About the author

I’m totally turned on by the medium of clay and the broad practice of ceramics.  Over the years, I’ve been involved in education, curated exhibitions, written articles, run workshops, held solo shows, participated in conferences and forums and presented lectures.  Generally – my clay addiction has enabled me to travel the world.  I’ve seen a lot of fabulous pots and met many fascinating makers and collectors.  Throughout – I continue to run my own workshop here in Hobart, Tasmania, specialising in limited edition, slip-cast porcelain products, as well as exhibition pieces and one-off commissions. Check out Earners and Learners to see more of my work!

Nowadays however, my research interest is fully engaged in finding traditional clay cooking pots from around the world.  Working clay pots that are still made to use on an open fire with local produce.  I’m intrigued to know how they are made and used and the stories that are embedded in their brittle walls.

This journal is dedicated to this exploration.  To the sourcing of local foods and the ingenuous uses that clay is put to in cooking it – to playing with fire.

And my island home on Bruny is the repository for the pieces collected to date.

Here they will be put to work.

Penny Smith

Published articles related to ceramics:

1. Boxing Clever: The Lesley Alcorso Editions published in  Ceramics: Art & Perception.    Boxing Clever describes the specially  commissioned limited edition range of boxed ceramic vessels by the Alcorso Foundation.  The Alcorso Foundation depends on the generosity of artists who support their foundation by donating their work, in the furthering of the Foundation’s entrepreneurial support for the arts in Tasmania.  Check out the Artist’s Honour Page.

Slip cast porcelain beakers with rubber and wooden ‘saucers’.  Huon Pine and Blackwood box made by Linda Fredheim.  Photographs by Peter Whyte.   Produced in 2009.

2. Read the full article:  MUTANT HYBRIDS ARTICLE