We chat with ceramic artist Gemma Orkin about Bugs Life, her latest exhibition of painted ceramic insects on show at Chandler House in Cape Town.

Tell us a bit of background about yourself?

I come from a family of artists and have been doing ceramics for 30 years with a degree in fine arts majoring in print-making. I make functional and semi-functional high-fired stoneware. Over the span of my career, I have been fortunate enough to build up a good business both locally and abroad and make my passion my career. I have always been drawn to the old-fashioned charm of ceramics, the creamy glazes, traditional functional forms and the fact that ceramics speak for themselves. They are uncomplicated, timeless and beautiful.

What inspired your current exhibition?

I have a love of nature and the effortless balance of colour and design. I have always focussed mainly on birds and flowers but a collaborative meeting of minds and some inspiration from Michael Chalder brought forth this collection of bugs and insects. The more I researched the madness of design and colour found on insects the more excited and inspired I became while creating each story. This is also the first time I have been so bold with colour.

Do you have a favourite bug?

Not necessarily but I loved the process of discovering each one’s unique beauty.

What does a regular day look like for you?

I’m a workaholic, I am in my studio at 7:30 am and paint until 9 pm at night. I work 6 days a week and aside from my family, I eat, sleep and dream ceramics.

What is the process for creating a piece?

All my work is handmade and hand-painted by me. Each piece is built up with coils, shaped, allowed to dry and then painted with colour and illustrated. Then the 4-day firing process starts.

What are your plans for the future?

I am turning 50 in November which for me is an achievement, having done the same thing for 30 years and still waking up every morning excited about my work and going to sleep at night excited to start the day again and repeat the same process. I still get extremely excited when new opportunities come along like my bug exhibition at Chandler House. So I am hoping for the future that each day stays exactly as it is now.

Any local artists you’re currently coveting?

Definitely my son Ben Orkin who shares a mutual passion for ceramics.

For more information gemmaorkin.co.za.

Looking for more on local art? Take a look at all the local virtual exhibitions, here.

The post Artists We Love: Gemma Orkin appeared first on Visi.

Winter is a time for entertaining indoors, surrounded by your nearest and dearest. Display your selection of delicious treats on any of these 12 pretty platters.

1. Large Turquoise Platter R850, Sarah Ord at Africandy

2. World of Flavours Mexican Ceramic Oval Serving Platter R249, Kitchen Craft at Yuppiechef.com

3. “Pinch” Platter R1 060, Imiso Ceramics at Africandy.com

4. Artisan Embossed Platter R299, Artisan Collection at Woolworths

5. Endless Summer Platter R550, Janet Ceramics

6. Bird – Large Plate R650, Gemma Orkin Handmade Ceramics

7. Extra Large Plate One R820, Klomp Ceramics

8. Ceramic Serving Plate R290, KA-AD at Mono Online Shop

9. Leaf Dish R169, @home

10. Bo Large Platter R299, Country Road

11. “Sail Away” Oval Platter R560, Sugar & Vice

12. Swallow and Cherry Blossom Tart Platter R513, Mervyn Gers at Africandy

The post Entertaining Essentials: 12 Pretty Platters appeared first on Visi.

Cape Town-based ceramic artist Gemma Orkin believes design needs to make people happy. Well, that’s exactly how we feel when we see her work. Browse the gallery above for 12 examples of her pretty creations.

What’s your favourite thing about being a ceramist?

I really enjoy the process of making a shape with a nice surface area to draw on, mixing up my own colours and creating one-off designs. Then, of course, there is the element of surprise when you open the kiln after firing, as colour can be so unpredictable with ceramics.

Which one of your ranges did you most enjoy creating?

I love them all! I wouldn’t be able to choose one, but I really enjoy drawing indigenous flowers and birds and creating a truly South African product. I love their different colour combinations.

Describe your aesthetic in five words.

Handmade. Old-fashioned. Simple. Creamy. Happy.

Visit gemmaorkin.frelio.com to view more of her work.

The post Ceramists We Love: Gemma Orkin appeared first on Visi.

As you may have read in our SPRINGLOADED VISI 68, Lauren Beukes staged a charity art show in aid of Rape Crisis, following the success of her book The Shining Girls. With all the works snapped up in 20 minutes, VISI felt that the exhibition needed to be shared with far more people, as well as a place to live together and so we have coordinated this online extension. Lauren also shared her thoughts with us:

You know what they say about a picture being worth a thousand words; in this case the exchange rate worked out about one to one. My 90 000 word novel, The Shining Girls, translated into R95 000 raised for Rape Crisis in 20-minutes flat through the sales of original artworks created by major local talents on a page ripped from the book. 

I dreamed up the idea, in keeping with the charity art projects I’ve done to tie in with all my novels, but never on this scale. The show was curated by Jacki Lang who wrangled 67 artists, from Zapiro to Conrad Botes and Sindiso Nyoni to street artists like DalEast and Faith47, as well as designers, illustrators and even jewellers, Philippa Green and Ida Elsje; found us a gallery space at the Cape Town School of Photography; and organised sponsorship from Pick’n’Pay, Genevieve MCC and Carola Koblitz to cover the niggly hard costs.

The final show featured 95 original artworks donated by the artists that ranged from the most simplistic, like Cameron Platter’s Fuck Rape, to elaborate craftsmanship that engaged directly with the book, like Willeen le Roux’s keyhole light box or Jesse Breytenbach’s laser-cut three dimensional butterflies.  

Every work was democratically priced at R1 000 each, whether by a major artist or a young up-and-coming to ensure that the artwork was accessible to all. Buyers were also restricted to one purchase only, which meant that people started queuing up two hours before the exhibition opened and when we finally opened the doors, the line snaked down four flights of stairs!

It was a beautiful thing and a poignant reminder, for me, that it’s good to get angry about the terrible things that happen in the world, it’s good to voice that anger, in a novel or a tweet and we can also take action. 

Rape Crisis requires R8-million a year to run. Last year, they got R46 000 from private donors. This year, they’ve had people donate R800 000, moved by the relentless news stories of horrific violence against women that have come up through 2013. You can make a difference. If you missed the exhibition, you can donate to Rape Crisis or join The Thousand Hearts Campaign  for a R100 a month to support the difficult and vital work they do.

The first part of the exhibition showing in the gallery above includes work by Claudette Schreuders, Brett Murray, Conrad Botes, Ed Young, Adam Hill, Alex Hamilton, Beth Diane Armstrong, Daniel Ting Chong, Gabrielle Graaff, Black Koki, Ello, Helen Pritchard, Brandt Botes, Alex Latimer, Faith47, DALeast, Chad Rossouw, David Brits, Frank van Reenen, Emma Cook, Galia Gluckman, Jade Klara, Gerhard Human, Jordan Metcalf, Hannelie Taute, Gemma Orkin, Joey Hi-Fi, Heath Nash, Gareth Owen, Jesse Breytenbach and Cathy Abraham.

Browse Part 2 of The Shining Girls online exhibition here.

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