The Mudgee region, and particularly Gulgong with it's pure white kaolic clay, is home to many potters and over the next few months, we will introduce you to many and varied different artists, techniques and styles.  From hand built, woodfired eathenware, exotic raku and pit fired glazes to traditional wheel thrown stoneware.

We are extremely proud to have world-renowned ceramicist, Janet Mansfield OA introduce our Ceramic Arts Feature 2012

_

Janet Mansfield established her pottery workshop nearly 40 years ago, at Morning View, Gulgong experimenting with the clay and other local minerals to use in her art.  During that time, she has contributed to many exhibitions, including international shows and she has held a large number of solo exhibitions.

Janet established two international magazines on ceramic art, has written books and is now publishing books, all from her nearby Gulgong base.

Over the past 25 years, Janet organised ceramic events, one every three years in Gulgong, inviting international and national ceramic artists to demonstrate and exhibit their work.  Eight events, with up to 500 participants attending, have now become a major focus for contemporary potters and ceramic artists.

Janet’s latest initiative is to establish a small gallery “The Front Room Gallery” at 139 Mayne Street Gulgong. She exhibits her work there and also that of her Chinese colleagues, Wang Peng Yue and Fan Wei Jun, who work at her pottery studio.

As each load of pots comes from the kiln, it is shown in the gallery with the philosophy designed to introduce local work at reasonable prices and encourage locals and tourists to see the beauty and usefulness of handmade and unique pottery.

Regular exhibitions are held and also special happenings occur from time to time.   Visitors are most welcome.

_


The Front Room Gallery
139 Mayne St Gulgong
Telephone 02-6374 0392

Wednesday to Sunday
10.30 am to 3.30 pm


www.janetmansfield.com

_
Janet Mansfield has been a potter for more than 45 years.  After training in ceramics at the National Art School, East Sydney in 1964-65, she has exhibited widely in Australia and overseas.  She is represented in major public collections and her work has appeared in international publications. She has been an invited participant in symposiums, conferences and as a juror in many countries.

A member of the International Academy of Ceramics since 1982 and currently president, Janet Mansfield has received a number of awards including the Order of Australia Medal for her services to ceramic art.

In 1990 she received the Emeritus Award for art from the Australia Council. Lifetime achievement awards include Ceramic Art Foundation, based in New York, 1999; Friends of Contemporary Ceramics, 2003; International Ceramics Festival, UK, 2003; and National Council for Education in the Ceramic Arts (NCECA) in 2004.

_
In 2004 she was awarded a Doctor of Letters from the University of Tasmania.

Over the years of her ceramic practice she has been president of the Potters’ Society of Australia, president of the Crafts Council of NSW and president of the Ceramic Study Group. She was editor of Pottery in Australia between 1976 and 1989. She is an exhibiting member of The Australian Ceramics Association.

She has written six books on ceramics. She established, as publisher/editor, the journals Ceramics: Art and Perception and Ceramics Technical (1990–2008), international publications of high quality, and is now publishing books under the name of Mansfield Press.

For many years she has worked in the salt-glaze and wood firing ceramics aesthetic, giving workshops and lecturing internationally on this subject.  For more details, please contact Janet's website -

                                               www.janetmansfield.com 

.