Baisweil group shows pots

Press, 21 February 1978, Page 14

Baisweil group shows pots

Pottery and weaving; Halswell Pottery Group; C.S.A. Gallery, until February 27. Reviewed by Colleen O’Connor. This group has 28 of its members exhibiting a variety of pottery. Added interest is provided by the work of two guest potters and two weavers. The background of the work shown is of interest. This group, although doing a lot of potting in individual homes, works mainly from its headquarters in an old Halswell farmhouse. The workshop is equipped with seven wheels and two electric and one oil-fired kilns. The group also makes a point of preparing its own glazes. Evident in the exhibition are a number of influences and present trends in pottery. Mary Tothills soft groovy earthenware is interesting and her set of six bowls have a simplicity of shape and decoration. Another set of offwhite bowls in stoneware, pleasing and good to handle, is by Averil Cave. Margaret Watting achieved a satisfaction from her bark-textured pot and Wyn Wilkies lamp base would appear to be a play on other forms of material.

The two guest potters provide quite a contrast of

work. Hazel McCaughan shows honest, well-fin-ished stoneware, and Justin Gardiner a number of forms from a large slab bottle with apple glaze, io casseroles, and several pieces of porcelain. The guest weavers show two pieces each. Pat Wilkinson’s “Trinity” hangs in three dark lengths gridded together with bands of orange over lays. Her “Goldmund” hanging comprises many strands of orange wool held by a series of dia-mond-woven areas in brown with textured horizontals of yellow-browns. Lorelie Kennedy has two wall pieces, both showing a footing for calm colours which blend extremely well.