The Work

My practice involves making and firing pots and ceramic wall panels.
The main focus during the last two years has been developing a series of high-fired stoneware wall panels. The inspiration for these often comes from architecture, either buildings or elements of buildings found in such places as Venice, Morocco, New York and Tibet. I am also interested in land and seascape. A recent journey to California triggered a series of wall pieces inspired by the Pacific Ocean.

Surface texture is built up on slabs of clay before a thick application of glaze is painted on in layers, sometimes requiring several firings. The result is a densely painted and richly textured panel which may evoke something of the original inspiration, but will often become something much more abstracted and unique.

Pots and tea bowls are produced as sculptural works as well as functional objects. Pots are made in the same painterly manner as the wall panels, surface motifs and marks referencing architectural sources from Kasbah walls to the New York cityscape.

Gary Wood January 2007

 

Teaching

In addition to making and exhibiting my work over the last twenty years, I have also organised many pottery workshops for children, adults and people with special-needs. I have experience of working with people who have motor neurone disease, cerebral palsy and stroke sufferers

Recent clay projects include working with 150 children at Freshford Primary School in Bath during the summer term 2006, to create a series of seven ceramic Totem Poles, which are now permanently installed in the school grounds.

Another recent project at Urchfont Primary School near Devizes in Wiltshire resulted in a large internal wall-mounted mural made up of a hundred clay heads, which were modelled by the children.

Born in Bradford West Yorkshire 1955

1984 – 1986 Cumbria College of Art and Design, HND Ceramics
1985 Work experience with Patrick Sargent, Bunkers Hill, Northampton
1986 – 1992 Studio in Carlisle
1993 – 1994 Production thrower, Wetheriggs Pottery, Penrith
1994.Started studio in Bath
1996.Qualified as Massage Therapist, City of Bath College
1998 Set up ‘One Two Five’ Gallery in Bath (with Carole Waller)
2003.Qualified as Reiki Practitioner at Level 1 & 2.

 

Awards/Affiliations :

1990 Elected Fellow of Contemporary Ceramics (CPA)
1991 Northern Arts Craft Award
1991 Northern Arts Travel Award
2000 South West Arts Award towards exhibition of work in New York

 

 

Exhibitions

2007

Urchfont Manor Garden Exhibition,

2006

Royal United Hospital, Bath.
Quest Gallery, Bath.
Bettles Gallery, Ringwood.

2005

Rufford Craft Centre, Newark.
Campden Gallery, Chipping Campden.
Alpha House Gallery, Sherbourne.

2004

Oakwood Gallery, Edwinstowe.
Six Chapel Row Contemporary Art, Bath.

2002

Alpha House Gallery, Sherborne.
Beaux Arts, Bath.
Oakwood Gallery, Edwinstowe.

2001

Dundee Contemporary Arts.
Beaux Arts, Bath.
The Quenington Sculpture Trust

.
2000

Gayle Willson Gallery, New York
Six Chapel Row Contemporary Art, Bath.

1999

The Quenington Sculpture trust.
Artmonsky Arts, London.
Juliet Gould Gallery, Cornwall.
Dundee Contemporary Arts.
The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh (solo show)

1997

Alpha House Gallery, Sherborne.
Six Chapel Row Contemporary Art, Bath.
Rufford Craft Centre, Newark.
‘In The Window’, Contemporary Ceramics, London.( solo show )
‘Kaleidoscope’, Contemporary Ceramics, London.
South Hill Park Arts Centre, Bracknell (solo show).

1996

The Black Swan Guild, Frome (solo show).
Rye Art Gallery, Sussex.
T. Garner Gallery, Glasgow.
Anderson Gallery, Worcestershire.
Galerie Handwerk, Koblenz, Germany.

1993

‘Shaping The Earth’, Touring Exhibition

1992

‘Clay in Cumbria’, Brantwood, Coniston.

1991

Masterworks Gallery, Aukland, New Zealand.
Craft Potters Association, London.
David Holmes Gallery, Halifax (solo show).

1990

Bettles Gallery, Hampshire.

1989

Tithe Barn Gallery, Bakewell, Derbyshire.

1988

Keswick Museum & Art Gallery (solo show).

1987

Northern Potters Annual Exhibition, Tullie House, Carlisle.

1986

The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh (solo show).
Central School of Art & Design, London.