John Dawson's
PORCELAIN
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Click here to see the potter at work

 JOHN DAWSON.
In the 1970's I came from New Zealand, where a strong and active movement of studio pottery dominated the crafts. Having dabbled in ceramics before leaving, with the intention of studying the harpsichord and organ at Trinity College of Music London, the desire to return to working with clay was still very strong. Now having graduated from Goldsmiths' College, my work in ceramics has very strong parallels with my work as a professional musician. While at Trinity College I was drawn to the music of the Baroque period. With baroque music, the form is usually very simple: a theme, containing just a few notes, is embellished or decorated to enhance the simplicity or to sustain the melodic line. Often the composer determined the structure in terms of chords, and it was up to the performer to extemporise his ideas, emotions and feelings with embellishments. I have used porcelain clay to express these feelings. A simple bowl form is made and is then altered to create an impression of movement.

1973

1975

1993

1994


1996



1997








1998







1999


2000

Joined the International Operator Service with British Telecom.

LTCL (performers) Licentiate of Trinity College of Music, London.

Postgraduate Diploma in Ceramics, Goldsmiths' College, University of London.

Selected to become a Member of the Society of Designer-Craftsmen.
Studio technician/ceramics tutor at Putney School of Art.
Selected for the Chelsea Craft Fair.
Commission from Royal Photographic Society, prize in Audio Visual section.

Selected for the Chelsea Craft Fair.
Exhibitions Officer for London Potters.
London Potters exhibition (prize for best thrown work)

City and Guilds 7307 stage 1. diploma in Adult teaching.
Selected to become a Professional Member of the Craftman Potters Association.
Selected for the Chelsea Craft Fair.
Pallant House Gallery Chicester.
The Old Bake House Gallery Chicester.
Yorkshire Sculpture Park Gallery.
Primavera, Cambridge.
Ceramics tutor at H. M. P. Holloway and H. M. P. Pentonville.

Selected for the Fletcher Challenge International Ceramics award in New Zealand.
The City Art Gallery, Leeds.
Porticus Gallery, Wales.
Workshop Gallery, Wales.
Washington Gallery, Wales.
Invited to work for one month at the Jeff Oestreich pottery in USA.
London Potters exhibition (prize for best thrown work)

Invited to work for one month at the Jeff Oestreich pottery in USA
Cambridge Contemporary Art, Cambridge.

Selected London Potters exhibition at The Old Bakehouse Gallery, Chichester.


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