JANET DeBoos is a highly acclaimed ceramic artist and
educator.
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| Janet DeBoos |
After ten years as Head of the
ANU School of Art ceramic work shop she has retired and is now an Emeritus
Fellow at the School of Art, ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences. Janet De Boos was the Master of Ceremonies at
"Stepping Up", the Australian Ceramics Triennial that was held recently in
Canberra (9-11 July) with associated exhibitions running during the month of
July and August. Janet had a highly successful exhibition of her work in the
ANU Canberra School of Art Gallery last year and was awarded a Canberra Critics’
Circle Visual Art Award in 2014. She
also had a Survey Exhibition at Craft ACT in July this year.
Janet answered questions from the circle about the nature of
ceramics, which she defined as fired clay. Pottery, she added, is what you do
with it. She also noted the development of cutting edge ceramics which involved
performance and Installation work and artists who questioned the permanence of
clay by making forms that dissolve over time.
Janet discussed her own career and the part played by Peter
Rushforth in suggesting she study pottery at the old East Sydney Technical
College. Janet originally studied science but was always drawn to the creative
arts. (Incidentally, the Canberra Critics Circle might like to know that Peter
Rushforth was awarded a special honour at the 2015 “Stepping Up” conference
dinner.)
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| Recent works by Janet DeBoos |
The discussion then centred on the nature of ceramics- the
importance of the handmade and functional pottery. The history of porcelain was
then discussed and Janet’s own ongoing links with Jingdezhen the porcelain
capital of China and the influence on
her own work of her Asian experience. (Janet has also inaugurated biannual
trips to Jingdezhen by ANU ceramic students.) Janet also talked about her
connection with indigenous artists from Ernabella Arts in South Australia and
the cross cultural links that have been at play in their work and her own.
This was a very
interesting and informative talk and I hope the Canberra Critics Circle will
seek out Janet DeBoos’ work for themselves.
Kerry-Anne Cousins, member
of Canberra Critics Circle, July
13 2015.
