By Callum Ludwig
A collective of crafters have convened for the exhibition in the Warburton Waterwheel Gallery this month.
Meet the Makers opened on Tuesday 4 February and will be on display until 4 March, featuring nine different artists who will spend time in the gallery throughout the month demonstrating their craft of choice.
Organiser and artist Jeff Wilmott said everybody involved is keen to help teach and show their works.
“We’ll be here Saturdays and Sundays and at any other time somebody, will be here during the week and can tell you to come back Sunday or Saturday, anyone can feel free to come and ask questions,” he said.
“I like busking, I get out on the street and play, one-on-one, one-on-twenty, whatever it may be and I love that, this (the exhibition) will create that meeting of people, it’s not just putting your work and don’t come back for a month, I want the people who do come into this space to talk with the people who make the things.”
The exhibition features the following artists and their mediums:
Jeff Wilmott – pottery, painting, photography, musician
Ela Henderson – paper craft
Antonia Green – painting
Ryan Tews – painting, photography
Nikki Murray – felting
Ravenna Keller – felting
Erin Ellis – pottery, ceramics
Senia Kazar – ceramics, pottery
Recycled Art Craft by Brad
Jonathon Trevillien, a student of Mr Wilmott is also offering an ‘Intro to the Whistling Vessel’ on Saturday 8 February at 11.30am, showcasing a vessel he made after learning the art of making ocarinas from Mr Wilmott. Water is poured into the whistling vessel and it is played similarly to an ocarina, but the sound is altered by tilting the vessel and shifting the water.
Mr Wilmott said an exhibition like this helps keep these traditions and crafts alive.
“I’ve got a few years in my life to go, but one day I’ll go and if I hadn’t passed it on, the tradition starts to be lost, how to make an ocarina is quite a tricky thing, but if I sit there it’s probably a day or two, I can show them most of it and then it’s passed on,” he said.
“A lot of people won’t even know what an ocarina is, but it’s a small clay flute, established probably in Italy in the 1850s, but was in many countries hundreds of years before that, but really made into a properly tuned instrument about 150 years ago,”
“Now, if somebody’s interested, I can show them not just the instrument, but how it’s made.”
Progressing around the gallery, starting from the front right corner, attendees of the exhibition will find:
Erin Ellis’ collection of ceramics and pottery on display, including bowls, coils and slabs.
Mr Wilmott’s ocarinas, bowls and pendants are next, as well as the whistling vessel.
Nikki Murray’s fantastic felt hats can be found next.
Next to Nikki is Ravenna Keller who is also starting out in felting and has made some felt dolls which are on display.
Photographer and painter Ryan Tews’ works can be seen adorning the walls behind the felt works.
Antonia Green’s collection of paintings spans the back wall and over to the left side of the room.
In front of those paintings are the works of Senia Kazar.
Moving over to the left side of the room are the figurines and models made from recycled material by Brad.
Last but not least is the paper craft works of Ela Henderson.
