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These functional coffee mugs are made valuable because it captures a historic reference to the society they grew up in. Sim and Goodman proudly present you with these coffee mugs hand painted with humble images from their environment. See it as functional art! It takes 7Hrs to make, consider surface treatment and paint the images on 3 of these mugs. It is labour intensive, and the price will eventually reflect this, considering that their skill and story telling capabilities will improve.

Is there anybody out there that will offer a fair price for these first mugs?

I was in awe seeing these mugs painted after I had given them my first “crit” on the first items that they have painted. The improvement was astonishing and I truly believe that they have the perseverance to develop their talents in this creative business. They have stories to express and I am sure that the demand exists for honest one of a kind works like these. I would like them to consider social comment more intensely, there are so much to express in our society, so many stories we can all relate to.

The importance of Tea Time for the working classes is expressed in the The Tea Time Mug, as an event, it is possibly as important as one’s breakfast to start the day with. For me it is a non event, drinking tea whenever it is presented to me and then often just forgetting it as I rush around as self-employed people tend to do, never allowing the use of Tea Time as an event to revitalize myself.

The pipe with smoke is Gillian’s favourite.

The images are mostly symbolic of past experiences, like; the importance of rain, the value of children, leisure activities of the elders smoking, preparation of food and farming activities.

The mug decorated with the traditional implements, when using oxen, to prepare the earth for planting, is common with the disadvantaged or rural outback black farmers. Using a tractor would have expressed a dream and not the real memory as Goodman has experienced the act of planting.

I am sure that these playful artworks can make Tea Time, the event, a must, 15 minutes to hold, recall and share memories.

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We thank all our clients who have so kindly allowed us to visit their homes to photograph our tiles where they have been installed in their kitchens, floors, pools and bathrooms.Our feelings on viewing the installed tiles and panels for the first time are to say the least hugely gratifying. The tiles are so powerful and not one of these kitchens could have done without it! Take a close look at each kitchen and then try to imagine it with a blank wall!

The tactile qualities of the tiles harmonize with all the machine made and finished materials providing a warm homely human character to each kitchen.

Although the images cannot do justice to the full impact on their environment I am sure that you will be touched by some of these kitchens as well. Most of the clients felt the commissions expensive at first, but on viewing the final impact of these tiles on their environment they expressed their extreme happiness with the value of the contract.

The fact that we are highly passionate and critical of our product shows in the final result. Even with deadlines pressing we will bend over backwards to formulate the best-suited colours for your environment and researching the best possible techniques and manufacturing processes for your special commission. Which makes each commission special, not only for our client but also for us, as we pride ourselves on delivering a top quality product with special attention to uniqueness

Next year will see the development of secure client driven web pages. They will be accessible by invitation only and on these pages clients can view the complex issues involved in conceptualising, developing and manufacturing the products that make up their commission.

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The Kwasa Kwasa story is gaining momentum.

The past 6 weeks were frustrating with Sim and Goodman’s involvement in a mosaic seta craft empowerment project. The mosaic course was another module in which they could acquire more skills. With the possible promise of a cash flow generating mosaic business they were committed to the mosaics AND to the ceramic studio where they have asked me to mentor them in becoming designer businessmen.

With this diluted focus the hope of making a REAL difference really frustrated me.

I am of the opinion that cooperatives with 10 plus individuals dilute decision-making and will seldom provide the critical economic empowerment so desperately desired by these talented individuals. With a lack of income generating sales a mood of despondency quickly sets in and translates to unproductiveness and ultimate failure of the very projects so eagerly participated in to uplift these individuals.

Sim and Goodman experienced the above and this left them with ceramics as the next best option. Luckily I was patient enough to wait while they had to experience the above negative processes.

They have made the commitment to realize their own business and Southern Art Ceramics will mentor and assist them to manage this art business. Below you read the letter from them to inform me of their decision and requests for help.

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This ‘mono-block porcelain chair’ by Sam Durant, built by Jiao Zhi studio, Xiamen, china (2006), as with the other chairs, interest me as far as the artist outsource the production of this visionary concept. I do think that ceramic artists must embrace these opportunities. By not choosing the traditional self-made option, a talented artist can add more value to his or her ideas, by saving on time to master the complexities involved in making these chairs.

Visit www.designboom.com for this interesting post.

The text from Sadie Cole’s website below relates to why an artist would like to express himself in this way and why it is important. It is not really about what he made here, but to what he makes happen, the object confronts you and it questions it’s own existence. The historical relevance of this object will make it collectible and traceable to a point and time in our history.

“Sam Durant’s series of sculptures replicates mass-produced plastic lawn chairs in fine Chinese porcelain,inviting the viewer to consider the aesthetic value of one of the world’s most democratic objects.
By remaking cheap garden furniture, often mass-produced in china, into one-off, handmade, high-end goods,Durant’s sculptures form an ironic comment on the condition of globalisation.

They pose many questions about the nature of mass consumption, the stereotyped saturation of the markets with cheap Chinese goods, and the impact of emergent industries on native and foreign cultures.”

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Marc & Marthe Wauters - Friends of our studio.

A long time ago, this very special coupled visited our studio. There was an immediate bond with them, their enthusiasm and appreciation for our work and their intense interest in the ceramic work we have done over the years. But what really endeared them to us was that they cared and showed compassion through all the ups and downs our studio experienced. It is always a great pleasure when they visit AND Marc always has something up his sleeve!

The first “project” was a commission to produce large serving bowls in the old Flemish style majolica ware. Then in-between commissions he would create sculptural ceramic pieces as gifts for his special friends.

The nativity scene was one of them and his Pieta another.

We have a shared fondness for the Kalahari, and here the San are a great inspiration to his, making a few sculptures of the San he met and spoke to.

Another commission was sauerkraut containers for another passionate friend of his, Dr. Marco Knappe who wanted to ferment his own cabbage according to an old family recipe in hand thrown containers fashioned according to a traditional design. If the fermenting ever worked in our warm climes is not known, this family is still alive and kicking so I would expect the process to have been highly successful!

At this moment he is receiving lessons throwing on a potters wheel, and we hope to soon see all these new creations. I am sure that some of these will be used to store his home ground chillies in, or some of his homebrewed grappa, Wahoo!

Marc and Marthe we love you, and hope to see you soon!

Marc please ask your daughter to comment and post a photo or two of you cycling to the studio.

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