OSCAS: Open Studios of Ceramic Artists – Following The Mud Trail in Northern NSW

This past weekend was the innaugural OSCAS all across the vast country of Australia.

OSCAS:  Open Studios Ceramics Australia Showcase , sponsored by the Australian Ceramics Association allowed anyone to visit studios of potters, see demonstrations, buy pottery, talk to the potters.  It was a huge success!!!

Each area created a MUD TRAIL Map so we set off to see the potters on the trail in Northern NSW.

Saturday morning Ronnie and I got into his new truck (very swish, eh!?), loaded up with snacks, got out iphone with Google Maps and set out to follow the Mud Trail.

Visiting the studio of another potter is always a treat.  But getting to visit the studios of MANY potters on the same day is incredible!

Now, I must say here that I’ve taken heaps of pictures, but they in no way will give you the full sensual experience of actually GOING!

The smell of the bush, the taste of the scones with cream and jam, the vivid colours of the pots when seeing them in person, seeing the big goanna crawl past the “in construction” kiln at Suvira’s place, the pats on the various dogs we met, cannot be imagined or duplicated! It was just a glorious day!

So If you couldn’t make it this year, plan on it for next time!

For now though, here is a pictorial visit to the studios of the potters we visited that were involved in the OSCAS:  Open Studios Ceramics Australia Showcase sponsored by the Australian Ceramics Association.

Our first stop was the studio of Catherine Lane in Ocean Shores.  Her colleague, Linnelle Stepto, also exhibited her work at Catherine’s home.  Catherine’s pottery is amazing!  Linelle’s work, as can be seen in the photos, are flower wall hangings made from non-indigenous animal hides.  In the case here, cane toad hides and ferrel cat skins-very interesting and cool!

Here is a pictorial review of the visit:  (Click on the small pics to get a slide show view).

Pottery display in Catherine Lane’s home.

A view into Catherine Lane’s home from the garden near her studio.

Catherine Lane’s studio, which is positioned to the side of her home in the garden.

Catherine Lane’s lovely studio!

Linelle Stepto’s Flower Wall Hangings from hides of non-indigenous creatures in Australia.

Wall hanging flower created by Linelle Stepto from the hides of the non-indigenous cane toad.

These are banksia wall hangings made by Linelle Stepto from ferrel cat fur.

Our next stop was the studio of Pinky and Maurice (aka Claire Atkins).  Wow!  What a great spot!

Her studio was gleaming and so was her work!  She had an area set up for visitors to paint a bowl.  The 100 Bowl exhibit will be in Mullimbimby.

Claire Atkins and her work!

Lovely exhibit of Claire’s work.

Molds, shelving, equipment-no tidy!!

View of the studio from the garden looking in.

Bowls, bowls, bowls-to be painted by visitors!

Lovely painting area in her garden.

Visitors busy decorating bowls.

Linda Cunningam, photographer, was giving a demonstration on shooting your work using the cube!

Linda’s photo cube ready for the demonstration.

Inside the studio, Tali’s work.

Tali speaking with a visitor.

Cutie pup!

Also at her studio we got to meet Lisa Gair, Tali Cohen-Flantz and Lisa’s sister, Linda Cunningham and see their gorgeous work!

The highlight here was the “kiln temple” in Claire’s backyard (garden) -truly a site to behold!!

From there we went to Suvira McDonald’s.  This is where the GPS on my phone became essential!!! Tucked back in the bush, we found Suvira’s studio! Loaded with amazing, amazing pottery!

Mud Trail signage.

Fantastic treehouse!

We knew we were close when we started seeing pots!

Yard art.

Welcoming boats!

Love these!

Suvira McDonald in his studio.

Survira McDonald speaking with Fiona Fell, head of Ceramics at Southern Cross University.

Suvira with a big smile!!!

Gorgeous!

Suvira’s Work.

Love this big platter!

More of Suvira’s work.

These glazes are so decadent!

Loved seeing and hearing about everyone’s kilns and firings!

Suvira showed me his PayMate! Too cool! EFTPOS on your phone!

Enjoyed meeing Fiona Fell-head of ceramics at Southern Cross University.

More of Suvira’s work.

Lastly on the Mud Trail, we visited the studio of Karen Jennings’, Toohey’s Mill Pottery.  Now I thought getting to Suvira’s was a challenge, but I truly don’t think I would have found Karen’s place without my GPS on my phone!!

Karen Jennings’ studio is amazing as well and her work is absolutely brilliant!!!!  So glad we found it!

Toohey’s Mill Pottery Grounds. Gorgeous!

Karen Jennings and her gorgeous work! Stunners all!

Brochures and sign in book.

Just in the nick of time! Food! Fantastic scones with cream and jam!

Karen demonstrating on the wheel.

Visitors got to give the wheel a go.

Karen with a visitor.

Giant slab roller.

Karen’s work!

Little bags of clay tools and goodies were available for sale.

He was so lovely! Tummy rub!!

Two studios that we visited that were not officially on the trail were also great fun and we saw some excellent pottery!!  Stay tuned for my next post about them!!

All in all, the day was even better than I had dreamed!  I hope TACA does it again next year!  If so, give us one more day and have lots more potters involved!!! Brilliant!!!

To see what others did last week, check out Mud Colony!

Party on, Garth!

Marian