13 May 2014

Shepparton Art Museum’s fourth Indigenous Ceramic art Award (ICAA) opens this Friday 16 May along with a solo exhibition by Melbourne-based artist, Bindi Cole.

The ICAA celebrates and supports the rich, vibrant and diverse use of the ceramic medium by Indigenous artists. This year's exhibition will include work by 22 artists shortlisted across Australia, including Adelaide; Melbourne; Ernabella; Cairns; Torres Strait Islands; Bankstown, Sydney and Victoria.

With a combined prize pool of $33,000, SAM's Indigenous Ceramic Art Award is the premier national award for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists working in ceramics.

First prize $20 000 Acquisitive
Second prize $10 000 Acquisitive
Encouragement Award (for a Victorian artist) $3,000 Acquisitive

The 2014 Indigenous Ceramic Art Award is funded by the Sir Andrew and Lady Fairley Foundation, Margaret Lawrence Bequest Perpetual Trustees, Mr Allan Myers AO QC, S.J. Rothfield Family Fund and Greater Shepparton City Council.

The award winners will be announced at the official opening of the exhibition on Saturday 24 May at 4pm, following a Public Forum on Indigenous Art and Ceramics as part of the Indigenous Ceramic Art Award Cultural Weekend on Saturday 24 – Sunday 25 May.

SAM Director Kirsten Paisley commented:

‘The 2014 award highlights the development of artists through the award series, and also how many new artists have discovered ceramics and are beginning to make work for the first time in clay. It has been particularly encouraging to see a local ceramic studio established in Shepparton this year and previous ICAA artists teaching ceramics, as yet a further extension of the ICAA program and its impact on individuals.'

SAM will also present a film produced by Nicholas Boseley in the exhibition based on his journey to meet with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ceramic artists across Australia over the past six months. From renowned pottery studios in Hermannsburg and Ernabella, NT to a new ceramics studio for Aboriginal artists in Shepparton, Victoria; and artists working in Adelaide and the Tiwi Islands, Nicholas meets artists as they prepare to produce work to enter in the 2014 ICAA.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Public Forum on Indigenous Art and Ceramics
Saturday 24 May, 2.30pm to 4pm
This forum will ask the overarching question of: What role does the practice of Indigenous Ceramics play in the wider landscape of Australian Contemporary Art? The panellists will drill into this question to draw out some thought provoking and enlightening ideas, thoughts and observations around the direction of Aboriginal Art in the 21st Century and its place in the wider contemporary art scene. The mediator for this discussion is Joe Pascoe – Director of Insect Arts Consultancy and former Director of the Shepparton Art Gallery and Craft Victoria. The panellists come from a variety of roles within the Aboriginal Art Industry:
Elizabeth Liddle – Senior Arts Officer, Indigenous Arts, Arts Victoria
Kimberley Moulton – Project Officer and Curator at Bunjilaka Melbourne Museum
Deanne Gilson – Visual Artist
Nicholas Boseley – Curator of the 2014 Indigenous Ceramic Art Award and Manager of Narana Aboriginal Cultural Centre

Official Opening of the 2014 Indigenous Ceramic Art Award, Bindi Cole: I Am exhibition and Drawing Wall #15 by Reko Rennie
Saturday 24 May, 4pm
Come along and celebrate the opening of SAM's fourth Indigenous Ceramic Art Award, a solo exhibition of artist Bindi Cole's new and old work, and the latest instalment of the Drawing Wall by Reko Rennie.

Curatorial Floor Talk on the 2014 Indigenous Ceramic Art Award
Sunday 25 May, 11am
2014 ICAA curator Nicholas Boseley will speak about his experiences, interactions and discussions with Indigenous artists working in ceramics from the Torres Strait, Tiwi Islands, Darwin, Central Desert, South Australia, Queensland and Victoria prior to this exhibition. Join Nicholas for an adventure through the 2014 ICAA exhibition coloured by the ‘back story'!

Open Studio at Gallery Kaiela
Sunday 25 May, 1pm to 3pm @ Gallery Kaiela, 137-139 High Street, Shepparton
Meet Indigenous artists at work in Gallery Kaiela's newly established Ceramic Studio. The artists will speak informally about the works they have made as part of the 2014 ICAA Cultural Program.

Please RSVP to any of these events by phoning (03) 5832 9861 or emailing rsvp-sam@shepparton.vic.gov.au.

Shepparton Art Museum is proudly provided by Greater Shepparton City Council, located at 70 Welsford Street, Shepparton. For general enquiries and bookings please contact: (03) 5832 9861, email art.museum@shepparton.vic.gov.au, or visit www.sheppartonartmuseum.com.au. Open 7 days, 10am to 4pm, public holidays 1pm to 4pm. SAM is also on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @SAM_Shepparton.

ENDS