during September 2010 we had a post about
the “role of studio ceramics in the 21st century”

BBC News found an answer!

(Old news; some of you might know the story already)


"Spanish police seize 42-piece dinner set... made entirely of cocaine"! 

~ cocaine crockery ~ 



~ cocaine crockery ~



"Forty-five pounds of the drug were sculpted into a cheerful set of plates, cups, pots and saucers - painted blue and decorated with sunflowers. Delivery from Venezuela to Barcelona via London. Police have arrested a 35-year-old Spanish man".

Of course the police became suspicious when they questioned the aesthetics of this imported dinner set . . .!?

At Ceramic Matters we are still working in clay

A few statements and questions (from clients) I never understand in our studio are: 

~ Ceramic Matters ~

~ Ceramic Matters ~

 









 




• “What is your best seller?” – It makes me feel like we are selling televisions or something! I am not a sales person, but can one sincerely re-sell something that you don’t care for yourself? 

~ Ceramic Matters ~

~ Ceramic Matters ~




 










• “The new trend overseas is . . .” (I am told it is butterflies or something right now!) They say if you see the “bandwagon” come past, you must know you have missed it!
 

~ Ceramic Matters ~

~ Ceramic Matters ~ 














• And then the usual “. . . what do you use it for?” - Use it to look at; enjoy the texture or shape or whatever you see or think.

We wear clothes for numerous reasons

Decency

To avoid imposing cruel injury to innocent passers-by

Protection or the Lack thereof

Style and Expression

Creative Fulfilment

But the dismal following of a trend for

Recognition and Acceptance

Seems Pointless

Why follow "Trends"?

 The Significance of Integrity is so Underestimated.



~ Ceramic Matters - Detail ~



~ Ceramic Matters - Detail ~



  

~ Ceramic Matters ~



~ Ceramic Matters ~



~ Ceramic Matters - Detail ~



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food, design and wine fair

the thought / foundation for the Ceramic Matters stand were:

• the ritual of eating • the ritual of celebration • the sense of occasion •
• design • fantasy • Christmas • gifts • food •

• a little fun • a little social comment •



~ rolled up ceramic plates - my favorite on our stand ~

a carnival of festive playfulness

~ ceramic cup cake lid ~

old burlesque / vaudeville images
freak show, tattoo, skilled animals, harlequin

 

~ the mighty gun ~

~ color and pattern ~

~ ceramic cup cake containers – an inebriated "connoisseur" asked what flavour they were  . . . ~ 



Alice in Wonderland; talking animals, disproportionate scale, curiouser and curiouser . . .



~ "enough already with the training . . . "! ~

Alice "I can't explain myself, I'm afraid, Sir,
because I'm not myself you see".



~ "one for you and two for me" bowl . . . ~

~ ceramic "boot vase" . . . a patron at the fair (with glass of wine in hand)
asked if she could try on a size 14 on . . . -
sure, if your name is Cinderella ~



Alice "It would be so nice if something made sense for a change".



~ espresso cups ~

all the above designed and manufactured by Ceramic Matters - more photos in the next post

~ link ~

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bizarre Q & A - one to ten

fig 1 - cast skull

1. the design indaba, at the end of a long day, smiling
 and answering questions, an interrogation: “who is doing the tattoo drawings for you”? – did she think we have a sweatshop in the back of the studio?!

2. at rooms on view show "is this all the stuff you make? just shows you the sh*t people will spend money on!" - he should see them in the pub!

3. radio interview "so ceramic matters is the designer of the year; just a south african award, is it worth much?" what a dim comment; no response from me, not much better. (studies have shown that public speaking comes a close second to fear of death for some . . i cannot

classify myself quite at number two, but it runs in the single digits) in retrospect, the judge was international design guru li edelkoort and we are very proudly south african! 

fig 2 - drawing

 4. e-mail "i cannot afford the work of famous artist x; can you copy his work for me?" - can you believe . . . next they’ll want it signed . . . !


fig 3 - black engobe

5. our prices have gone up because of the electricity price increase . . .  

" yes, but can you give it to me at the old price?" 

6. e-mail "can you send me (export) free samples stipulated on the list?"
(worth R 20,000!) - free decorating service?!

fig 4 - start engraving

7. order confirmation - dated 15th september 2010 - from large semi-government organisation for delivery 3rd september 2010, with penalty clause for late delivery! – time travel? 

fig 5 - engraved skull


8. department store 'invites' us to do ‘exclusive’ work for it. once a confidentiality document is signed, we are presented with the 'new' designs - photos of our work! – would we not notice?



fig 6 - engraved skull

9. “can you glaze my son’s computer hard drive, so nobody can steal the information on there?” – yes, sure, nobody will have access to it after it was fired to 1120°C.

10. “my son is a very talented sculptor. can you please model and fire a hand for his school project?” – i'm so not buying the teacher an apple . . . !

names and identities are withheld

to protect ceramic matters from further contact

send us your bizarre experiences

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