Ceramicist Elise Bishop exhibits at Edith Gallery in Whanganui

Visiting ceramicist Elise Bishop with some of the teaware from her Work in Progress exhibition showing at Edith Gallery in Whanganui. Photo / Stuart Munro

Work in Progress is a selection of mostly teaware by ceramic artist Elise Bishop currently showing at UCOL's Edith Gallery.

Bishop lives on Great Barrier Island these days but spent her early childhood in Whanganui and remembers attending after-school classes with renowned Whanganui potter Agnes Smith.

"I would have been 5 when I first went to those classes in the 1970s and I have always remembered them," she says.

Smith headed the group of potters who set up the Whanganui Potters Society in 1975 and Bishop says she is delighted to be exhibiting her own work in Whanganui 40 years later.

Photo / Meighan Ellis

Her selection of teapots and drinking vessels are fashioned from a wide range of clays including a raw ochre-coloured variety the artist dug herself on Great Barrier.

"There is another potter living on the island and we work together sometimes.

"I use a gas-powered kiln for most of my work but I've recently done some work with her using a wood-fired salt kiln."

One display in the exhibition features works that are a departure from the signature teaware.

"I dipped these sea sponges in liquid porcelain and the sponge burns off in the firing leaving the shape behind," says Bishop.

Despite her early love of working with clay, Bishop did not get serious about ceramics until 2007 when she completed a Diploma of Ceramics in Ballarat, Australia.

From the mid-1990s, she worked as a travelling sound engineer, bass player and teacher of sound technology in New Zealand and Australia before settling to live on Great Barrier eight years ago.

"During the past week, I've been making teaware using paper clay which can be joined when it's dry.

"It means that people can see how my pieces are assembled, hence the name of the exhibition."

Bishop is the second visiting artist taking part in the Glasgow St Arts Centre Artist in Residence programme and she will give a public talk at Rayner Brothers Gallery, 85 Glasgow St at 1pm on June 23.

"I will leave some of my work behind to be part of a group show at Rayner Brothers next month."

Elise Bishop - Work in Progress is open for viewing at Edith Gallery, 24 Taupo Quay from 10am to 12pm this Saturday.