An exhibition of work by emerging potters, incorporating the Pat Emery Award 2003
`Upstarts' was held in Bendigo as part of Ignition: l0th Australian National Ceramics Conference, 13th -16th April. The opportunity to expose a CV members' exhibition to several hundred delegates attending a national conference was too good an opportunity to pass up. Although the move out of Melbourne posed a challenge, and indeed may have deterred some potential exhibitors, others rose to the challenge, including regional members who usually have the opposite problem - that of getting their work to the city.
The work of twenty-eight artists was displayed in the Federation Gallery of the Old Post Office on Pall Mall, the main street of Bendigo. Although in the basement of the
building, the gallery is well-lit and bright, and light granite outer walls and pillars provided a sympathetic backdrop to the work displayed. The calibre of work entered exceeded expectations and the overall result was spectacular.
On opening night 15o people crowded into the gallery with more spilling into the corridor and laneway outside. Judge Garry Bish spoke of the many diverse approaches different artists had taken with clay and the presentation of
their work, before announcing the awards. The Pat Emery Award of $500 went to Su Hanna for her set of three Shino glazed, wood-fired pots. Commendations were awarded to Lee Goller for her 'Tide' platters, Wendy Reeve for her sawdust/pit fired pieces, and Alex Simmons for his black, salt glazed vessel.
My thanks to the following for their support: Garry Bish for his considered appraisal of the exhibition; the City of Greater Bendigo for providing a free exhibition space; Sue McFarland and her students from Box Hill TAFE for their help with catering on opening
night; the wonderful team of Rhonda Alexander, Judy Armstrong, Katrin Chittams, Lene lakobsen and Judy Roberts who set up plinths, unwrapped, labeled, displayed and
catalogued the work. Jan Barnes - Upstarts Coordinator. top | Award Winner 
Jan Barnes, Su Hanna,
Judge - Garry Bish
Set of Three
by Su Hanna
Winner of Upstarts
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