It is wonderful to reach target so quickly and I am very thankful to all who have supported my project.  But the project can exceed the target and accept further support until 6th June.  Extra funds will provide extra materials, equipment and kiln firings for the studio at Wallace Rockhole.

I am humbled by the support the project and I have already received and I thankyou all very much.

 

Welcome to my Pozible Site. My aim is to raise $5 000 within 70 days to fund my on-going project of teaching pottery and clay art to an Aranda Aboriginal community at Wallace Rockhole, Northern Territory in the centre of Australia.

I’m Su Brown, from Tallebudgera Valley, Gold Coast Hinterland, South East Queensland and I began a studio ceramic program in 2011 for the Aboriginal people at Wallace Rockhole.  I stayed for two months and worked in the studio each day. This gave me time to introduce the community to a solid basic level of clay construction, decorating, glazing and firing the kiln.  I am a semi- retired studio ceramist with over 30 years experience teaching and creating clay art through wheel throwing, hand building and clay sculpture. My works have won awards and been widely exhibited over the years. I am a very experienced teacher and mentor to adults and children. I use a successful blend of imparting technical knowledge with hands on demonstration to help students learn and express themselves through the wonderful medium of clay.

This project came about after I discovered Wallace Rockhole on a trip to Central Australia in 2010. I learned that a slip casting venture had been set up many years ago for the Aboriginal community but that unfortunately due to the delicate nature of their work most of it had been damaged beyond repair during the decorating stage and that since then the equipment had been unused. I discovered they had three electric kilns of varying sizes and two pottery wheels, the pottery wheels had never been used as no one had taught anyone how to use them. I suggested to the community that I would be interested in coming back in 2011 to set up their studio and teach them how to utilize this equipment. They were very keen for me to do this and so I returned in 2011 and re-established a studio very successfully.

Having taught ceramics for such a long time I understand how long it takes to fully master the skills required to not only make a pot, but to cover the technical aspects of ceramics. So I set myself the longer term goal of returning to Wallace Rockhole over the next three years to ensure the community will have the skills, knowledge and confidence to continue operating the studio and even exhibit and sell their artwork.

In 2011, I achieved the first stage of my three year plan by helping the community to set up the pottery studio at Wallace Rockhole. The studio was open, free of charge to anyone who was interested in having a go at working with clay. Each day new faces appeared and once people felt the softness of the clay, they disappeared into a quiet, gentle focus on their work. The community members, no matter their age or gender, showed a natural affinity and ability for working with the clay. The delight they experienced through their personal achievements made me realize that this was a very worthwhile project that I needed to continue.

The community potters did hand building, sculpting and wheel throwing. By treating each potter as an individual, their own styles started to emerge. We had very positive outcomes with beautiful pots being made, admired and some sold through the Art Centre at Wallace Rockhole.

The local school came each week for an afternoon of pottery, what fun! Never a problem, always polite with big smiles the kids proudly showed off their work. 

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2012 Project Details  This year, 2012, I am going back to Wallace Rockhole for year two of my three year project. I am staying at the community for three months to teach in the pottery studio to advance the potters’ techniques to a higher level. The plan is for the potters to be more proficient and confident with their individual styles, techniques and technical ability. We will be doing more exploration with texture, construction, decorating and fired finishes. Some time will be spent developing decorating materials using local red clays. I will also be teaching the community how to manage the studio including making up glazes, packing and firing the electric kilns. My aim is to instill enough confidence for each potter to be able to start and finish clay art projects independently. 

In 2011, I suggested they set up a pottery group using their own Aranda name for Wallace Rockhole and become incorporated, The Itua Iparta Potters Inc.. Thus becoming a not for profit group that encourages each individual potter. The seed was planted, now in 2012, I intend to nurture this idea.

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The Outcome  Successful delivery of my project will ensure the potters are inspired, creative, self-sufficient and confident with their own skills. The potters make beautiful pots that are not only delightful in their finished state, but also give great joy when raw in the hands of the artist. They gain respect for the medium and pride in their own ability.

Also another long term outcome is for this to grow into a small cottage industry for some of the potters of Wallace Rockhole, producing pots that are highly regarded in the wider community, developing good will and respect for all  concerned.

The Itua Iparta Potters Inc. and the cottage industry could share the larger expensive equipment and having extra space already available can grow and expand in limitless ways.  Through this project the potters will have the ability to empower themselves.

                                                                                                                                                                         
Your Contribution  The Wallace Rockhole studio already has some equipment but it needs your financial support, however small or large to help us to take the next step by purchasing clay, more equipment, good decorating brushes, ware boards, tools, under glaze colours, glaze materials and to pay for electricity for kiln firings.

