POTTER AND PAINTER

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30178, 9 July 1963, Page 15

POTTER AND PAINTER

Exhibition Shared

Most Christchurch potters confine public appearances of their work to group exhibitions, but Michael Trumic makes what is apparently his debut as an exhibiting potter on a large scale by sharing an exhibition at the Durham street art gallery with a painter, Valerie Heinz.

Mr Trumic’s pottery is much the more interesting part of the show. At present his work has no marked individuality but his readiness to tackle big pieces sets him apart from the general run of potters.

He still has some technical Problems, notably with lids, though this is partly a matter of design, for the turned wooden lids he uses on some jars do not accord well with the jars either. Apart from a few' descents into jaiponaiserie, his pottery is decorated in a bold and purposeful manner and its forms are strong and simple. His work tends towards heaviness of form and in some cases the pots have an earthbound look. However, the boldness and vigour of Mr Trumic’s work in general and the quality of some Of the big pieces in particular make this a successful first appearance. On the other hand it is impossible to summon up enthusiasm for Miss Heins’s paintings, which are in a style that is basically the one taught at the Canterbury University School of Art 10 or 15 years, ago. A couple of nudes, painted a few years earlier than the rest of the exhibition admittedly, might well be products of the art school life class.

Her landscapes and snapshot scenes from urban life have the same drily academic flavour. In some of the recent works the planes of the subjects are emphasised in a mildly cubistic way, but the effect is only to formalise the subject, rather than add coherence to the composition Miss Heinz’s colour is pale and greyed and she uses oil paint in a dead-pan manner that allows not the slightest trace of sensuousness. In fact, it is not easy to escape a feeling that any positive or explicit expressiveness is deliberately excluded from her work.

The exhibition will close today.