Dr. Ronnie Watt introduces us to “Ian Glenny – The Life and Legacy of a Studio Potter” at the Clay Museum, which has an important showing of Glenny’s personal collection on exhibition.
Dr. Watt is a collector and specialist researcher of South African studio pottery and studio ceramic art. He is a graduate and postgraduate of the UNISA and a member of the International Academy of Ceramics. In his PhD thesis he addressed the contextual history of South African ceramics of the 20th and 21st centuries in which he positioned cultural and socio-political influences in the development of oeuvres and genres. He is currently resident in Canada from where he continues his research into South African ceramics.
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Ronnie starts by defining studio pottery as that made by individuals working from small studios as opposed to production pottery. It’s about developing one’s own style over time. Ian Glenny was definitely influence by Chinese, Japanese and Korean folk pottery of the previous century, as well as the Anglo-Oriental style. But he did not copy – he reinterpreted, developing creating a new style of esthetics and ethics. Glenny’s work is homegrown but with influences from outside.
The distinction between object and subject is explained. To the owner of of the work, it is not just an object. Each piece in a collection has a story to it. The influences and the thought process reflected in the work and its life story with its owner.
The work on display is of particular interest and value, as these are the works that Ian Glenny retained as they has special meaning and value to him. This is a personal collection that the family rediscovered after his death. Besides being an important exhibition providing an overview of his working career, it also provides an opportunity to acquire a special work by this important South African artist.
The Ian Glenny exhibition was one of the 5 openings on Saturday 6 April at the Rust-en-Vrede Gallery + Clay Museum. The other openings featured Garth Meyer, Annelie Janse van Rensburg, Barry van der Westhuizen and the Art Social. See Rust-en-Vrede Gallery + Clay Museum – 5 exhibitions openingsÂ
WHAT: Dr Ronnie Watt – “Ian Glenny – The Life and Legacy of a Studio Potter”
WHERE: Rust-en-Vrede Gallery + Clay Museum, 10 Wellington Road, Durbanville, Cape Town 7550
WHEN: closing 11 May 2024 | Monday – Friday 10:00 – 16:00 and Saturday 09:00 – 13:00
INFO:Â T 068Â 457 858 | E gallery@rust-en-vrede.com | Visit
Rust-en-Vrede Gallery & Clay Museum [36]
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