For me to continue with this project, I need some financial support as I have limited personal funds. I will need assistance with petrol costs so I can tow my caravan from south east Queensland to Wallace Rockhole and also back home again. My small caravan becomes my home for my stay at Wallace Rockhole as I camp in the campground free of charge.

I ask for no remuneration from the community at Wallace Rockhole for my skills as a pottery teacher. What I have to offer, I give freely.

                                                              

 The Story so Far  During a journey through the Australian outback with an artist friend Lindy Davidson in 2010, we stayed at the Aranda Aboriginal community at Wallace Rockhole in their campground.

Wallace Rockhole was originally part of the Lutheran Mission at Hermannsburg which ran a large cattle station to support the mission and the Aboriginals, in 1983 the station was divided into five blocks and handed back to the Aranda people. Wallace Rockhole is on the Urana Land Trust twenty-five kilometres along the James Range and in 1973 was founded by the Abbott family as an outstation to the mission.

This clean and tidy community delighted us. Glenys [nee Abbott] and husband Ken Porter run the campground and Art Centre. Glenys is the Elder of this community and a very talented painter, as are many folk in the community, Ken is a master of all trades, extremely busy and full of energy, tirelessly working for the benefit of all.

Wandering through their Art Centre I came across three electric kilns of varying sizes, all wired up, a potter’s dream, but with no pots anywhere, I had to hear this story. Many years ago a slip casting venture had been set up with the frustrating result that most of their work was just too delicate for that environment and was damaged beyond repair in the decorating stage. They also had two pottery wheels that had never been used as they had no one to teach them throwing. I suggested to them that I would be interested in coming back in 2011 to set up their studio and teach them how to utilize this equipment. After further discussion via email a plan was formed.

After arriving home I went into action. Knowing the vast technical side of ceramics I planned a three year project to make sure the potters would be taught all the skills needed to follow the project to a fruitful outcome. Which equipment and what materials would be needed to set up the studio? The lists were endless. When purchasing tools, equipment and materials and upon seeing my own limited funds dwindling at a rapid rate, I hounded my friends and associates to donate.

In June 2011, with the car and caravan loaded to the hilt, Lindy and I, set off once again to the Red Centre. Lindy could only spare a short time away from home, whereas I had planned to be at the community for two months. We arrived at Wallace Rockhole to see big changes in the community. Their Supermarket had been closed and part of the Art Centre opened as a small goods store to supply the basic needs for the community.

I decided to set the studio up in the old Supermarket delivery dock as the roller door opened beside the Art Centre’s door and a rear door opened onto the kiln area. As soon as we set up and opened the roller door, we were inundated with eager future potters, of all ages and genders, keen to have a go.

With clay, laughter and pots going everywhere, “Studio Ceramics at Wallace Rockhole” was born.

Having practiced studio ceramics myself for over 30 years, not only making pots and sculptures and firing kilns, but also teaching pottery and clay sculpture to both adults and children, I knew the value of setting a good strong studio work ethic. In a positive, industrious studio, full of laughter and good cheer – good things happen.

Studio ceramics has given me a wonderful, creative way to express my artistic ability and through this I have led a very happy, fruitful life. Now in semi-retirement, my wish is to simply pass on the joy of this wonderful medium, working with clay, to those whose possibilities of having this experience is limited.

 

How Pozible Works  Pozible is a new way to fund creative and worthwhile projects as it is powered by a unique all-or-nothing funding method. Projects must be fully funded or no money changes hands. If the target of $5 000 is not reached your pledge is cancelled, your card is not billed, it’s as if nothing happened. In other words, if I don’t raise my goal of $5 000, I cannot collect the pledged funds.

 

I would love to spread the word of this project further, please contact me directly via email for presentations or articles.  Also a link can be made to this page to pass it on to your contacts via various means.

[email protected]

Rewards for You  As a thank you to all of my supporters I will email a fortnightly newsletter of what’s happening at Wallace Rockhole plus the following:

$10+ pledge, a postcard from the Red Centre;

$25+ pledge, a decorated handmade ceramic fridge magnet;

$50+ pledge, a decorated handmade ceramic brooch;

$75+ pledge, a decorated handmade ceramic brooch (fancier);

$100+ pledge, a 12cm decorated handmade ceramic plate;

$200+ pledge, a 24cm decorated handmade plate; and

$500+ pledge, a decorated porcelain tea-pot

All ceramic rewards are made with porcelain clay by Su Brown and high fired.