Wide range of styles

Press, 2 September 1981, Page 10

Wide range of styles

Seven Auckland potters at the C.S.A. Gallery, until September 13. Reviewed by David Brokenshire. It is a pity that we so seldom get the opportunity to see pottery from Auckland. It is certainly an occasion when seven prominent potters have their work presented with such elegance as the present exhibition at the C.S.A. Gallery. Work from Auckland shows a wide range of styles well demonstrated here.

Len Castle’s work has great strength and restraint. His very large bowl with wax resist decoration has a gracious, poetic reality, a mirror of the man himself.

Rick Rudd's work in raku, although sometimes bowllike in form, concentrates on the sculptural content of ceramics. These, pieces are finely wrought, exquisitely balanced essays in form.

John Parker makes a very strong personal statement in his bowls and bottles. His exhibits are unified by the treatment of the stained, grogged clay • and the shimmering bronze glaze.

Graeme Storm:.is not well represented. His. pieces do not group well together and individually do not aid one another. . . Peter Stichbury displays his usual technical excel-

lence. Possibly through the use of his new L.P.G.-fired kiln all his glazes have a heightened colour response which has given new life to ? his work. Tit •lan'Firth’s delightful sense V of form is best seen in his *i wine pourer. His work is complemented by the V warmth of his fine Shino type glaze.’ z Margaret Milne’s- work is a '- complete joy — such wonderful control with the J; “mirror black” glaze and - each piece is so exquisitely finished. '■> This exhibition must be v. seen by all potters and ’s J lovers of fine pots.. X ’