Exhibition on ceramics by Highland craft artist
A Craft Spotlight exhibition featuring the work of Highland based ceramicist Daniel Kavanagh has opened in the Small Gallery at Inverness Museum and Art Gallery. This is the fourth series of craft exhibitions that the Highland Council Exhibitions Unit in partnership with HI-Arts has presented this summer.
Daniel Kavanagh, based in Glenferness near Nairn, creates fine art ceramics that are classical and contemporary in their style, defined by crisp elegant lines and flowing shapes. He also produces a collection of cast bronze work and exhibits in galleries, retails through craft outlets and through direct sales.
Daniel also works to commission and this allows him to open up his creativity and explore techniques and scale. The Highland landscape is an ever changing influence in his work and new work fuses both ceramic and bronze to provide an innovative exploration he is most passionate about.
As part of the series of the HI-Arts Making Progress Spotlight Exhibitions which have been running from May to September 2010 Daniel will be exhibiting his work in the small gallery at Inverness Museum and Art Gallery until Saturday 11 September 2010.
Daniel is one of four makers who were selected for Making Progress, a mentoring scheme for mid career makers in the Highlands organised by HI-Arts.
Daniel said: “The mentoring programme has provided a rewarding creative opportunity. The process has given time for reflection and contemplation of how I would like my work to develop. I have gained valuable experience on many different levels, for example creativity, skills in how I promote my work to others and where and how my work can and will fit within the wider craft and applied arts sphere.
“I made the decision that I wanted to begin making larger hand built sculptural pieces, something I have been aspiring to do for some time. This has been where I wanted to experiment with my making, combining my skills as a potter and as a sculptor using the mediums of clay and bronze. This has set me new challenges in my practice and also has allowed me to push the boundaries of my creative ideas as well as my skills and techniques.
“Although much of my work is inspired by the Far East, this body of work has drawn on influences closer to home. After trips to the Hebridean Islands of Lewis, Harris and the Islands of Orkney, I was exposed to the natural, raw and striking landscape and where ever I seemed to go I was confronted by the presence of standing stones either stood out alone on a hill or as a larger group. These stones and their histories inspired me not only for the fascinating historical context they hold but also in their powerful presence as they dominate the vast open landscape.”
The exhibition is free of charge and open Monday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm.