friends, such as the wisteria from Pam’s back veranda. Buy Nothing, the Green Shed or Canberra curb sides are frequented for my material needs.

A thing not landing in the bin gives me great pleasure. Some say I’m a hoarder, but I can see value and a project in almost anything. When I ask around for something specific more often I get a reply ‘what will you do with it’? I reward with an image of the finished work.

Weaving is a laborious process. It requires time, patience and space. It is messy and sometimes process driven.

Honey, I just need to finish this while the fibre is still moist… I pack it away quick so it doesn’t arouse suspicion, 'only one more round' she says ten to midnight.

To Pam I say: I am deeply honoured to have been asked to share your journey of re-creating your life, as a friend and as an artist. Thank you so much. And I had heaps of fun.

To myself I say: Keep going, there are so many ideas that want to get out into this world.