Ashes to Ashes: How the lowliest of materials became the height of taste

March 21, 2024March 21, 2024 by Jay

For the ancient Chinese, the discovery that wood ash could be made into glazes brought them the exquisite colours of imperial bronze and majesterial jade in a plastic medium. For Bernard Leach and his disciples (chief among them Katharine Pleydell-Bouverie) these pots were a revelation. With their own trials in ash they looked to a … Read more

Talking Pots | Svend Bayer | Monumental Jars

June 15, 2024September 7, 2021 by Jay

In this film Svend Bayer explains how he constructs these imposing large jars. Achieving these dramatic glaze effects on such a large pot is fraught with danger and pitfalls. Svend discusses the glaze surface and describes how the beautiful ‘chunning’ effect occurs.

Critic’s Choice | Nic Collins | Large Bottles

June 15, 2024April 30, 2021 by Jay

Goldmark Gallery’s Max Waterhouse takes a look at a selection of Nic Collins’ magnificent large bottles. Every bottle tell the story of its precarious journey from from the wheel to surviving the intense anagama firing.

Talking Pots | Jim Malone | Large Jar

June 15, 2024April 12, 2021 by Jay

Jim Malone takes a look at one of his large jars and describes its construction and his choices for surface decoration.

Exhibition | Phil Rogers | Earthly Matters

June 15, 2024May 29, 2020 by Jay

Phil Rogers, one of the outstanding British potters of his generation, exhibited at Goldmark Gallery from 16 May 2020. This was the 5th major exhibition of his work at Goldmark and each show has built on the success of the one before. Goldmark was closed because of the Coronavirus however the exhibition was available virtually to the public with an online tour and new films featuring both an interview with Rogers and footage of him at work. The exhibition saw the publication of a new catalogue written by the Rev. Richard Coles, Vicar of Finedon, former member of 1980s pop group The Communards and presenter of Radio 4 programme Saturday Live. The film shows the culmination of an extraordinary career in ceramics by a potter who forged his own path pushing the boundaries of the traditions he was rooted in.

Documentary | Phil Rogers | Drawing in the Air

June 15, 2024September 27, 2018 by Jay

Filmed on location in Wales, this documentary follows Phil Rogers as he prepares for his 2014 ceramics exhibition at Goldmark Gallery – his first major show in 6 years.

The film shows Rogers at work in and around his studio in Rhayader, Mid-Wales. It shows him throwing cups, bowls and jugs, glazing and decorating and opening his oil and wood-fired kilns.

Rogers discusses his life as a studio potter and the challenges involved. The film also shows a range of his current work.

Masterclass | Mike Dodd | Textured Vase

June 15, 2024September 26, 2018 by Jay

Mike Dodd demonstrates how he throws and decorates his wonderful textured vases. he describes every stage of the process and suggests various glaze combinations that would show off the incredible crackled and incised surface.