New exhibition observes the uniqueness of wood-fired practices in the Cooroy region

Flame Path – Noosa Regional Gallery’s latest exhibition – showcases an array of national and international ceramic artists. 

Jennifer Halli, Antipodeans Sculpture, wood-fired sculptures. Image courtesy of the artist.

The artists featured all share significant engagement with the Sunshine Coast wood firing community.

Co-curated by Gallery Director Michael Brennan and Ambassador for Australian wood-fired ceramics, Rowley Drysdale, Flame Path highlights the significant impact the Cooroy Region has had on the growing community of wood firers in Australia and overseas.

“The Sunshine Coast, in particular Cooroy, has always been a ceramics producing area,” says Drysdale – an artist local to the Sunshine Coast.

“Known for brickworks, and even earlier in the Pomona area for producing fittings for Queensland Railway, there’s always been a historical connection to clay in this region.” 

Drysdale has forged significant relationships with many renowned international potters, including Japanese, and in particular South Korean, potters.

He’s worked closely throughout his career with many of the selected artists both as a teacher and artistic contemporary.

While some historically travelled to Cooroy to take part in wood firing workshops and conventions at the previous anagama kiln site (now the Cooroy Library) and also at the now closed Tewantin TAFE, others have and continue to travel specifically to join communal wood firing sessions at Quixotica Art Space. 

Established in 2000 after the Cooroy anagama kiln - built in 1997 by master Japanese potter Ichino San - was destined to be demolished, Quixotica exists for the prosperity of this ancient art technique, says Drysdale.

Gallery Director, Michael Brennan, says Drysdale has been “an important contributor to elevating the status and visibility of wood fired ceramics practices”. 

“A process which itself is literally a ‘slow burn’, this exhibition provides both the time and space for the subtleties and nuances of this way of working to reveal themselves gradually. It’s an exhibition that definitely rewards slow and attentive time spent with the works.”

Artists include Alix Brodeur, Angus McDiarmid, Barry Tate, Gyan Wall, Heidi Kreitchet, Isaac Patmore, Jackie Gasson, Jennifer Halli, Merrie Tomkins, Moraig McKenna, Neil Hoffmann, Owen Rye, Rowley Drysdale, Sandy Lockwood, Shirobey Kobayashi, Stephen Roberts and Wesley Denic, Kim Jung Pil and Kim Se Wan.

Flame Path opens at Noosa Regional Gallery on May 21, 2021 and will run until July 11, 2021.

Visit the Gallery's website for full details about the opening event on Friday May 21, and the artist panel discussion taking place on Saturday, May 29, 2021.