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Pinky & Maurice

Contemporary Ceramics

September 29, 2015 by Claire Atkins Leave a Comment

An Art Villa in Ubud

I’m leading a group to Ubud in May 2016, for the clay-bending-mouth-watering workshop, ‘Food Meets Plate’ at Gaya Ceramic Art Centre.  This month we’re meeting some of the inspiring artists whose knowledge and vision will turn our time in Bali from a trip into a transformative experience. 

Last week I spoke to our workshop host Hillary Kane, and if you’re just joining us, catch up on our conversation Creative Callings.

This week we’re checking out the workshop accommodation, at the inspiring, art-filled guest house ‘Ubud ArtVilla‘, owned by Australian ceramic artist Bruce McWhinney.

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Ubud ArtVilla at night

Bruce McWhinney is an Australian artist with over 30 years experience in ceramics. Nature and travel have been the main inspiration for his work; be it wood fired ceramics, sculpture, painting or drawing. 

I met Bruce about 15 years ago when I was a student at Brookvale TAFE, where Bruce and a group of exceptional designers and potters were building a dynamic ceramics department on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. Brookvale TAFE continues to thrive, and while Bruce is as passionate as ever about Australian Arts education, his vision now incorporates a much wider classroom that includes building creative communities in other parts of the world…and Bruce is literally building them.

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Stunning garden design links sculptures and architecture throughout the villa

One such project is Ubud ArtVilla, a unique guesthouse in the quiet hamlet of Penestanan, just minutes from the bustling town of Ubud.

Here the concept is to infuse hospitality with Bruce’s long time love for Balinese arts and culture. In this place each day, guests soak up stunning architectural design, idyllic gardens, wood fired ceramics, paintings, drawings, and sculptures at every turn.

ArtVilla is managed and operated by Wayan Suparta and his family, who bring local knowledge and Balinese custom to every moment, enabling guests to discover the real traditions and culture of Bali during their stay. ArtVilla is the perfect place for anyone who is seeking to revitalise or woo their inner artist, and for two weeks in May 2016, Ubud ArtVilla will be home-sweet-home for ‘Food Meets Plate’ workshop participants.

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Ubud ArtVilla’s lap pool looks out to Mt Agung

Claire Atkins: Hi Bruce! I had the pleasure of staying at Ubud ArtVilla last year while I attended a workshop at Gaya. I have to say, that living with and using your woodfired ceramics every day was one of the best parts about staying at ArtVilla. Each morning, breakfast was served on stunning ceramic pieces that quietly called for our consideration. Do you think that living with handmade ceramics affects us?

Bruce McWhinney: Woodfired ceramics for me is the ultimate expression of working with clay and fire. The spontaneous effects coming from the fire on each piece is quite individual and embue the work with a human warmth that makes using it a daily joy. What I love most is that I never tire of the work and it keeps me captivated by the evidence of nature.

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Bruce McWhinney ceramics

Can you describe your design process, and is your approach different when you’re making ceramic pieces intended for food?

Making tableware is very much about understanding the function of each piece. One can only be a good functional potter if they use their work and learn what makes it a pleasure to use and live with. After decades of making ceramics, my forms have been pared right back to the simplest possible. This allows space for the fire to complete the piece and also gives a calm reassuring presence about them. Teapots must pour, cups must be easy to hold with a lip that feels good up against one’s mouth, and plates should provide a smooth finish. Having said that, while I strive to give the most, it often takes time to appreciate what is there in each piece. But so it is in life and art.

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Traditional ‘Bali kopi’ served in Bruce’s woodfired ceramics, is a daily ritual at Ubud ArtVilla

You divide your year working and living in Australia and Bali, with residencies throughout the world thrown in! How has travel, and living so intimately with the Balinese impacted your own art practice?

This is a big question. Bali has provided a cultural retreat where I can make work and share it with people from all around the world. My aim in building the ArtVilla was to create a place where people could experience living with hand made things and discover the joys of using wood-fired ceramics. Bali has taught me patience, detachment and to see the funny side of life. Things do not always go according to plan but the caring nature of the Balinese makes it all worthwhile. Travel is a passion but being able to work in different places makes it immensely more rewarding. When doing residencies one is privileged to experience life as an insider. I get to know people over a longer period, and hopefully share our different experiences of the world. Sightseeing is fun but it doesn’t sustain me in the same way.

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Bruce in the studio

What do you hope your guests will experience at Ubud Art Villa? 

What I would hope for is that people coming to ArtVilla would experience Bali from the inside. Connecting to the culture and traditions of Bali is made easy through Wayan and his family who staff ArtVilla. Combine that with the joy of making pots at Gaya, and discovering the local food and gastronomy would be a great thing. But, staying at ArtVilla would also mean extending the experience by using, learning about, and living with woodfired ceramics every day.

Thank you so much for joining us Bruce.

So, what do you think?! Will you join us? Visit the workshop page now for Early Bird fees, Ubud ArtVilla accommodation, and booking details. Private room options at ArtVilla and Art Manor are limited, so please don’t delay in contacting me to secure your place as bookings are rolling in!

