JOHN TUCKWELL AT HOME IN BELLINGEN - March 2017

​Recently, I had the pleasure of visiting John Tuckwell's studio in Bellingen, northern NSW. This was my first trip there. The heritage country town of Bellingen impressed me for its arts and craft and a somewhat new- age feel, not to mention great eateries, coffee and live music. Nearby there is also the majestic Dorrigo National Heritage Forest.
 
Luckily, the river had subsided from the previous week's floods so that we, my husband, Mike, and myself could drive across the bridge to John's home. He was so kind and welcoming. We were privileged to see his latest laminated work; coloured paperclay slip on a white background, fine inlay work with gestural black lines. Those of us who did his workshop at CCPS last June will appreciate the perfection of John's work. He has three kilns: a small Tetlow electric; a large 3-phase electric Woodrow kiln which he really likes for his type of work; and a large Steve Harrison gas kiln. His wife, Gloria, is currently working with neriage techniques. Although he has solar panels on his roof for domestic use, he would be hard pressed to fire up his 3-phase kiln relying solely on the sun!
 
John plans to do a residency in Hungary this year. He says Hungary has the whitest porcelain clay. I look forward to seeing how this experience will inspire his future work. In the meantime, John is having an exhibition at the Mansfield Gallery.
DATES - 12 May to 12 June 2017
LOCATION -  Mansfield Gallery
                        269D Darlinghurst Road, Darlinghurst NSW 2010
                        +61 2 9332 4379
 

Ingrid Tristram
CCPS Vice President