CAST LIGHT
RECENT AND FORTHCOMING EXHIBITIONS & PRESENTATIONS
2021
Top: The Dairy, Stonor Park; bottom, left to right: Curled Light Sculptures and Conus and Trochus; Moon lights: Margaret's new bone china pendant lights and free standing Moon lights
MAY 7th - 11th: A selection of Margaret's porcelain and bone china lights were exhibited in conjunction with The Pedestal auction house, at The Dairy, Stonor Park, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire RG9 6HF.
2020
Wednesday 29th January, 2-3pm
MARGARET O’RORKE, Visiting Fellow Staffordshire University: Ceramics Porcelain, Bone china and light.
ARTISTS PRESENTATION, Wednesday 29th January, 2-3pm, Cadman G026, College Road Campus, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 2DE
Margaret discussed the development of her work and her current exhibition of porcelain light sculptures at the KWUM Ceramic Museum, Fiskars, Finland. She also traced how her studio work has led to her latest lighting products in bone china, manufactured in collaboration with Duchess China, Stoke-on-Trent, and the creative opportunities the industry has to offer.
2019
17th November 2019 - September 2020: KWUM Studio Ceramics Museum and Gallery, Baklurantie/Bakluravagen 12, 10470 Fiskars, Finland. Telephone 0505112232 , open: Wednesday - Sunday, 12noon to 5pm | Browse the exhibition catalogue on issuu.com
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2019
16 - 20th January 2019: London Art Fair, Business Design Centre, 52 Upper Street, London N1 0QH.
STAND NO G24 with MODERN GROUND
2018
Saturday 31st March, 11.30 - 12.30, Margaret gave a demonstration: ‘China in Your Hands’
Place Farm, Court Street , Tisbury SP3 6LW
February - May:
VORTEX 2 CHANDELIER: Woven steel, light fibres and porcelain installed for sale at Messums Wiltshire Shop. Collaboration with Finnish art weaver Sirkka Paikkari.
2017
November
Margaret took part in the SASAMA Ceramic Festival 2017: visit the site
On display in this charming Japanese room with Tatami mating and photographs on the wall of her work were these samples of her lit cast translucent porcelain small table lamps, a pendant light and three small carved candle lights.
July 11th: ISCAEE – International Society for Ceramic Art Education and Exchange
Theme: Interpreting History - Margaret was a keynote speaker and demonstrated thrown fine porcelain for lighting
Visit the ISCAEE website here
MILAN FURNITURE FAIR, 56th Edizione Salone del Mobili, Milano; Margaret's works were displayed with Grupo Mobilfresno, from 3 - 6 April
BENYAMINI CONTEMPORARY CERAMICS CENTER, TEL AVIV, ISRAEL, 2-3 MARCH; following Margaret's visit to the Center in 2016 she returned to give a demonstration - the making of Horizontal Pods, using a blow torch. At the conclusion of the session, Margaret talked with a group of participants about the electrics required to illuminate their works. Photos: Eran | Visit the website
OFFICINESAFFI GALLERY, MILAN. OPEN TO ART: selected artist category: design, February 2017, work included.
THE OXFORD CERAMIC GALLERY, Black & White, January 28th - 4th March 2017, work included.
2016
THE SLEEP SET, HOTEL DESIGN EVENT, BUSINESS DESIGN CENTRE, LONDON, 21-22 November. Invited by Chiu Man, WOW Architects, Singapore, and exhibited cast Vertical Pods on the Grupo Mobilefresno stand.
NEW ASHGATE GALLERY, FARNHAM, 50 Years Celebration - Mixed Exhibition, 10 JUNE - 23 JULY
BLUECOAT CONTEMPORARY ARTS CENTRE, LIVERPOOL; Lighting, January - March, work included.
2015
THE OXFORD GALLERY, work included.
