“Sometime I want to just be “normal” instead of being this often obsessed creative type person.”
Marylou Hograth has been potting since 1983 and works almost exclusively using the slab method of construction. She works from her studio in North East Victoria and see her work as documenting a very particular moment in history. Her work hells the stories of living in the present moment, the small stories that fill a person’s life. Her work is often purchased to document the major turning points in a life. Births, 21st’s, weddings, 40th Birthdays, anniversaries and funeral urns. Her pieces provide people with their own piece of immortality and become a heirloom for future generations. Her work is held in public and private collections.
Q: What do you make?
I make what I call semi functional slab ware, vases, candelabras, plates, boxes. Things that can be used but are mainly not. All of my work is made with earthenware clay and is slab constructed.
Q: What are your influences?
Words, text, lyrics – Australian authors: Peter Carey, Tim Winton, Jeanette Turner Hospital, American: Alice Hoffman and Anne Tyler. Artistically I am influenced by artists I can see solving problems in their work which I also grapple with. I am always influenced by any artist or craft person I get to know.
Q: What is your working environment like?
Organised! I have this fear that if I let this organisation in my whole life slip everything will dissolve in to a cluttered mess which I think is my natural inclination.
"She Would Travel Far"
Earthenware, Slab construction
Q: Which part of the making process do you enjoy most?
I love my pots when they are drying but not fired. They offer the possibility of so much. I don’t like glazing it is dry and boring.
Q: What has been the most difficult thing you have encountered in your work?
Early on there was always the balance between the technical and the creative side of work – you need both to be working together and it can be frustrating. Nowadays I think it is making time to try new things which takes me away from making pots I know will sell. Selling work is really important to me not only for income but it shows people really value your work if they want to buy it.
Experimenting outside the safety net is a little bit frightening particularly when the whole process is so time consuming both literally and mentally. Sometime I want to just be “normal” and spend time with friends instead of being this often obsessed creative type person.
Q: Can you survive on your craft, or do you rely on other income?
I don’t think I make much more than the job search allowance with my ceramics but it fills a lot of time and I teach 4 yoga classes a week during school terms. I have been teaching yoga for 7 years now having practised for a lot more. Yoga changed my life!
Q: Is there a particular book that has been significant to your work?
Picasso’s Ceramics by Georges Ramie. This book showed me anything is possible and potters are artist too.
"Sisters"
Earthenware, Slab construction
Q: Have there been major turning points in your career as an artist?
Working and touring with Flying Arts Inc. in Queensland taught me there are potters working everywhere and we are all linked together. It also made me realise that there are lots of different “ways” people can “be” potters not everyone chooses that commercial gallery way.
Q: What have you learned as a businessman over the years?
It is really important to communicate. Discuss all the details, write them down and be organised and pack your work well when sending it.
Q: Do you see any challenges specific to potters/ceramics artists?
Some places treat you like and artist and some like a wholesaler. Both have their advantages but I like places that really love my work and send me presents!!!
Sometime I get frustrated as some places I deal with order in a way which leads me to think that they imagine I have a huge store house of pots and I just go our and pack their order.
I think it is getting harder to find galleries things seem to be in a state of flux at the moment.
Q: How has the Internet affected your business?
I am a complete luddite and am only on the internet because of much more computer literate friends.
Q: Where do you sell/exhibit your work?
In VIC:
Beechworth Fine Art, Beechworth
The Muse Gallery, Milawa
Potoroo, Southbank
First Settlement Gallery, Sorrento
The Pantechnicon Gallery, Daylesford
Gallery One, Mornington
In NSW:
Beehive Gallery, Albury
Butterflies, Pokdbin
Australia the Gift, Byron Bay
In ACT:
Yarralumla Gallery, Canberra
In QLD:
Main St. Gallery, Monkville
In NT:
Gallery Gondwana, Alice Springs.
Q: What would you like to be doing in 10 years time?
I feel totally at peace potting so I hope I am still making pots and I hope I’m wiser, kinder and alive!
"She Would Travel Far"
Earthenware, Slab construction
Marylou Hograth
PO. Box 411
Mt. Beauty
VIC 3699
Tel: (03) 5754 1645
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