}
The Ceramics of Mary Fox
'The most beautiful shapes are the simplest. Yet these are often the most
difficult to produce. I delight in the challenge of creating contemporary
vessels based on classic shapes. When you are working with pure form, the
tiniest fraction of an inch at any spot will make the difference between
just a vase and a vase full of life.'
Mary Fox
Mary Fox has worked in her pottery studio in Ladysmith since 1994, and she
told me she loves living in that community. 'It's like Victoria when I was
growing up,' she commented. 'It's sort of a throwback. I love being at home.
If you're an artist, that's where it's at.'
Fox has been developing unique and earthy ceramic chalices. These large open
vessels are intricately textured with pebbly organic surfaces. Technically,
they are wheel-thrown in as many as three parts and then finished with an
oxidation-fired lithium compound crawl glaze. The chalice here depicted,
which does not have the crackled surface typical of the 'crawl glaze', is
set into a piece of local sandstone as a base.
'Chalice':
2002 Sydney Myer Fund International Ceramics Award exhibition,
Shepparton Art Gallery, Shepparton, Australia.
Earthenware, lithium compound, oxidation, 33.2cm high
From Ladysmith her pots go out into the world. This summer she is part of
the display in the 53rd International Competition of Contemporary Ceramics
just opened at the Museo Internazionale d¹elle Ceramiche in Faenza, Italy
(
www.micfaenza.org.).
Fox submitted a tall, elegant earthenware vase of original design and
decorative effect. It seems to embody the exhibit's theme, 'the shape
between continuity and innovation'. And shape is what it's all about. 'For
me,' she declared, 'form is Number One.' Her piece will, at the request of
the Museum, become part of the Museum's permanent collection when the show
closes on December 31.
'Earth Offering'
Canadian Craft Museum, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Earthenware, lithium compound on exterior, crawl glaze
on interior, multi fired, oxidation, mounted in Vancouver
Island sandstone, 26 cm high, 24.5cm diameter.
The Museo Internazionale d¹elle Ceramiche is located in Faenza, a city which
gave its name to faience, the tin-glazed earthenware whose decorative
overglaze patterns were the finest European ceramics before porcelain came
from China. The museum is perhaps the premier museum of ceramics in the
world.
Since 1938, the 53rd International Competition of Contemporary Ceramics has
been held to award the Premio Faenza. Last October an international jury met
in Faenza and selected 51 works of art by 37 artists among 1203 who took
part to this event.
'Rainforest'
'Rainforest' detail
earthenware, lithium compound, raku fired, 33.5cm high.
'When I first began working with clay, I thought there was no vessel more
beautiful than the vase,' Fox has written. 'Over the years as I developed my
own forms, I have been drawn to creating vases that have a graceful flow and
lift to them. The image of a long-necked bird or a classical dancer is often
with me when creating these pieces.'
Also this summer, Fox's pottery is included in 'Genius Loci' at the Canadian
Clay and Glass Gallery in Waterloo, Ontario, (June 7 - August 31, 2003). The
Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery (
www.canadianclayandglass.ca )
is Canada¹s national institution for the exhibition of contemporary cultural
material executed in the silica media - ceramics, blown and stained glass,
and enamel. To celebrate its 10th anniversary the Gallery invited 42
Canadian artists to submit works created to highlight the unique
architectural features of their award-winning facility. A full catalogue of
the show is available on-line.
'Desert Riches':Genius Loci exhibition, Canadian Clay and
Glass Gallery, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. Earthenware, lithium compound, oxidation,
mounted in Vancouver Island sandstone, 32.5cm high.
The artists invited to participate were asked to choose unlikely and out of
the way places in the gallery space to situate their work. Nothing could be
placed on the floor. According to the curator, the placing of art in various
locations where viewers wouldn't necessarily expect to see it 'increases our
sense of anticipation as one wonders what will be happened upon next.'
This sort of top-level recognition is not new to Fox. Last year she was one
of 57 international artists at 2002 International Ceramics Award, Shepparton
Art Gallery, Shepparton Australia, the largest international ceramics
exhibition in the southern hemisphere. She also showed her pots at the late
lamented Canadian Craft and Design Museum in Vancouver and, closer to home,
she has participated in Metchosin's annual
Fired Up! show.
'Molten Beginnings'
'Vase':
'Vase' The Shape Between Continuity and Innovation: A Selection
from the Countries taking part to the 53rd International
Competition of Contemporary Ceramics, Museo Internationzale
Delle Ceramiche in Faenza, Italy. Earthenware, underglaze, crawl glaze, multiple firings,
oxidation, 46cm high.
On an ongoing basis, a selection of Fox's distinctive work holds pride of
place in its own lovely display cabinet in the centre of the elegant
Peninsula Gallery (#100 - 2506 Beacon Ave. Sidney, (250) 655-1282 or Toll-Free
(877) 787-1896). She's the only ceramic artist whose creations are available at
that gallery, where her refined forms provide an intriguing contrast to the paintings
by Robert Bateman and Carol Evans.
Mary Fox doesn't travel, but you're invited to her studio to see her full
line of wares. It's located in Ladysmith at 321-3rd Avenue (250-245-3778)
and is open daily (except Monday) from 1 to 5 pm. You can contact Mary Fox
at
[email protected] for more information.
___________________________________________
Copyright © 2003 Robert Amos
Robert Amos is an artist and art writer who lives in Victoria, B.C.. He can be contacted by
e-mail and you can view his paintings at
www.robertamos.com