EVENTO FICAS, CALDAS, PORTUGAL , 12 JULY; whilst visiting Caldas, looking to source a porcelain factory to manufacture porcelain lights, Margaret was invited to give a presentation. Evento Ficas is a private arts centre located within a deserted granary. Artists across all disciplines work from studios and exchange ideas. Once a month artists are invited to give a short presentation on their work and whilst in Caldas Margaret gave her own presentation.
2014
INTERNATIONAL DESIGN CENTER OF YANZE CERAMICS, GAOCHUN, NANJING, CHINA; 6 SEPTEMBER, invited to be artist in residence.
WATT'S UP, exhibition at BERNARDAUD FOUNDATION, LIMOGES, FRANCE, JUNE - NOVEMBER
2013
Contemporary Ceramics Centre, London; translucent porcelain exhibited with ceramicist Beverly Bell-Hughes.
‘Food with Art’ G W Sundmans, Helsinki, Finland, April-July. Work included a collaboration with Matti Jamsen and Pekka Paikkari
2012
The University of the Creative Arts, Farnham Campus - lecture and demonstration
The Oxford Ceramic Gallery, Porcelain exhibition.
Anita Besson Artists, Officine Saffi, Milan, Italy.
Food with Art, G W Sunmans Restaurant, Helsinki, Finland
October - November; showing right: Sunmans Curl, 2012 - a
collaboration with Matti Jamsen and Pekka Paikkari
2011
Studie Galleri Nyboder Lys og Porcelæn, Copenhagen, Denmark
Tea for Two, Officine Saffi, Milan, Italy.
“Porcelain”, The Oxford Ceramic Gallery
Decorum Potters, slide talk and presentation, 13 May
Changing Paces. Mixed Media, Joanna Bird London
Translucencies. Officinesaffi, Milan. Italy.
See review: Ceramic Review UK, January 2012, Issue 253. Page 18.
Studie galleri Nyboder Lys og Porcelæn Copenhagan DK
CAA Percy Street, A Unique Proposal.
2010
CLAY, LIGHT AND WATER, published by A & C Black; February, book launch at Contemporary Applied Arts, London
CAA Circus Satellite Porcelain exhibition.
“TRANSLUCENCIES” Gallery Officinesaff Milan Italy. Vertical Pods.
Made to Cherish, at Contemporary Applied Arts London.
Woven Light and Porcelain: a Collaboration with Sirkka Paikkari
Solo Exhibition, NCECA, Translucent Porcelain and Light, Philadelphia, USA
2009
McKnight Visiting Artist in Residence, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, January - March
Northern Clay Center, Solo Exhibition, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Left to right: Margaret at -35C | Cast Ice Mountain at Northern Clay Center | Icicles
Between 2007-2009 Margaret made three visits to Sanbao Cermaic Art Institute, Jingdezhen, China, at the invitation of the Director, Jackson Lee, to research creating cast translucent porcelain with light.
Jackson gave her materials, resources and assistance and he introduced her to the culture and the profound understanding the skilled craftsmen have of their materials and craft.
Margaret worked with her assistant to create porcelain lighting that woujld be manufactured.
In 2009 Margaret returned to develop cast thrown models for both domestic and large-scale interiors which were shown in her solo exhibition at the Northern Clay Center, Philadelphia, and the following year in Philadelphia.
2008
Margaret returned to Sanbao and developed creative ideas with cast porcelain incorporating light.
Jingdezhen International Ceramic exhibition and workshop, Sanbao, China.
Galerie Besson: Twenty Years, Twenty Pots
Light Sculptures, International Exhibition, Makasini, Fiskars, Finland.
KOTONA III, Fiskars, Finland, Garment Sculptures
2007
Contemporary Applied Arts, London, Porcelain Garment Sculptures, collaboration with Marlene McKibbin
The Wison Art Museum and Jingzhe Modern Art Museum, Shanghai, World Contemporary and Public Ceramic Art
Jingdezhen Sanbao Ceramic Art Institute, China
Margaret's first vist to Sanbao Ceramic Art Institute, Jingdezhen, China. In order to make molds as quickly as posible, and start working with porcelain slip to discover its translucency, bamboo was cut for her from the forest.
