Fleur Schell

Using porcelain I love to make sentimental objects that are rich in detail, playful and familiar.

The common thread throughout my work is a connection to my own personal history. Having grown up with my mother who is a piano teacher, our home was filled with wonderful music. In 1997, with a fascination of musical instruments of all kinds I felt compelled to make a series of sound instruments. Using combinations of porcelain, metal, wood and found components these instruments explored the possibilities of sound through ceramic media in a way that encourages audience interaction on an audio, tactile and visual level. The principal aim was to create cast ceramic forms that were capable of generating sound, and which, through their aesthetic and textural quality, invited an intimate tactile response.

The exploration of sound continued several years later through a series of doorbells, which began as antique glass bottles found partially buried in a paddock on my families farm. Amongst my family, this pile of detritus is more commonly known as the Bottle Tip. Each doorbell is a combination of porcelain and mixed media and features altered slip cast porcelain bottles that have been cast from the found bottles in order to make sound.

While in Canada in 2001 as Artist in Resident at Alberta College of Art and Design I began exploring the internal spaces of form and the way sound describes internal chambers that are unable to be seen. This lead to a series of organically derived sound funnels in porcelain and soft fabrics.

It was while I was living abroad that I learnt to appreciate hand crafted utaliterian ceramics. I began to understand how the daily ritual of pouring from a handmade teapot and drinking from a thrown and altered cup enriched the dining experience. Nearly a decade on I love the quiet place in my head that making usable objects sweeps me away to. I love objects that provide us with individual recognisability, especially those essential objects that are instrumental to our daily rituals. Quite simply I love the discipline required and the challenges presented in making an object functional.

I began exploring Narrative in clay in 2005 after my daughter Heidi was born. The teapots I make have become a canvas to tell Heidi’s story, and at the same time convey a tacit message of an imaginary world in which we can all recognize ourselves. Like a page from a children’s book the gesture between a little girl and her dog atop a teapot encourages us to reflect apon innocent childlike experiences. I love to reflect on those precious beginnings when my days were consumed with play.

The following year I received an Australia Council grant allowing my work to take a major shift into the construction of Tableux of ceramics and mixed media. So began ‘The Excellent Adventures of Heidi and Kilbey’. Heidi reacquainted me with the magical world of children’s books and this was all the inspiration I needed for the work I am currently making for a children’s book.

EDUCATION

1997 Post Graduate First Class Honours in Visual Arts (Ceramics).

The University of Tasmania. Hobart, Tasmania.

1994-1996 Bachelor Degree in Visual Arts,(ceramics and mixed media)

Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Western Australia.

1990-1993 Diploma of Art and Design(Ceramics),

Western Australia School of Art and Design.

PROFFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

2009 Director of SODA PTY LTD, The premier Ceramics Workshop Center and

International Ceramics Residency Program in Western Australia.

Presenter at Clay Fever Sunshine Coast, Queensland Australia

Artist in Residence at the Pottery Workshop, Jingdezhen, China

Presenter at the National Ceramics Triennial,National Art School, Sydney, NSW.

2008 Invited to exhibit at the National Ceramic Exhibition - Australian Ceramic Stories,

Dubbo Regional Gallery, NSW.

2007 Invited Master at Gulgong Clay Edge, NSW.

Founding Director of SODA Studios and International Ceramics Residency, WA.

Presenter at The National Ceramics Conference of Australia, Brisbane QLD.

Artist in residence at Scotch College

Artist in residence Methodist Ladies College

2005-06 The establishment of SODA - Sculptural Objects and Design Australia,

Studio/Workshop Facility and Residency Space, Fremantle WA.

2004 $20,000 Australia Council Grant for new works in porcelain and sound.

Designing Futures Product development program.

2003 Presenter, Ignition - National Ceramics Conference, Royal Melbourne

Institute of Technology (RMIT), Melbourne Victoria.

Artist in Residence, RMIT, Melbourne Victoria.

Lecturer, Education Department, Edith Cowan University, Perth WA.

Presenter, Ignition - National Ceramics Conference, Bendigo Victoria.

2002 Lecturer, Western Australian School of Art and Design (WASAD), Perth WA.

Instructor/International Artist in Residence, Alberta College of Art and Design

(ACAD), Calgary, Canada.

Presenter-The Aesthetics of Skill Conference, Red Deer College, Alberta

Canada.

Visiting artist at The Banff Center, Alberta Canada.

Visiting Artist/Presenter at Red Deer College, Alberta Canada.

Visiting Artist/Presenter at The University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.

Guest Presenter, Emily Carr Institute, Vancouver British Columbia Canada.

2001 Presenter 1000 Miles Apart - National Students Conference, ACAD, Canada.

Lecturer, WASAD, Perth WA.

Lecturer/Adjunct Researcher, School of Art, Curtin University, W.A.

Detail - product range – Craft West Centre for Contemporary Craft, WA.

2000 Artist in Residence, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT.

Lecturer, Diploma Program, Ceramics Workshop, School of Art,

Australian National University, Canberra, ACT.

RECENT SOLO AND GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2010 The Excellent Adventures of Heidi series, Red Sea Gallery, Singapore.

2009 Ceramics Victoria ‘40th Anniversary Selected Exhibition’ Manningham Gallery

Melbourne Australia.

