Interconnections: Celebrating 40 Years of Ceramic Teaching and Learning in the Latrobe Valley

A stunning collection of work of significance within the Latrobe Vallery Arts practice and Australian ceramics

All artists have had an association with Arc Yinnar in the last 40 years and it’s connection to ceramics teaching and learning in the Latrobe Valley, Gippsland. The was funded by the Australian Museums and Galleries Association

Gallery arc 30th April to the 29th May 2022 .

The Exhibition ‘InterConnections, Celebrating arcs 40 years of Ceramic Teaching and Learning Interconnections in the Latrobe Valley’ celebrates arcs 40th year of operations with a particular focus on its ceramics studio, now fully refurbished; and the teaching that has occurred there over the years as well as the connections that have been developed with other educational and community organisations.

The exhibition is a stunning survey and a collection of work of  significance within the Latrobe  Valley Arts practice and Australian ceramics.

All the artists involved have had an association with Arc Yinnar in the last 40 years and it’s connection to ceramics teaching and learning in the Latrobe Valley, Gippsland.

Artist Hedley Potts whose expressive figurative work inspired by socio political narratives features in the exhibition, was one of six original staff in 1972 to build an art school at the Gippsland Institute of Education.  He developed the ceramics studio and taught and lectured  at G.I.A.E. through its various re-brandings to Monash University Gippsland Campus, now Federation University,  from which he retired in 1994. Some 10 years later students from the art school with the same pioneering spirit initiated the renovation of the arc building in Yinnar from its origins as a Butter factory and then built, along with other specialist studios, the current ceramic studio within its spaces.

The link between tutor and student within the arc ceramics studio and the University continued throughout the years with Owen Rye  known internationally for being at the forefront of the contemporary wood-firing movement undertaking positions in 1985-91 as Lecturer and then in 1992-2003 Senior Lecturer.  Students and members of arc built a wood fired kiln (now dismantled)  at the rear of arc during this era.  A collection of Owens wood fired multifaceted jars and bottles are a beautiful presence within the gallery in this exhibition.

Jilliane Hurrell, student of both Owen and Hedley, worked as a teacher within Arc’s ceramic studio for Main Street student artists during the late 1990s to early 2000s. Her uniquely formed dry glaze vessels, plates, platters and wall hangings inspired by travel and made during this time are featured in the show.

For a time during this period  Japanese born artist Kiyoshi Ino, who came from Japan in 1973 and  to  live and work in the Latrobe Valley in 1978 to 2008, also lectured at the University and occupied a studio at arc where he also taught ceramics. The show features some of his smaller functional works from private collections.

Gippsland Potter Adam Cox spent his early formative years in his studio at arc also during this time alongside Ino and artist and teacher Peter Corser.  Adams work on show, both functional and decorative has evolved to a uniquely elegant approach to form and the use of slip carving and beautiful crystalline glazes.

A collection of both functional and Raku fired sculptural works of Peter’s, created at the time when the Raku Kiln (now decommissioned) once fired up in the studio are on show.

Other artists with  connections to the University and arc  are Christopher Headley who lectured there and undertook a residency at arc. His work comprises narrative collections of beautifully precise made objects of white earthenware with his own designed decals and lustre as surface decoration. The observer is invited to pause and read the work.

Artist John Rojo also lectured for a time recently and his wood fired work and works with painted and patterned surface design can be also seen. 

Long time member of arc currently lecturing at the now Federation Uni,  Anthea Williams unique approach to ceramics is observable in her series  'Black Hole’ black fired ceramics which respond to the local industry and reference the grime and black dust of a world crumbling under our reliance on coal.

Dragi Jankovic is a member of arc and is currently working part time in the ceramics studio as tutor and technician. Dragi tutored in ceramics at the Central Gippsland Institute of TAFe (Gippstafe) at the Newborough Campus for many years alongside Chris Myers.

In 1973 Dragi met Kyoshi Ino, who greatly influenced his artistic profession, with ceramics playing a pivotal role in his professional career as an artist.

Many of Dragi’s and Chris’s students at Gippstafe  particularly during the early 2000’s were also members at arc, studying  with Dragi and Chris at the campus studio and practicing their craft in their spare time at arcs Ceramic studio.

Dragi’s strikingly large sculptural forms  and smaller functional vessels, many of which have been high fired in gas kilns with beautiful reduction glazes that produce a smooth gloss surface are on  exhibit.  As well are his Shino carbon trap glazes,  a glazing technique that originated in Japan,  that have less predictable and but equally mesmerising decorative surface effects.

Chris’s simple, elegant forms are decorated with an extraordinarily complex approach, built up by sand-blasting and/or acid-etching the previously fired glazed surface and applying low-fire lustres. The effect creates beautifully balanced and elegant works. These works contrast strikingly with his equally beautiful hand built and dry glazed mid fired forms.

The exhibition was curated by arc member Yvette Atkins and assisted by Dijanne Cevaal.

Further 40th year celebrations are planned throughout the year with a textile exhibition and commemorative textile work being made in workshops in June and a major current and past member exhibition, photographic document, workshops and performances in November.

Arc is a volunteer run, not for profit  Community arts organisation.  The exhibition was partly funded by the Australian Museums and Galleries Association through their Culture Heritage Art Regional Tourism project. Arc would like to thank all the volunteers who also made this exhibition possible and the Latrobe Regional Gallery for the loan of plinths