Sweet new Candy Bowls
Woohoo I have a new product!
The Candy Bowls come in two sizes: soup/salad and dipping. They are available in all the tasty colours that the Bambina Vessels come in: strawberry, mint, lemon, dusk, lavender and grey. Colour is available on the outside or inside so you can mix and match whatever colours you like. A glossy clear glaze is applied to the bisqued surface to make them foodsafe.
They will be available to buy through my Etsy shop very soon, I will keep you posted!
For more images go to the BOWLS page.
Contemporary Art Modern Design auction at Webbs
I have been in my studio testing some new clays for the production of my lighting designs. I have tried two different porcelains, and two different pure white slips. The results have been interesting, the varied light qualities that come from one clay to another are quite dramatic. Now its just a matter of deciding which one to run with!
The bases of my lights have changed too. Until now, the bases have been made from cast clear Resin. Resin is great in lots of ways for its ability to glow and the amazing colours you can make, but the bottom line is that it is incredibly toxic, and once cast there is no going back. Unlike other plastics, Resin is a thermoplastic, which means that it can not be melted down and re-cast, making it not very environmentally friendly.
Step by step I want to make my designs more and more eco-friendly, so I have decided to make new light bases from recycled timber floorboards. I have been getting off-cuts from demo yards and getting it turned by a local wood turner. The first run that I have made is New Zealand Matai, which I have sanded and waxed. They are gorgeous, and compliment the unglazed white ceramic shade.
Below is my latest light which I have been working on for an upcoming Modern Art auction at Webbs Auction House in Newmarket. The pattern is made up of multiple pierced Kowhai flowers. The flowers have a beautiful golden glow when lit, just like the colour they are in nature.
Kowhai is a one off design and can be viewed at Webbs Auction house, Manukau Rd Newmarket from the 22nd October.
Kowhai Light with hand turned Matai base
Kowhai Light birds eye view
Pollock Vases perfected
These vases really are the ultimate in Popkraft!
I enjoy the free process of making the Pollock vases, and the unique characteristics each one displays. I use the same pastel colours of my Bambina vessels in combination with black and white. The splattering is layered with colours randomly, producing entirely one-off patterns each time.
These three vases will be auctioned in the Webbs Contemporary Art, Modern Design auction on the 22nd October, along with a set of Bambina vessels and Kowhai light.
Zebra Vases
These Zebra Vases were made for the Mazda Artworks Exhibition at the Hilton Hotel in Auckland.
The technique I have use to create the pattern is by double pouring the slip and carving through the grey to reveal the white. Each of the Zebra Vases are made in the same way, but because each is hand carved, no two pattern is identical.
Like all of my other work, the Zebra Vases are unglazed, sanded and buffed. This means that I can halve the amount of firing time needed, saving energy and being that much more friendly on the environment.
Globe Vases
These vases are the same size as the Pollock vases, but left completely untouched. I sand and buff the unglazed surface until smooth.
Single stem flowers look incredible in them, these orchids are sitting in the same little sealed tube of water that they came in from the florist.
The Globe Vases are simple and elegant. They have a feeling of calm and tranquility like Japanese ceramic design.
These vases will soon be available to purchase through my etsy store www.popkraft.etsy.co
Jackson Pollock vases
I have started on a new idea for a range of ceramic vases. Inspired by Jackson Pollocks paintings, I am using a similar splatter technique to apply texture and colour to the smooth, white surface of the vase.
The concept is in its early stages, but the idea is to create vase designs that are representative of the colours used in selected Pollock paintings.
To keep you posted on where you can see some of my new pieces, I am involved in the following upcoming exhibitions:
Auckland Studio Potters Domesticware Awards 2nd August-9th August
Mazda Artworks at the Hilton 25th August-30th August
Objective Art Awards 27th September-2nd November
Sample of whats to come!
Piece Gallery now stocking Zekiah Heath ceramics
Beautiful applied arts gallery Piece in Matakana has now got a selection of my ceramics for sale. If you would like to see a range of my work all in the one place this is it! Piece has my pastel vessels (in mint, strawberry, custard and eggshell), vases, jewellery and lightworks.
Matakana is a wonderful place to go for the day, spend a Saturday morning at the farmers market before heading off to look at the many wonderful galleries the area has to offer.
I will also be taking part in Piece Gallery’s final exhibition of the year which will be previewing Friday 17th October at 5:30. The show will run until Sunday 16th November.
Follow the link to read more about Piece Gallery and view the space
http://www.matakanavillage.co.nz/piecegal.htm
Popkraft the website
I have a new and easy way for everyone to view my work, my website! www.popkraft.co.nz
You can go to my home page to get my contact details as well as go straight to my Etsy page and yep, this here blog.
I have registerd Popkraft as a company and plan to expand my range of popular crafts to include an extensive ceramics range ( jewellery, lighting, sculpture, vessels), new textiles and furniture designs. One of my biggest aims for Popkraft is to provide beautiful, inspiring designs that everyone can afford without harming the planet along the way. Every new material I use will be chosen for its environmental properties and its longevity. Popkraft endeavours to create objects that you will treasure and hold on to, maybe even pass down from generation to generation.
Below is my awesome new Popkraft logo. If you would like a business card please email me at zekiah@popkraft.co.nz
RAW at Satellite Gallery
I have a new show currently on at Satllite Gallery titled RAW. All of the work is slipcast and left unglazed.
The beauty of slipcasting is the unlimited potential to create repitition of forms, yet giving each its own sense of individuality. Letting my hands work intuitively with my thoughts I give each surface a unique decoration.
As I have grown as a ceramic artist, my awareness to the environment and to natural, sustainable design is becoming more integral in my daily practice. There is no better raw material to work with than clay. I am inspired to work with clay because of its close connection with the earth. It is natural, non-toxic and not rigorously processed with chemicals. My aim is to utilise all of my material: by developing the broken or misshapen pieces into one-off jewellery designs, I eliminate much of my waste.
I have created this body of work focusing on raw slips and their qualities, being sure to give each piece its own identity through colour tinting, piercing, lighting or inscribing the surfaces. The slips are high fired to give structural integrity then left unglazed. I prefer to embrace the clay’s organic finish rather than adding further layers and processes to them.
The show is on until 17th June and is running in conjunction with the photography exhibition ‘They Were Young Once’.
SATELLITE GALLERY, Corner of Newton rd & St Benedicts St, Auckland City.
New Etsy Shop
So I’ve been busy! I have been working on a business proposal to start my own little ceramic design studio which has been taking up most of my time. BUT, I have managed to squeeze in time to open an Etsy page. This will allow more global contacts and sales to be made and compliment the work that I have in galleries. I will be expanding into other kinds of small products on Etsy in various materials so keep an eye out, I’ll keep you posted.
Etsy is awesome by the way! If you don’t know about the site you should check it out. Its an online design and craft site which allows makers to upload and sell their wares. You can go to my page popkraft.etsy.com
