Form and function on show

By Kath Gannaway
MULTIFARIOUS, according to the dictionary, means having great variety and it perfectly sums up the next Stonehouse Gallery exhibition.
Four Stonehouse members, Anna Sewards, Marymae Trench, Lydia Uhl and Jan Whitehead, will showcase the diversity of clay, glaze, decoration and form as part of the gallery’s July exhibition.
Ms Sewards’ work includes functional ware which is suitable for inside and out. She works with hand building raku clay for her outdoor work and fine porcelain for tableware.
Her love of nature and concern for the environment is portrayed in her inclusion of frogs on her work.
Ms Trench works in fine porcelain clay creating beautifully simple contemporary forms, which are a canvas for her stamped designs. Marymae’s minimal designs give her work an oriental flavour.
Working with a strong raku paper clay allows Ms Uhl to explore larger sculptural forms.
Her whimsical creatures are allowed to evolve as she works with the basic shape and then adds clay to build up the character.
Jan Whitehead creates her tableware using a stoneware clay and she decorates her work with a wonderful, vibrant blue glaze.
Her glaze on glaze technique melds the colours into beautiful patterns.
Included in her work are tiny lidded pots, jugs and teapots inspired by her childhood play and a delight for any age.
The Stonehouse Gallery, at 323 Ringwood-Warrandyte Road, Warrandyte, is open from 10am to 5pm. Phone 9844 3629.