FEATURE ARTIST | Alice Whish
Feature Artist | Alice Whish
Top image: Alice wearing her creations; Middle image: Alice with Helen Earl on left in Rome in 2022 on CRETA residencies; Bottom image: Alice’s works in the gallery with dot design dot pots. Top and middle images courtesy of the Artist; Bottom Anne Masters
We are pleased to introduce Alice Whish from Sydney, Australia. We have yet to meet in person and I do hope this may happen in the coming months when I pop up to Sydney for some flying work visits. Alice has recently come back from a CRETA residency in Rome, Italy. CRETA is International Ceramics Residencies, Exhibitions, Teaching and the Arts.
“ … Over a number of years I have been spending occasional studio days in my friend Helen Earls Ceramic studio. Helen has generously allowed me to poke tiny pieces of ceramic into the corners of her kiln when firing and we have spent many hours talking and making. In 2019 we decided to each apply to the CRETA studio in Rome and spend time exploring Rome and making work. With the pandemic our plans were up ended and it was not until 2022 arrived that we were given the opportunity to take up the artist residency.… “.
C.R.E.T.A is run by Lori-Ann Touchette & Paolo Porelli from a tiny space in the centre of Rome.
There are 2 kilns, a teaching space and residencies space with desks. The teaching space converts to an exhibition space. Three of us shared the studio over 5 weeks, Helen Earl, Avery Campbell and myself. Helen and I enjoyed visiting museums and sights in the mornings and then spent the remainder of the day in the studio, or off doing our own drawing or research.
Five weeks sounds like a long time but it really comes down to about 3 and ½ weeks because you need to get everything fired for the exhibition at the end. I went with a technical starting point to mix and breakdown colour pigments; this was helpful and enabled me to get started immediately. When your focus is on making and visiting museums and your not being distracted by all the things you do at home it is incredible how much you can make and explore.
I would recommend C.R.E.T.A studio particularly if your work is small, after all you have to bring it all home in your suitcase.
To learn more about Alice click on the button below to see a little video. Or if you want to start shopping, go straight to the feature collection below and enjoy this exclusive selection made for GOST.