‘Beyond the Nullarbor’(Selected), Gallery Adagio, Sydney, New South Wales.

Kerrie Lowe Gallery Sydney NSW.

Ceramic invitational show - Marks and Gardener, North Tambourine, QLD.

‘GIFT’ Invitational, SODA Gallery , Fremantle Western Australia.

CAAWA Selected exhibition – Fremantle Contemporary Art Gallery, Perth WA.

2008 Salute, curated by Janet Mansfield, an invitational exhibition 100 Australian

potters in 40 years. Fusions Gallery, Queensland.

‘Heidi’s Manhattan’ - Remedy Footpath Gallery, Perth WA.

Ignition Ceramics Award, Sunshine Coast, QLD.

The State of The West Ceramic Survey Show, Perth TAFE Gallery WA.

Australian Ceramic Stories - National Ceramic Show, Dubbo Regional

Gallery NSW.

‘GIFT’ Invitational, SODA Gallery, Fremantle Western Australia.

2007 Masters Exhibition Cudgegong Gallery, Gulgong NSW.

‘Shoe Box Ceramics’, Gorepani Collective Exhibition Albany

2006 ‘The Excellent Adventures of Heidi and Kilbey’ SODA Corridor Gallery, WA.

CAAWA Selected exhibition - Gallows Gallery, Perth WA.

Aspects - Kings Park - Sasha Wardell Book Launch and Exhibiton.

Flinders Teapot Exhibition, Flinders VIC.

CAAWA Selected exhibition - Gallows Gallery, Perth.

Joondalup selected Art Award, WA. Wanneroo Selected Art Award, WA.

2004 Walkers Porcelain Invitational – Skepsi On Swanston, Melbourne, Victoria.

2003 Western Reflections – WA’s leading Ceramic Artists Skepsi, Victoria.

National Ceramic Conference Delegates Invitational, Bendigo

Pottery, Victoria.

Walkers Porcelain Invitational – Skepsi On Swanston.

Ceramics - The Australian and New Zealand Context, Campbelltown City

Bicentennial Art Gallery, Campbelltown. NSW.

Future Functions Invitational, Manly Art Gallery, Sydney NSW.

2002 Infundibular – Stride Gallery, Calgary Alberta Canada.

2001 Works In Sound - The School of Music, The Australian National University,

Canberra, ACT.

Preserved Sound - CraftWest Centre for Contemporary Craft, WA.

National Ceramics Conference - Invitational, Bendigo Pottery,Victoria.

AWARDS /GRANTS

2009 Highly Commended - Ceramics Arts Association of WA Selective Exhibition

ArtsWA - Art flight Grant.

2007 Bronze medal winner in the National Print Awards for best catalogue,

The National Print Awards, Sydney 2007.

2006 Winner of The Ceramics Arts Association of WA Selective Exhibition.

Winner of Flinders Teapot Award, Victoria

2005 20,000 Australia Council Grant.

Artist Foundation of WA - Gunnery Residency NSW.

2003 Winner of York Art Award (ceramics section).

2001 Tactile Award, in association with the Royal Blind Society and Object

Gallery, NSW.

WA - Art flight Grant to Canada.

2000 ArtsWA - New Works Development Grant.

2000 Australian Finalist, Talente, Germany.

Arts WA - Art flight Grant to Canberra.

Pat Corrigan Craft Grant.

1999 Australian Finalist, Talente, Germany, 2000.

1998 Australian Finalist, International Faenza Ceramics Award, Italy.

Invited to Represent the University of Tasmania - National Postgrad show.

PUBLICATIONS

2009 Per Adua, MLC Magazine Australia, Issue 25 Spring 09

Journal, ‘The Narrative’ - Art Education Ass. of WA, Dec 2009

2007 Ceramic Art and Perception, ‘The Western Front’ Issue 70, 2007 pp.69-74.

2006 ‘The Excellent Adventures of Heidi and Kilbey’ Catalogue.

500 jugs - Ceramic Explorations of Utility & Grace, Lark 2006

Ian Dowling - A Ruminent Line, Ceramics Art and Perception. Iss.63

pp.71-73.

2005 Porcelain and Bone China - Sasha Wardell, Crowood Press 2004.

2004 500 cups - Ceramic Explorations of Utility & Grace, Lark 2004.

2003 The West Australian Habitat - The Power and the Passiona, June 27

2003 pg 12.

Ceramic Art and Perception Volume 55, 2003.

2003 Pottery in Australia, Volume 42 No.1, pp 36-39 and pp 46-50 , Autumn

2002 Calgary Review, March 2002.

2001 The Art Show Program featured on National Television 23/08/01.

Monument - Architecture and Design, No. 41, p22, April/May 2001.

2000 Pottery in Australia, Volume 39 No.4, pp 22-25, December 2000.

1999 Ceramic Technical International No.7, p 88, 1998.

COLLECTIONS

Scotch College, Western Australia.

The VCG. Melbourne, Australia.

The Royal Blind Society of New South Wales.

Red Deer College, Alberta Canada.

Alberta College of Art and Design, Alberta Canada.

Australian National University, Canberra, ACT.

University of Tasmania, Hobart.