New Direction in Ceramics. Tam Irving

 

Tam Irving’s latest solo show opened at VisualSpace Gallery in Vancouver last Saturday. The only Art Show opening I attended last year was Tam’s show in the same venue so I was interested to see what he has been working on since then. It turns out that Tam has abandoned, probably permanently, wheel-throwing in favour of hand-built slab work for 2D images. There are very few of his familiar sculptural pieces in this show.

Rectangle Study

 

 

 

 

https://www.visualspace.ca/copy-of-coastal-shores

Check the gallery’s link to read Tam’s intentions with these formal, carefully executed patterns. He uses lots of colours, having switched from reduction firing to a lower temperature clay body. He still uses his own ground materials and custom grogs to add texture to his coloured images.

 

 

Renee, Pietro & Tam

 

 

 

 

 

My photos will give you an idea of the well-attended opening. Rosalind’s photos of the show before its opening give a much better impression of its quiet, carefully planned ambiance. For me, the chance to catch up with other clay enthusiasts meant that I didn’t find the best angles for Tam’s work. But I enjoyed studying the variety of shapes, colours and surfaces.

Swatch 1 & 2

 

 

Dimensional Rectangles

 

Village (Still Life)

Dimensional Rectangle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Praise of Albers

 

 

 

 

 

This is an impressive body of work, most of which was produced during this last, Covid-coloured year. Thank you Tam for the invitation to consider 2D work, all of which is constructed and finished with clay materials. The show can be seen at  3352 Dunbar street, Vancouver until September 18th.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gillian McMillan

Gillian writes blogs about ceramics in and around Vancouver and sometimes talks about other Art, her garden, travels and family.

This Post Has 3 Comments

  1. Tam irving

    Many thanks Gillian for your excellent blog. You have really become the main reporter for the ceramic arts. Keep up the great work. Tam.

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