About Tamasin
Artist Statement
Through my practice I explore the ancient quality of landscape from the intimate to the grandiose. I attempt to capture the aesthetic moment and living spirit of the land. My pieces are subtle and have a sense of stillness that reflects both inner (the meditative space of studio practice) and outer realms. They appear solid and earthy but with a refined fragility manifesting in the eroded, broken eggshell like edges. I reference organic adobe structures, the crescent, disc, shells, seedpods, temples and shrines. Windows and keyholes feature through some pieces or are a place for found items of intrinsic beauty that are often overlooked: a shell core, seedpod, weathered twigs and lichen patterns on pebbles. The piece becomes a shrine to the object, elevating it, inviting contemplation. Some pieces are earthy, sensual and rounded hand built forms that invite touch while others are more geometric and architectural.
The medium of clay allows a depth of surface and form through the process of hand building: pushing and pulling clay into its infinite variety. The form is further worked by paddling until its evolution is complete with the refining scraping back of the surface and edges. I explore the textural qualities of clay and push the elemental forms further. These pieces explore the surface through leaving evidence of construction (coils, chattering and paddling marks) and I emphasise cracks and irregularities with oxides and engobes. In contrast, I often smooth and refine the interiors of these vessels to better adhere a high-fired clear glaze.
CV
Education |
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| 1998 | Graduate Diploma in Education (Secondary), Nepean, UWS |
| 1994 | Bachelor of Visual Arts (Ceramics), Institute of the Arts, ANU |
| 1993 | Exchange student as part of BA, Valencia, Spain 6 months studying with Enrique Mestre (Ceramic Sculpture) |
Current Galleries |
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| 2007 | Freeland Gallery, Sydney, NSW Nexus Community Gallery, Bellingen Pinnata Gallery, Dorrigo, NSW Flying Pig/Precint Gallery, Berry, NSW |
Awards/Scholarships |
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| 2007 | Selected for 4th World Ceramic Biennale, International Competition, Icheon, Korea |
| 2007 | Highly Commended at Cairns National Ceramics Exhibition, QLD |
| 2001 | Highly Commended at Caloundra Art and Craft Festival, QLD |
| 1995 | Highly Commended at Alice Craft Acquisition, NT |
| 1995 | Pat Corrigan Artists Grant |
| 1994 | University of Canberra Tertiary Art Prize, ACT |
| 1993 | Telecom Australia Travelling Scholarship, ANU, ACT |
Solo Exhibitions |
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| 2007 | ‘Eye of the Storm’ Mura Clay Gallery, NSW |
| 2000 | ‘Mother Collects Rocks’ Mura Clay Gallery, NSW |
| 1996 | ‘Locus . . . a place, a locality . . .’ Crafts Council Gallery, NT |
| 1994 | Behind the Paint Room Gallery, NSW |
Selected Group Exhibitions |
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| 2007 | 'Waxing Waning', Nexus Gallery, Bellingen, NSW |
| 2007 | 4th World Ceramic Biennale, International Competition, Icheon, Korea |
| 2006 | ‘Australian Ceramics: Responding to the Landscape’, Sydney, NSW |
| 2006/08 | ‘ConVerge’ Northern Rivers Touring Ceramic Exhibition |
| 2006 | 16th Annual Exhibition of Excellence, Grafton, NSW |
| 2005 | Cowra Festival Art Awards, NSW |
| 2004-07 | Bellingen Art Prize, NSW |
| 2005 | ‘Thixotropy’, Bellingen, NSW |
| 2001 | Caloundra Arts and Crafts Festival, QLD |
| 1998 | ‘Ceramics in the 90’s’, Mura Clay Gallery, NSW |
| 1996 | ‘Sense of Surface’, Golden Canvas Gallery, NSW |
| 1995 | 15th National Craft Acquisition Award, Museum and Gallery, NT |
| 1994-95 | 18th Annual Walker’s Exhibition Ceramic Award, Westpac Gallery VIC |
Residency |
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| 2007 | Artist in Residence, Port Macquarie Hastings Regional Gallery NSW |
| 1995-96 | Graduate in Residence (Ceramics), Crafts Council of the NT |
Publications |
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| 2007 | ‘Ceramic Art & Perception’ Issue 66 ConVerge Article |
| 2006 | ‘ConVerge Catalogue’, p.36-37 and p.55 |
| 2006/07 | ‘The Owner Builder Magazine’ p58-p63. |
| 2004 | ‘Handmade in Bellingen Shire…Naturally’, Cover and p.33 |
| 2004 | ‘Australian Country Style’, August, p.12-15 |
| 2000 | ‘Pottery in Australia’ Vol.39/1 March, p.48-50 Profile Section |
| 1997 | ‘Pottery in Australia’ Vol.36/4 Summer, p.3 Showcase |
| 1996 | ‘Pottery in Australia’ Vol.35/1 Autumn, p.40 & 41 Profile Section |
| 1995 | ‘Top Craft’ Craft Council of the NT Newsletter, May & October ‘Territory Craft’ issue: 3/95 (Article about the Residency) |
Acquistion |
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| 1996 | ‘Helleconia Vase 2’ Museum and Art Gallery, Darwin, NT |
| 1996 | 3 pieces from ‘Sense of Surface’ exhibition, Melbourne Casino, VIC |
Tamasin Pepper