Black Fig Gallery is a little hidden gem in plain sight.
I love when people wander in having only just discovered us. I hear things like, “I didn’t expect to find a gallery like this here,” or “I love coming back each month to see what’s new.”
That’s exactly what I hoped this space would become: a haven from the world, from the rain and the sun.
Artwork pictured:
Ceramics by Suvira McDonald
Vessel by Dr Ruth Park and Sue Fraser
Portrait by Ash Darq
Landscape by Jemima Patch-Taylor
Abstract landscape by Mim O’Grady
Today I had a request for a funerary urn, a vessel form I explored as part of my post grad research many years ago. I still produce these. Pieces and have a small collection in stock for just the time such a request comes.
The pic shows my current collection from which the celadon ( green). Piece has attracted interest . The others are #woodfired from Various firings over recent years #recent #woodfire # #ceramics #funerary #funeraryurn #funeraryurns
just dropped the #woodfired #porcelain #teapot onto the new website shop. This beautiful piece had a little accident in the kiln which produced a serendipitous orange flash, adding to the amazing carbon sequestration which exaggerated the carved surface.
I spent a couple of hours with Suvira this afternoon, sitting on his back deck in Mullumbimby, overlooking his gorgeous garden, drinking smoked Japanese green tea from one of his own cups.
We spoke about the gallery, where it’s heading, and what it means to build something here in the Northern Rivers that genuinely supports artists and the arts - not just individually, but as a region.
Suvira walked me through his process, from electric and gas firing through to wood firing - which he spoke about less as a technique and more as a relationship. Trusting the process - where ash lands, how glaze moves, how pieces are packed into the kiln - all of it shaping the final work in ways you don’t fully control.
That balance between intention and letting go is where a lot of the magic happens.
After I left, I drove into Mullum and there was a full rainbow sitting low across the sky. It felt fitting after chatting about our Irish Heritage.
I’m really looking forward to having Suvira’s work in the gallery.
His pieces will be arriving this week and will be part of our ongoing artist program - works that sit within the gallery year-round alongside our exhibitions.
If you’re nearby, come in over the next week or two and spend some time with them.
And remember, the magic of him pieces are all one of a kind, and so, can't be reproduced. The best pieces don’t tend to wait around. So don't snooze.
Day 4 and we are done!!
After almost 80 hours of continuous firing, we closed up. Making sure that every crevice is patched up with slurry so no cool air can enter the kiln over the next week as it cools down. Thank you to the amazing team who made this Autumn firing not only possible, but so enjoyable. @studiosuvira@kiriko_ceramics@wintera@louise_pergomet@mandi_buri_ceramics@jennacatchpole.ceramics@gemmadavis.art Now the hard part…..waiting until Saturday week to open it up and see the magic that occurred. See you next week. 🔥🔥🔥#woodfiring #woodfiringkiln #womenwhowoodfire #woodfiringpottery #australianceramics
After three days of packing we bricked up the door and now she’s ready to fire. Thanks team. See you at 6am 🔥#celestagama #woodfiringkiln #australianceramics #womenwhowoodfire #woodfiring
here is a little collection of #vases mostly #woodfired from recent #woodfirings @middle_pocket_pottery . If you would like to see the #real thing contact me for a #studio visit or, second choice....Facetime viewing
I participated in the public program at @lismoreregionalgallery last Saturday an gave a short talk about the Terania Creek Potters. These are some of the pics taken by @inekedane of the archival material provided by Malina Monks and Kerry Selwood. It was such a great afternoon of historical presentations which contextualised The exhibition Complex Notophyll Vine Forest of @claremilledge - The exhibition is on for one more week, until March 15.
I recently visited NZ and did some walks with my partner. These are just a few of the photo. We visited lakes, mossy birch forests, fiords, even a glacier (by Helicopter). It was #inspiring to say the least and some of my future works will reflect this. #landscape is fundamental to my work and bushwalking generates a surge of new ideas and interpative energy. IT also very interesting whre you find the magic; frmo ther maxro views of mlountains and farawayspectacles down tp the minutiae of the immediate - barks, lichens, mosses - all abundant in these forests.
