Gus Clutterbuck - statement May 2008

I am currently the Artist in residence at the Ernabella Anangu School and am
working with all the year groups in the school from Junior Primary to Senior
Secondary. It is a school that is intimately connected with this small
community and one that also greatly appreciates ceramics.
I am lucky to have a very well equipped ceramic shed to work in with the
kids, and also a huge ammount of enthusiasm on their part. We are working
towards creating a series of tiled paving sections that will be installed in
the outdoor areas of the new childcare centre to be built at the school this
year.
Working on the theme of tracks, footprints and marks on the ground, we are
using a variety of decorating methods to produce large scale footprints
based on the tracks of animals, birds, people and Toyotas!

Artist Statement - July 08 - Artroom 5

In the Anangu PitjantjatjaraYankunytjatjara Lands the locals call Ernabella 'the city' as it has a population of around 500 people, which is a lot for a remote community. I'm also a city person at heart and felt a sense of belonging in this other small city.

The veneer of a remote community can be confronting. To western eyes a veneer of squalor. For me these confronting feelings dissipated quickly and were replaced by those of fascination and curiosity, not only about the culture but also the detritus and marks that cover the red sandy surface.

I spent a lot of time contemplating the surface of this community. My work in the ceramics studio with the students of Ernabella School focused on the concept of tracks and marks on the ground, and we created a series of large tiled paving sections for the new childcare centre along this theme.

I also collected objects that I found fascinating; bits of curly fencing wire (Story wires) and paper thin drink cans which had been run over continuously until they were like rice paper. This series of studies is an exploration, a beginning of something, and a continuation of a new journey.

Gus Clutterbuck
Camp Dog and Story wire studies, 2 elements, 2008
Porcelain paper clay, ceramic inks, inlaid slip decoration, glaze
Photo: the artist

Gus Clutterbuck
Camp Dog and Story wire studies, 3 elements, 2008
Porcelain paper clay, ceramic inks, inlaid slip decoration, glaze
Photo: the artist

Canned, 2008
mixed media on paper
210 x 297 mm

Ernabella 2008
Photo: Gus Clutterbuck

Ernabella 2008
Photo: Gus Clutterbuck

Ernabella 2008
Photo: Gus Clutterbuck

2004
2000 - 2001
1996 - 2000
1982 - 1985

2008
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2005 - 2006
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2005

Gus Clutterbuck - New Ceramics Pramod Kumar- Rajasthani Painting Helen Stephens 
Gallery, Waverley, Sydney NSW 
2008 Sidney Myer Fund International Ceramics Award Shepparton Art Gallery, Shepparton, Victoria 
International Elephant Sanskriti Kendra, New Delhi, India 
Stayin Alive (Arts in Health) Promenade Gallery Flinders Medical Centre, SA (solo Exhibition) 
Collectanea Regional Tour Touring with Country Arts SA until 2009 
South Australian Ceramics Award 2007 Adelaide Central Gallery
Hold Fast Vitamin Magazine Online Exhibition www.vitaminarchive.com.au 
In Other Words Artspace- Adelaide Festival Centre 
Carpe Argillum Light Square Gallery, Adelaide SA 
Stayin Alive JamFactory Contemporary Craft & Design (solo exhibition) 
On the Verge - National Student Perspecta Brisbane Convention Centre - 
National Ceramics Conference 
Heartspace Artspace- Adelaide Festival Centre 
Collectanea South Australian Museum (Adelaide Fringe 2006) 
Mura Clay Gallery Christmas Exhibition Mura Clay Gallery, Newtown, Sydney 
Dame Nancy Buttfield Award for Decorative Arts 2005 Ayer's House, Adelaide 
Melting Pots 2005 Cairns Regional Gallery (Qld) 
Wishlist Craftsouth members exhibition 
SALA Festival 2005 
South Australian Ceramics Award 2005 Adelaide Central Gallery

2007 2005 2005 2004

South Australian Ceramics Award Judges Commendation Helpmann Academy Mentorship With VivonneThwaites- contemporary craft curator South Australian Ceramics Award Judges Commendation Adelaide Centre for the Arts The Pugmill Ceramics Award

2008 2008 2007 2007 2005 -present 2005 - 2007 2005 . 2005 . 2004 - present

Artist in Schools - Ernabella Anangu School Artist in Residence(ceramics) Curator - Department of Premier and Cabinet Arthire Scheme, State Administration Building, Victoria Square,Adelaide, SA Helpmann Academy Residency 6 week residency at Sanskriti Kendra, New Delhi, India CARGO - Carclew Artist-in-Schools tour of regional SA Finders/Keepers workshops for Schools Board Member Craftsouth: Centre for Contemporary Craft & Design Member of Peer Assessment Panel Arts SA -Health Promotions Through The Arts Artist in Schools Ceramics workshops for signage and entranceway commissions St. Morris Community Childcare Centre Artist in Schools Ceramics & Mosaic workshops for tiled seating & mosaic murals Magill Primary Magill Junior Primary Access Tenant - Jam Factory Contemporary Craft and Design Ceramics workshop (2004) Studio 8 (2005 - 07)

2006
2005

Arts SA Project assistance 
Helpmann Academy Project assistance

2008
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2008
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2007 
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2007 
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2007 
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2008 Sidney Myer Fund International Ceramics Award -Catalogue Presence and expression: the 2008 Award, 
Tony Conway, Shepparton Art Gallery & La Trobe University 
Journal Of Australian Ceramics Vol 47, # 1, April 2008, Helen Stephens Gallery, Helen Stephens 
Ceramics Art and Perception Issue #71, 2008, '2007 South Australian Ceramics Award',Stephen Bowers 
DB Magazine Stayin Alive review, Nerina Dunt, 30 May 2007 
Independent Weekly Matters of Survival, Vincent Ciccarello,April 28 - May 4, 2007 
Helpmann Academy Update Vol 14, No. 1, Issue 55, March - May 2007,Mentorship Develops Practice in Trust, 
Lynda Allen 
Asian Art News May/June 2007, Dr. Christine Nicholls, The Generosity of Community, pp 72-77 
Object Magazine Issue# 51, Bricolage, Dr. Pamela Zeplin 
Craft Culture Review of Bricolage,Roy Ananda,http//:www.craftculture.org.au 
Adelaide Review Disturbingly off the dial,John Neylon, Aug 25 - Sept 7, 2006 
Helpmann Academy Update Vol 13, No. 3, Issue 52,Stayin Alive at the JamFactory, Lynda Allen, 
Journal Of Australian Ceramics Vol 45 # 1,'Bricolage', Debbie Pryor 
Ceramics Art and Perception Issue 61, 2005,'Enduring Spirit-SA Ceramics Award 2005',Stephen Bowers ,

Flinders Medical Centre 
Private Collections