Shino offering appeals at Carlton Courts

Press, 24 July 1985, Page 20

Shino offering appeals at Carlton Courts

New pots at the Courtyard Pottery, Carlton Courts, until July 27. Reviewed by Barry Allom. A Christchurch potter, Robyn Hetherington, is the guest exhibitor at a presentation of new pots of mainly Auckland potters at Fredrika Ernsten’s Courtyard Pottery in the new Carlton Courts complex. Though this show is visually rather spread out, the space in the gallery focuses on Robyn Hetherington’s small group of pots. These 20 or so small pieces offer an interesting variety of glazes and techniques. Most successful are the neat, well-executed tighter shino pots. The clay wears the shino glaze well and the crackled effects give way to the spontaneity of the oranges and dark shadings of the lower portions in a way which is appealing and subtle. The two larger vases impress as well-crafted, practical and visually pleasing pieces. Less successful in general are the highly polished copper reds. Apart from a small round pot (No. 29) and a beautifully proportioned little copper-red bowl with a blush of blue on its rim (No. 30) these pieces have not worked well. On closer inspection of these ordinary-shaped little pots, some reveal beautiful but tantalising insides, some a finish that is crude, or glazes that failed to reach their promise. A small group of anagama pots complete the offering. Again, these are of an uneven standard though one of the small teapots is appealing, and is well-made if a little heavy. This part of the exhibition

would have been enhanced if the contributing potter had been more ruthlessly selective in culling out on the weaker pots. It would have had greater impact. Two other potters featuring at the Courtyard are Jan and Chris Cockell from Auckland. Jan works in porcelain and especially striking is the deep, glossy jade green glaze used on simple forms. The tiny teapot was delightful. Also interesting but less successful are the spherical pieces fired to high temperature and then smoked. Chris Cockell has made larger raku pots with flattened closed-in lids and achieved interesting colours on the tops by the sprinkle of various salts. Murray Clayton of Wellington is represented by his well-made brownish slab vases and bowls. All round are scattered potts by that master potter from Auckland, Len Castle. The skill and experience which he brings to bear on the clay is clearly seen in these large bowls and platters with their . clear statements and sureness of touch. His mastery is evident in the tremendous depth and intensity of his glazes, in the grace and balance of his forms and in the sheer life of his unglazed surfaces and bold curled handles. One platter (No. 23) shows his control of the clay and careful judgment. It has a rough, natural quality, is a strong simple form with its solid encompassing rim which is balanced by the swirling brush design and subtle glaze. A useful, wellexecuted, lively pot. This show is well worth a visit before too many of the pots disappear.