Be sure to join me next week when I’m talking food and Bali with the indefatigable Janet De Neefe! Janet is the founder and Director of the Ubud Food Festival, the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival, she’s also an author, a mother of four children, aaaand the owner of some of Ubud’s best restaurants and bars! 

Filed Under: blog post Tagged With: architecture, artists retreat, Bali, Bruce McWhinney, Ceramics, creative, creativity, garden, Gaya Ceramic Arts Centre, potter, pottery, travel, Ubud, Ubud ArtVilla, woodfired, workshop

January 26, 2015 by Claire Atkins 4 Comments

So good to meet you

Hello and welcome to my studio in cyberspace! I’m Claire Atkins, creator of Pinky & Maurice Ceramics.

This is my first ever blog post and so I thought, over the next few weeks we could get to know one another. I’ll share some of my stories and you can share yours and work out if this place is for you.

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Claire in the studio

A little bit about me. During the week I juggle studio time between a number of creative jobs, but when I’m in the studio my primary medium is clay. My work is inspired by the natural and built world, other artists, other pots, paintings, poetry, stories and music. I also paint, print and draw.

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Finding centre

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Silkscreened signatures transferred by hand

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Tiny dishes in porcelain stained the colour of Byron Bay skies

While we’ll be talking about pots and potters in the coming months, I hope this can be a place for anyone who’s interested in the creative process and cultural products of all kinds, to feel at home. And please don’t be shy to make a comment, ask a question or just get in contact and say hello.

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Porcelain beads

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Making daily marks

Thanks so much for dropping in, I’ll let you go for a wander through the pages now, but call out if you need anything, I’m just out the back learning how to drive this thing!

Filed Under: blog post Tagged With: artist, Atkins, Ceramics, Claire, clay, creative, potter, pottery, pottery wheel, process, studio

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Claire Atkins
I’ve been lucky to work on some exciting new TV I’ve been lucky to work on some exciting new TV series this year. And as much as I love acting, I love working behind the camera too. I was so happy to climb aboard this project as Art Director. COURTESY BUS is a piss-your-pants-funny Australian comedy written by Brett Stephens @brettsixsixty, starring @mandy.nolan, Nell Schofield @nellyvision, Tony Barry, @ellensbriggs, @andysaunderscomedy, Liam Olsen and @jen.kyna. Each episode begins at the end of the night, and tells the hilarious and heartfelt stories of a riotous cast on their wayward journey home. Coming soon! 

#courtesybus #aussiecomedy #bangalow #bangalowbowlo #comingsoon #pissyourpants
When a woman swears, or spits, or screams, or shou When a woman swears, or spits, or screams, or shouts, or laughs too loudly, or fights, really fights, or fucks too much and wears too much lipstick or none at all, all we want to do is lock her up or cross the street. Out-of-control women are a sight to behold. They’re terrifying, electrifying, and everything that women shouldn't be - or so we're told. This is a story about these women. Their names are Billy, Bobby and Sam, and you will never forget them.
 
After a sell-out first season, Patricia Cornelius's multi-award-winning play SHIT returns to the Mullumbimby Drill Hall Theatre by public demand on 12-28 March 2021. Starring Claire Atkins, Kate Foster and Kate Horsley. Reimagined and directed by Liz Chance, with sound design by Paul Pilsneniks and choreography by Kate Holmes. 

Tickets: $27/$24/$20 Enquiries 0420986570 
EVENT TICKETS in the link. This will sell-out. Book now.

#australianplays #patriciacornelius #SHIT
Mumma loves her work 💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼 A da Mumma loves her work 💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼 A day on the tools buffing and sanding those beautiful saggar-fired tiles (from the previous post)with the top chicks at @madeofaustralia. Be sure to follow the gals at Made Of Australia, and check out the details for their Open Studio next month. Serious gorgeousness to be had!
There is nothing that terrifies me more or gives m There is nothing that terrifies me more or gives me more joy than live performance. And I’m over the moon about performing again in Patricia Cornelius’s incredible play SHIT in Mullumbimby with Kate Foster and Kate Horsley, two powerhouse actors and dear friends. I’d love you to join us for 60 minutes of heart-racing-breath-taking-sweat-inducing-theatre- and I mean that. You have never seen theatre like this. Tickets go on sale December 1.
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#SHIT #australiantheatre #patriciacornelius #mullumbimby #byronbay
🖤🖤🖤I’m so stoked with the results from 🖤🖤🖤I’m so stoked with the results from this special collaboration! These are a few of the stoneware tiles I’ve made and silkscreened for a custom job, fresh from a saggar firing with the fabulous @madeofaustralia team.🖤🖤🖤
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#collaborate #pinkyandmaurice #madeofaustralia #custom #tiles #silkscreen #saggarfired #hotdamn #australianceramics #mullumbimby #heart #hearth
The last few weeks I’ve been in the studio makin The last few weeks I’ve been in the studio making tiles for another cool job. The sun is shining and the kiln is humming away - and I’m stoked to say we have just received our first power ‘bill’ since installing solar panels, and a payment has been made to US! 🤓Meaning, we’re producing more clean energy than we can consume in the studio and the entire house! 🌱💚🐸
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#greenceramics #target #zeroemissions #greenenergy #cleanenergy #pinkyandmaurice #ceramics #pottery
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