THE SHIBORI ARMADA
$3300 for the Triptych or $1100 per individual boat
Gerald Clapham – Why boats?
I think it all comes from frustration, as I really wanted to be a boat builder but at 17 there were no opportunities to start an apprenticeship, but instead the opportunity to put my hands to work in clay came along.
I had a strong desire to build and create for this world, things of beauty and usefulness, and soon my soul connected with the simple and sacred flesh of our mother ‘Clay”, and I have to say the transformative process of fire in the journey stole my heart and when the opportunity came to finally build boats I could not forsake clay.
So, what better way to combine my love of the elements, clay and boats and then to create in clay. With Jasmine hoisting the sails we can venture forth in vessels that sail the sea of our imagining. May they bring us through storm and high seas to safe harbour.
Jasmine Jan – Time to set sail
I first started working with recycled fabrics and using the Shibori technique and Indigo dyeing about 4 years ago under the mentoring and tutoring guidance of Meng Hoeschle and Pam Hefner. I fell in love with the intricate patterns and designs that could be created using different stitching and resist techniques and the allure of all the different shades of blue that can be achieved with indigo.
My first collaborative project was creating all the Shibori fabric for the Adelaide River Slow Stitch Community Quilt. This was a massive project that involved many volunteers (artists, crafters and beginner slow stitchers coming together to create an incredible quilt that tells the story of the Adelaide River). This experience reinforced in me the value of collaboration and how working with others to create something truly unique and spectacular is strengthened by diverse skill sets.
After a visit to the Wooden Boat Festival in Tasmania and the Maritime gallery at MAGNT I became obsessed with the idea of creating Shibori/Indigo Sails for boats. The bonus was that I already had a brilliant boat builder in my dear friend and fellow artist, Gerald. So an amazing opportunity to collaborate on this project was born.
I can see so much more potential in developing the designs and slow stitched patterns on the sails even further and my dream would be able to create a massive installation work creating a true Shibori Armada fleet and ultimately one day I would like to create a full sized sail using these techniques.
Terracotta clay boat base, shibori/indigo dyed fabric, thread, timber and porcelain
1400mm wide x 600mm tall X 500mm depth
Artist Statement: Gerald Clapham started his journey as a potter in New Zealand as a 17 year old working in the studios of various potters producing stoneware fired in diesel and wood kilns. Whilst living in Adelaide he spent 8 years working at Bennett’s Pottery, one of the last of the old traditional pottery’s surviving in Australia. During this time Gerald also started teaching pottery at WEA night school and “The Studio Potters Club”.
In the last 10 years Gerald has worked from his home studio Studio Elevenlee and has continued teaching and running workshops at CDU, Tactile Arts and Adult Short Courses where he set up and now runs the ceramic studio.
Over the last 8 years Gerald has produced works in Stoneware, Earthenware, Raku and other low fired wear such as terra sigillata and pit firing. This has led to experimenting with local clays to craft pottery, both for use in the kitchen and decorative Saggar work, where the local clay and raw fire can be bought together to reflect a body of work true to the Territory in colour and feel.
Gerald has exhibited locally and interstate and sold works/completed commissions for the local and tourist market in Darwin.
Jasmine started her early art career as a watercolourist and scientific illustrator however over the years she has moved into mixed media using a diverse range of materials and techniques to suit whatever project she is currently working on.
A recipient of a Churchill Fellowship and two Queen Elizabeth Silver Jubilee Trust Grants she has been fortunate to be able to study a diverse range of art techniques with leading wildlife artists and sculptors in the USA, Italy and Indonesia which have all contributed to building her toolbox of techniques and mediums that are available to her arts practice.
Jasmine has exhibited locally, interstate and overseas and has also taught workshops at Tactile Arts, CDU and undertaken residencies in papermaking (Curtin Springs Station) and textiles (Geelong Fibre Forum). She established the Artists-in-the-Park program at the Territory Wildlife Park and has been responsible for the development of the Art trail at the Park and conceptualising and project managing numerous award winning community arts projects for the Park. In 2023 Jasmine was awarded the Georgie Waterman Award from Interpretation Australia for her contributions to Natural History Interpretation in Australia and Territory Natural Resource Management awarded her the Conservation and Environment award for the work that she has undertaken with her community art projects at the Territory Wildlife Park.
Contact Tactile Arts on 08 8981 6616 or admin@tactilearts.org.au to purchase.
