Ceramics student impresses art community

When Cass Edney examines cutlery, she sees not only kitchen implements but also potential works of art.

It was this idea of 'domestic awareness' that prompted the 20-year-old USQ student to create her intricate Selection/Collection art which, by all current predictions, is set to take the Brisbane art world by storm.

Cass’ slipcast stoneware/porcelain spoons have been selected for the Christmas exhibition Cherish 2010 at the Artisan Gallery, which will open this week (November 18).

Based in the Fortitude Valley in Brisbane, Artisan is the peak body in Queensland presenting and promoting unique and individual quality crafted design to an Australian and international audience.

Artisan presents exhibitions of high calibre with products represented including jewellery, furniture, lighting, glass, ceramics, fashion, textiles, paperware and interior products.

'I’m absolutely thrilled to have my work chosen by Artisan,” Cass said. “It is a great honour to have my work recognised and selected by such a prestigious gallery.'

As an added bonus, Cass, who is currently completing her Bachelor of Creative Arts (Honours) majoring in Ceramics, has also had her work chosen from more than 80 artists represented in the exhibition to be gifted to the 10 directors of Artisan.

Cass, who admits she 'fell in love with clay', said the project took her months to complete.

'The work is extremely fine and very difficult to make,” she said. “Quite a few items broke in the process, so it took a lot of patience.'

Cass described her work as focusing on the meaning and importance of ritualistically utilised domestic objects within the domestic sphere.

'The role of cutlery has become a predominant concept of recent work – more specifically its meaning and use, along with the aesthetic choice involved in its’ selection,' she said.

'My attitude towards making is both relaxed and curious, and I often rely on play and experimentation in terms of materials and process. Arthur C Danto’s idea of indistinguishability, which relates to the use and replication of everyday objects in art, has played a key role in my theoretical concerns.'

Cass said once she completed her degree, she hoped to establish herself as a practising artist.

Selection/Collection is currently on display at the 2010 Graduart Exhibition, located at the USQ Arts Gallery. Curated by USQ Ceramics lecturer Alexis Tacey, the exhibition features a variety of works by third-year and Honours Visual Arts students that apply an acquired knowledge of processes and techniques within their chosen studio area, such as printmaking, painting, ceramics, spatial construction and mixed media.

The exhibition runs from November 11 until December 5 at the Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery (Tuesday to Saturday 10am-4pm, Sunday 1pm to 4pm) and will continue until December 17 at the USQ Arts Gallery (Monday to Friday, 9am until 5pm).

Cherish 2010, which also features Cass’s artwork, will open on November 18 at the Artisan Gallery, 381 Brunswick Street Fortitude Valley.
USQ is the only university in Queensland which has a uniquely dedicated ceramics studio.