Factory makes Biennial

The British Ceramic Biennial comes to an end on Sunday - the exhibition, which highlights contemporary work in the ceramics world, has been taking place over the last few weeks.

Frankly, I wasn't that impressed this year; everything seemed a bit flat, and the exhibits and ideas were a little underwhelming.   But, once again, it was the venue that saved the day - the now empty and decayed Spode factory in Stoke, which housed the show, is fascinating in itself.

'Heroic' Minton tiles

You can see Minton ceramic tiles all over the world to this day.  Their great era was the ninetenth-century, and many great Victorian buildings, especially in the British Empire, used Minton tiles for floors and for wall-decoration.
Minton's factory was based in north Staffordshire of course; and each time I see Minton work, wherever it is, I get a glow of Staffordshire-satisfaction.

Minton work can be seen at the so-called Postman's Park in London in the 'Memorial to Heroic Self Sacrifice' loggia.  The memorial remembers some forty 'ordinary people' who died trying to save others. 
It's actually very moving.  Poor Frederick was killed exactly 146 years ago, but the prosaic dedication still has a resonance.

And the Art-Nouveau tiles are very fine indeed.

New English - hearts in pottery

I was at the London Design Festival last month (Sept 2012) where I noticed a number of Staffordshire firms (High House Wallpapers being another one) had stalls.

This was one of the most dramatic stands, installed by The New English Ceramics, which is based in Stoke-on-Trent.

Basically, New English made sixty pottery hearts - complete with valves, aorta etc - and asked international artists to decorate them and sell them for charity. The proceeds went to the children's medical charity Herz Fur Kinder.
Some of the hearts were quite fascinating...

Link:  New English & Herz Fur Kinder

Skull & crossbones crockery

I decided to visit the London Design Festival, which runs across the city for a week in late September every year. The big event, '100% Design', was at Earl’s Court, where dozens of Europe’s leading design firms had stands.

I was really happy to turn one corner and find Denise O’Sullivan, who makes her colourfully individual ceramic pieces in north Staffordshire. She said that the latest news was that her newest range, a skull & crossbones crockery set, had attracted the attention of a bikers’ club; and she had been booked in to present tea for them at a rally.

Right. Hmm.

Link: Denise O'Sullivan / London Design Festival

Womanhood in the mirror

When you walk into the toilets at Granvilles Bar in Stone, it’s quite a shock, because this magnificent mirror is the first thing you see. You don’t often come across a work of art in pub conveniences.

It turns out it's by a ceramic sculptor who trained locally, Philip Hardaker. Looking at it, it seems to be on the theme of womanhood, which is odd, as it has been placed in the gentlemen’s toilets. (At least, I think that’s odd).

Philip Hardaker has an exhibition coming up soon in the town, at the Radford Gallery toward the end of September.

Link: Radford Gallery