CAST LIGHT
2017
11th July, 2:00pm
ISCAEE – International Society for Ceramic Art Education and Exchange symposium at the University of the Creative Arts, Farnham.
Theme: Interpreting History
Keynote speaker, demonstrating thrown fine porcelain for lighting.
3rd-6th April
Milan Furniture Fair
56th Edizione Salone del Mobile. Milano
Cloud disks displayed at the Grupo Mobilfresno stand
Grupo Mobilfresno stand (Photo Salone del Mopbile)
23rd March
The Great Pottery Throwdown Series 2 Program 8. BBC TV Chanel 2
Arrowhead Chandelier shown as an example at the end of the show
Arrowhead Chandelier (Photos James Crabbe)
6th - 7th March
Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
I gave tutorials with graduate students and a workshop
Tutorials and Workshop (Photo Eran)
2nd - 3rd March
Benyamini Contemporary Ceramics Center, Tel Aviv, Israel
Following my visit last year, I returned to give a demonstration. I showed how I make the ‘Horizontal Pods’ using the blow torch, and at the end talked to a group of interested participants about the electrics needed to light up their work.
2016
22nd November
Sleep Exhibition: The Hotel Design Event, The Business Design Centre London.
Cast Vertical pods Invited by Chiu Man of WOW architects, Singapore, and shown on Grupo Mobilefresno stand.
Nick O'Rorke and Margaret O'Rorke
Chiu Man and Margaret O'Rorke
18th May Private Commission in London UK.
Translucent porcelain curtain with 136 porcelain wings hung to form a screen in front of a sand blasted window.
Day light
Each translucent porcelain wing was thrown, cut, joined, and reformed.
Electric light
Revati helps to prepares the wings for firing.
1st March
Benyamini Contemporary Ceramics Center, Tel Aviv, Israel
Maya Muchawsky Parnas the Director at Benyamini Contemporary Ceramics Center has created a lively center of ceramic excellence. She introduced my first presentation when I talked about how I became a potter. I was very struck by the variety, craftsmanship and creative content of the work on show.
21st February
Ceramic and Glass Department Bezalel art and design academy, Jerusalem.
I gave a slide presentation to a group of ceramicists and talked to the students whose work was imaginative, well executed and interestingly varied.
15th February
Wolfson College, Oxford University.
Completed their commission to create an 8 metre lit porcelain wall installation.
Setting up at the college
Kim helps to plan the spaces at home
Professor Dame Hermione Lee, President of Wolfson College, added “The light sculpture is a miracle, a delight, a work of genius and I couldn’t be more excited, pleased and transfixed. It looks simply wonderful!”
2015
12th July
While visiting Caldas in Portugal in search of a porcelain factory to manufacture my porcelain lighting I was invited to give a presentation at:
Evento FICAS Caldas. Portugal.
This is a private art center inside a deserted granary where artists of all disciplines have studios and exchange ideas. Once month artists are invited to give short presentations about their work. While I was in Caldas they invited me to give a presentation.
10th October
The Farnham Pottery, West Street Potters, Surrey.
“Adventures with Porcelain” Demonstration and Talk.
https://weststreetpotters.co.uk
2014 6th September
International Design Center of Yanze Ceramics, Gaochun, Nanjing, China.
Invited artist in residence.
Flower Lamp fired lit forms.
While I was there Chiu Man Director of WOW Architects /Warner Wong Design commissioned lights for the Hotel they where building at St Regis Resort Hotel, in the Maldives.
I threw 3 different models and Jiangsu Gaochun Ceramics Co., Ltd. manufactured the bone china lights.
June to November
“Watts Up” Exhibition Manufacture Bernardaud Limoges France.
Chandelier Vortex 2 Collaboration with Sirrka Paikkari.
Watt's Up- Ceramics and Light - CFile Foundation
‘Food with Art’ G W Sundmans, Helsinki, Finland April-July. Work included
A collaboration with Matti Jamsen and Pekka Paikkari
2013
2012 The University of the Creative Arts, Farnham campus, Lecture and demonstration.
‘Food with Art’ G W Sunmans Restaurant, Helsinki, Finland. Oct- Nov
Sundmans Curl 2012
A collaboration with Matti Jamsen and Pekka Paikkari
2011 Slide talk and demonstration Decorum Potters Friday May 13th
2010 ‘Clay Light and Water” published by A & C Black. Book launch CAA February
Clay, Light and Water
by Margaret O'Rorke
Ceramics Handbook 2010
Published by A&C Black, London,
ISBN 978-0-7136-848-2
and UPP, Pennsylvania
ISBN 974-0-8122-2099-5
2009 Awarded Mc Knight Visiting Artist in Residence, Minniapolis USA. January – March.
Me @ -35 degrees Icicles at -35 degree Cast Ice Mountain NCC exhibition
2009
Between 2007 and 2009 I paid 3 visits to Sanbao Ceramic Art Institute at Jingdezhen, China at the invitation of the Director Jackson Lee to research creating cast translucent porcelain with light.
He gave me materials, resources, and assistance, introducing me to the Culture and the profound understanding the skilled craftsmen have of their materials and craft. I worked with my assistant to create porcelain lighting that could be manufacture.
In 2009
I returned to develop some cast thrown models for both domestic and large-scale interiors, to be shown in my solo exhibition at The Northern Clay Center Philadelphia and the following year in in Philadelphia.
Returning in 2008
I developed some creative ideas with cast porcelain incorporating light.
My first visit in 2007
In order to make molds as quickly as possible and begin working with porcelain slip to discover its translucency, bamboo was cut for me from the forest.
Following my first visit to Jingdezhen in China in 2007 I plan to return this year to develop some ambitious cast lit porcelain forms and lighting installations for both domestic and large-scale interiors.
TECHNICAL NOTES: PROCESSES AND TECHNIQUES USED
The majority of my studio work is thrown. A blowtorch is used to firm the clay sufficiently to cut and reform it. Frequently, pieces are joined when leather hard. Some hand-built work has included rolled reeds.
