Artists statement:
The Gathering
Lead artist Ann Ferguson
The conversations that led to this collaboration.
Deb -The theme of the next Gather exhibition could be “Play.”
Ann - I Love it....Let’s look at the puppets Paul Klee made for his son.
I will make the heads from fired clay.
Ann & Gina -remembered happy experiences of childhood doll play (including the Barbies)- everyone loved to make costumes for their dollies.
We decided to combine Paul Klee style characters with Barbi style joy’.
Gather group-We wanted to use natural fabrics and fibres to make a group of creatures that express a ‘whole of life’ order -Inclusive of plants, animals and humans.
The costumes and support system have common elements to connect the whole – the colours determined by fabric dyed with plant materials.
Marg-led a plant dye workshop for donated fabrics
Gina-cut support poles of bamboo and drilled the bases to fit.
The costumers come out in droves- 22 women in all.
They chose their head, fabric and length of bamboo.
They loved the communal aspect of puppet making
And using materials made by group members.
Of working with a community of creative women.
And making something totally new and unexpected.
Of recalling the pure joy of making fantastical things as a child.
And being liberated and given space to play!
The outcome-
An installation or gathering for the future
full of joy, love of life- set amongst the incredible Gather exhibition of textiles at the Market Building in Castlemaine 24 April-17 May
We have two places available in our upcoming
HAND CLAY PLACE workshop.
We will be covering a range of handbuilding techniques so we welcome any level of experience of working with Clay .
Making day, 9th May
Woodfiring day 23rd May
You will find details if you follow the link-
sandrabowket.com/whats-on
#clayann2
#tungurongcountry
#handbuildingandwoodfiringworkshop
Artist walk open studio again this weekend in Castlemaine. I’m open from 1 - 4pm on Saturday and Sunday. Ann Ferguson ceramics at 62 Bowden Street.
This mornings visit to the exhibition ‘Bearing Witness’ at Caspa in Castlemaine has inspired my offer concerning the Tiny houses-(2)
Big thanks for those who came along to the Artist Studio Walk during the fabulous Castlemaine State Festival last weekend.
my studio no z4- Ann Ferguson ceramics - is open again this weekend 28th and 29th of March from 1 pm until 4 pm.
I will also be presenting in the Pechakucha event at the shed shaker at 4 pm on Saturday.
#australianceramics
#ceramicsculpture
#castlemainestatefestival
#castlemaineartmuseum
Artist Studio Walk @clayann2 , Ann Ferguson. 19 -29 MARCH . Organic shapes and mark making ; ceramics. Studio open Saturday and Sunday 10.00am - 4.00pm. #artstudiowalk #friendsofcastlemaineartmuseum #ceramics #clay @clayann2
Sandra Bowkett and I will be facilitating a handbuilding and woodfiring workshop this May.
This series last year was enthusiastically embraced and so we would like to again offer an experience that blends a connection to environment through handbuilding possibilities and woodfiring.
Making day 9th of May
Firing day 23rd May
For details go to the link in my bio to Sandra Bowkett’s website and choose what’s on.
Ann Ferguson- Open Studio.
This is an invitation the Castlemaine Art Museums’ Artist Studio Walk -a program of local open studios taking place alongside the Castlemaine State Festival in late March 2026.
My studio (location 23) will be open on the weekends of the 21st and 22nd (10 am 4 pm) and 28th and 29th of March (1 pm - 4 pm)
More information about other studios is available on the CAM website, Instagram @ friends_of_cam and Humanitix. Booklets with maps etc are also available.
Recent adventures in Sandra Bowkett’s wood fired kiln have a special place in my Central Victorian Clay Makers open studio in Castlemaine this weekend.
#woodfired
#ceramics
#ceramicsculptures