At Sanbao international Ceramic Center, Jingdezhen, China, in 2007
Flow Gallery. London. “Commissioning Exhibition”.
Oxford Museum, Woodstock, Potters of Portland
Collect, Victoria & Albert Museum, London, Flow Gallery
Galerie Besson: Classic and Contemporary Ceramics, International Master's exhibition and workshop.
RECENT ARTIST RESIDENCES AND EVENTS 2007 – 2017
2017
Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, Jerusalem, Israel, March 6th - 7th, workshop.
Benyamini Contemporary Ceramics Center, Tel Aviv, Israel, March 2nd - 3rd, workshop.
2016
Ceramic and Glass Department, Bezalel Art and Design Academy, Jerusalem, Israel, February 22nd, presentation & workshop
Benyamini Contemporary Ceramics Center, Tel Aviv, Isreal, February, presentation.
2015
Evento FICAS, Caldas, Portugal, a short presentation.
Adventures with Porcelain, The Farnham Pottery, Surrey.
2014
Presentation: Offre de la fondation, Bernardaud.
Conference on Contemporary Ceramics, presentation at University of Derby.
2013
Sundmans Restaurant, Helsinki, Finland, Art and Food.
2012
Sundmans Restaurant. Helsinki, Finland, Art and Food.
University of the Creative Arts. Farnham. Porcelain and Translucency.
Lecture, demonstration and MA Student Tutorials.
2011
Decorum & Potters Guild, Slide Demonstration. Kings Langley,
2009
Awarded Research & Development Grant, Arts Council, South East
Awarded 2009 McKnight Artist Residencies for Ceramic Artists at the Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
Exhibition and Workshop Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis. Minnesota, USA.
Resident Artist Sanbao Ceramic Art Institute, Jingdezhen, China.
2008
Invited Artist Jingdezhen International Ceramic exhibition workshop, Sanbao, China.
2007
Fuping Pottery Art Village, Fuping, Shaanzi, China, conference, theme: Appreciation of Ceramic Art, presentation “Translucent
Porcelain with light - Studio Potter and Industrial Designer” - Margare O'Rorke.
Jingdezhen Sanbao Ceramic Art Institute, China, International Master's Workshop.
International Ceramic Research Centre, Denmark. Collaborative Relationships Seminar: Royal Copenhagen Porcelain.
MAGAZINE ARTICLES
2016: Tribute to Anita Besson Ceramic Review issue 277, CPA News p. 3
2014: La Ceramica_bassa. Issue 22. O’RORKE La Luc della Terra.
2014: Ceramics Art and Perception Issue 97, pages 3-7
2010: Ceramic Technical, Margaret O’Rorke by Elaine Olafson Henry, no 30.
2009: June/July American Crafts
2006: The Independent Magazine, Light Fantastic, by Liz Hoggard
2006: Image Interiors, Ireland, David Miles, May/June
2005: September/October, House and Garden
Modern Living Japan, no. 158, Jan. 2005
1999: August, World of Interiors
1999: Ceramic Review UK, Jan/Feb Ceramic
1997: October Art and Perception Australia
1989: Ceramics Monthly USA
1987: Crafts Magazine, Light Years UK
REVIEWS
Gallery Officinesaff , Milan, Italy, see Ceramic Review UK, 2012, issue 253. page 18.
Clay Light and Water, reviewed by Sebastian Blackie, Ceramic Review, issue 243 May/June, 2010, page 30.
Clay Light and Water, reviewed by Janet Mansfield, Ceramic Art & Perception, issue #82, December 2010
Ceramic Review, 194, March/April 2002
Revue Céramique & Verre, no 123, mars/avril 2002
PUBLICATIONS AND BOOKS
"Light Your Home: By Elizabeth Wilhide (1 Oct 2005)
A Comprehensive Guide to Practical and Decorative Lighting (Conran Octopus Interiors)
Clay Light and Water, Margaret O’Rorke, A&C Black 2010
Porcelain and Light. Booklet of Margaret’s works. Designed and printed in China. 2010, available to purchase: £5, please contact: Margaret.ororke@btinternet.com
Porcelain, Caroline Whyman, Batsford.
