CHESTER
NEALIE’S A.S.P.DEMONSTRATION
Auckland Studio Potters was the place to be on
Sunday 22nd July 2012. The weather was fairly rugged so a Chester
Nealie demonstration (indoors)) was very welcome to the group who’d braved the
elements.
The majority of people present were well positioned
around Chester’s kick wheel, so it made for quite an intimate gathering. What
was evident was Chester’s ease in a group situation, which made his explanation
of technique and potting practice very easy to take in.
His arsenal of tools was impressive and a few of the items
laid out for use were...
A huge stainless steel knife, procured from the ASP
kitchen drawers, a man-size gas powered flame thrower, 50mm in diameter, chopsticks
and a shapely Westpac bank card.
There’s something about watching a potter throw a
pot on a kick wheel, whether it’s the rhythm
of the pedal turning the wheel or the fact that the
clay is rotating slowly which in turn makes it easier for a viewer to take in the transformation from raw material into
something tangible.
I can’t put my finger on it, but I think it makes
learning a little easier and the business of potting more inviting than when
the practice is shown on an electric wheel.
Chester talked of his day to day practice,
admitting to finding throwing in the morning uncomfortable due to the
temperature in the studio, so preferring to work on other tasks such as applying
handles etc. And getting his hands stuck
into the clay later on in the day.
When the first pot was ready to be altered Chester
cranked up the gas and ignited the vapour with one of those huge BBQ lighters. Next came the whoosh of the blue flame and he
was ready to cook. After a few intense
doses of heat, the flame was extinguished, leaving a steaming, shapely pot
ready to be finished off with some tweaking, slicing and lugging....
Chester was quite honest about his approach to
potting, admitting that he” doesn’t like to overwork a pot”.... but sometimes
felt the urge to play with it and ultimately “bugger it up”. I think all of us could identify with that
confession, as we were all of different skill levels but the one common thread
was the ability to play with and ultimately overwork our pots.
Once Chester’s pots were ready to work on he began
faceting with the kitchen knife. Slicing, shaving and smoothing the base with a
credit card. Finishing one vase with lugs, which were then pierced
with the chopstick.
(Check out the images.)
He talked of the pot as a blank canvas in need of working
without over doing it, and that every touch, incision, addition made to it
should have some kind of purpose or reason for being there. Otherwise it could
appear contrived or unnecessary with the original vitality being lost in the process.
These demonstrations are so important for N.Z.
pottery today, for us to see the creativity and passion still alive and evident
in master potters of the type that Chester Nealie is one of.
To invite the public to see that we have a vital
art form that is not ‘stuck in the 1970’s,’ but
in need of recognition and support from the
business sector, galleries etc. Instead of purchasing
that $10.99 special for x5 bland, sterile, white
(for example, but not always the rule.)
coffee mugs...
Spending a bit more on home grown, thrown and
fired, highly individual studio made pieces.
Any person attending one of these demonstrations
cannot help but be affected (in a positive way.) by the infectious passion,
potters like Chester Nealie and others bring to our studio......
May
the ‘Demo’s’ continue!!
By Guest Blogger: Mark Goody
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| Cleaning up the bottom with a section of credit card. |
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