1 October – 29 November 2020
Little Gallery
Auckland Studio Potters (ASP) is proud to showcase the work of two late master ceramicists – Merilyn Wiseman and Frank Checketts.
MERILYN WISEMAN
Merilyn Wiseman graduated from Elam School of Art in Auckland with a Preliminary Diploma in 1959. In 1963 she graduated from Goldsmiths College of Art with a National Diploma in Design, gaining an Art Specialist Teachers Diploma the following year.
Merilyn began her professional ceramics career in the mid 1970’s. Beginning with a woodfired kiln, eventually moving on to gas and electric fired kilns. She said of her pottery beginnings...
“I was a complete novice but with constant reference to A Potters Book by Bernard Leach and persistent calls to generous, long suffering established potters such as Ian Smail, Warren Tippett and many others, I started potting.”
Listed below are just a few of Merilyn’s recognitions:
1984 Premier Award at the Fletcher Brownbuilt Awards
2002 Merilyn’s work ‘Pacific Rim’ was featured in a special edition of stamps called ‘Art meets Craft’, issued by NZ Post and Sweden Post.
2005 Merilyn won the Premier Award at the Portage Ceramic Awards.
She also received three Creative Development grants from the QEII Arts Council.
2007 Merilyn Wiseman was recognised with an Arts Foundation of NZ Laureate Award.
Merilyn Wiseman: 25/10/1941 – 13/06/2019
FRANK CHECKETTS
Frank studied ceramics at Otago Polytechnic from 1975-76. Between 1976-85, he tutored in ceramics at Southland Community College and exhibited in numerous local exhibitions.
In 2006 he joined Auckland Studio Potters and reconnected with the pottery community after an absence of twenty years. He said of his work:
“My work is about shapes and forms and I like to keep it as simple as I possibly can.
Less is always more.
I have always enjoyed working with textured panels of clay and combining this with the structural strength of curves, bends and circles.
I am inspired by architectural concepts of support, span and connection”.
Listed below are just a few of Frank’s recognitions:
2013 Frank was selected to exhibit in the Portage Ceramic Awards.
2014 He received a Portage Ceramic Awards merit award.
2015 Frank was awarded the Auckland Studio Potters Residency Award, sponsored by the James Wallace Art Trust.
2019 Joint Premier Winner Fire and Clay.
Frank Checketts: 15/02/1951 – 12/06/2020