Ceramic Technology for Potters and Sculptors, Yvonne Cuff. A & C Black 1996.
Porcelain: Jack Doherty Ceramic Handbook, A & C Black 2002.
Porcelain and Bone China: Sasha Wardell. Crowood 2004.
Naked Clay: Jane Perryman, A & C Black 2004.
Ceramics with Mixed Media: Joy Boswell, A & C Black.
Breaking the Mould: Black Dog Publications 2007.
INCLUDED IN PUBLICATIONS
Ceramic Tools and Techniques, Louisa Taylor, 2011
Breaking The Mould, Black dog Publishing, 2007
Ceramics with Mixed Media, Joy Boswell, A&C Black
Naked Clay, Jane Perryman, A&C Black 2004
Porcelain & Bone China, Sasha Wardell, Crowood 2004
Porcelain, Jack Doherty Ceramic Handbook, A&C Black 2002
Technology for Potters and Sculptors, Yvonne Cuff, A&C Black 1996
Porcelain, Caroline Whyman. Batsford/Ceramic
APPOINTMENTS AND MEMBERSHIPS
2012: Invited Fellow, Crafts Potters Association
2010: Invited Professional Member, Crafts Potters Association
2009: Selected Artist for VISUAL, South East Arts and Business
2008 Member of Contemporary Applied Arts
2008- Honorary Member of Common Room, Wolfson College, Oxford University
2003-2008 Member of Common Room, Wolfson College, Oxford University
2001 - Appointed a Trustee, The Helen Hamlyn Trust.
1999-2002 Visiting Creative Arts Fellow, Wolfson College, Oxford University
1988-2002 Craft Adviser to Southern Arts
PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
The Oxfordshire Museum Woodstock.
Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford.
The Bowes Museum, County Durham
Grimmerhus Museum, Middelfart, Denmark
Royal Copenhagen Porcelain, Show Room, Copenhagen, Denmark
The Blair Museum of Lithophanes, Toledo, Ohio USA.
Photo: Salone del Mobili
THE GREAT POTTERY THROWDOWN, BBC2, series 2, programme 8; the contestants' challenge was to make porcelain lights, and Margaret's Arrowhead chandelier was shown as an example of the genre at the end of the programme.
BEZALEL ACADEMY OF ARTS AND DESIGN, HEBREW UNIVERSITY OF JERUSALEM, ISRAEL, 6-7 MARCH; Margaret gave tutorials and workshops to graduate students | Visit the website
Left: Nick O'Rorke and Margaret O'Rorke | Right: Chiu Man and Margaret O'Rorke
BENYAMINI CONTEMPORARY CERAMICS CENTER, TEL AVIV, ISRAEL, 1 MARCH; Maya Muchawksy Parnas, Director, Benyamini Contemporary Ceramics Center (founded in 2011) has created a lively centre of ceramic excellence. Maya introduced my first presentation where I talked about how I became a potter. I was very struck by the variety, craftsmanship and creative content of the work on show.
CERAMIC AND GLASS DEPARTMENT, BEZALEL ART AND DESIGN ACADEMY, JERUSALEM, ISRAEL, 21 FEBRUARY; a slide presentation to a group of ceramicists and a talk with the students, whose work was imaginative, well executed and interestingly varied.
THE FARNHAM POTTERY, WEST STREET POTTERS and 318 CERAMICS, SURREY, Adventures with Porcelain, 10 OCTOBER; demonstration and talk | Visit the website
Flower lamp - fired lit forms
While Margaret was at Yanze Ceramics, Chiu Man, Director of WOW Architects / Warner Wong Design, commissioned lights for their new hotel, the St Regis Resort Hotel, in the Maldives. Three different models were thrown and Jiangsu Gaochun Ceramics Co. Ltd manufactured the bone china lights. The installed lights at the St Regis Resort Hotel are shown here.
