Author: petra@wilberworld.net

Clay&Bits sculptures

Uncategorized

For as long as I can remember, I have collected all sorts of interesting bits from around the world-feathers, shells, stones, rusty metal, old tools and much more. Ten years ago, I fell in love with clay. For many of my sculptures, a starting point is an object from my vast collection. I love to find a way to incorporate these found ‘bits’ with clay. I aim to use an existing piece and give it a new identity, using as little extra material as possible. Inspiration also comes from the ancient Japanese Kintsugi golden mending technique and the philosophy of Wabi-Sabi, creating beauty out of imperfection. There is no theme in my Clay&Bits sculptures. Each object dictates what its new life is going to be. Sometimes it is humorous, like the titles show, sometimes not, but I always enjoy bringing together an object with my imagination to create an entirely new piece. An ‘s’ at the end of the title indicates that the sculpture has been sold.

FGreecycle Pot (bicycle cassette, Raku) s
sculpture of woman head on flattened tin
Sutton Tin Woman (tin and ceramic ) s
Twitter (ceramic, stones)s
Between Earth and Sky (ceramic, shell centre)
African woman sculpture with Guinnea fowl feathers
A Distant Dream (Raku, guineafowl feathers)s
Exhausted Man (piston and exhaust pipe)
Raku jar with stone handle
Stone Jar (ceramic Raku, stone)s
titanium-bird (titanium-off-cuts)s
Two Dancers (ceramic, shells)s
Blue Bird (ceramic Raku, stone) s
Bolster Woman ( ceramic , bolster)s
Jars ( ceramic, Raku, shells, cassette, seed)s
Kintsugi (Raku, goldleaf)s
Together we Stand, (ceramic wooden base)
Toucan (sickle, gardenfork)
It’s my World ( sanding disk, malacite, metal pieces)
Birds (ceramic Raku, wire)
Plane Jane (plane, ceramic)s
Sun Goddess (ceramic, metal ring, copper)s
Shuttle Ride (weaving shuttle, ceramic)s
Ironing out Problems (pocellan, old iron)s
Cycle Pot ( ceramic Raku, bicycle cassette)s
Yes I can ( sugar tong, shim, knob, part of tin)s
Spot the Dog ( metal from shipyard, metal tape)
Farmer and Farmers Wife ( hoes, wood)
Love Birds (door hinges, driftwood)s
Couple (driftwood from the Gambia)
No Ironing Today ( old iron, ceramic Raku)
Marble Pot ( ceramic, marble)s
Paddy (ceramic, brake pad)s
Rustic Landscape ( corrugated iron, coral from Gambian beach)
Watching the Sea ( ceramic Raku, Cornwall stone)
Mama Coffee ( ceramic, wood off cut)
Coral Bird ( Raku, coral from Ecuador beach)s
Mudguardian ( ceramic, mudguard)s
Hammerhead Bird (ceramic, hammer)s
Migrant Boat (antiquuie weaving shuttle, Raku)
Andromeda and the Seamonster (titanium off cuts, root, stones)
Ocean Wafe ( bone, coral, plaster)
Charles and Camilla ( rusty metal)_
Fishbird ( fishbone, ceramic Raku)
Jack (bootjack, edge cutter)
Township Girl (metal, clay)s
O sole mio (ceramic, garden fork)s
Elbe ( metal, cerami, copper)s
At Treyanan bay ( stone, ceramic Raku)s
Can Can Girls (ceramic, drink cans)
Iron Woman (peat knife, door knob)
Spring (ceramic raku, turned wood) s
Taking Off (ceramic, copper off cuts)
Stepping Stones( bronze resin, stones)
Form and Emptyness (found metal, wire)
Coral Island (ceramic, coral)
Father and Son (Titanium off-cuts, marble)
African Napoleon (part of oildrum lid, ceramic)s
Balancing (bronze resin, bouls balls)s
Hello Bird (ceramic, door handle)s
A Rising Star ( greaze can, washers etc)s
Scare Scraper (scraper, copper wire)
Watch your Step (shoe spanner, dolls eyes)s
Sunbathing (ceramic, stone)
Sandersfoot Bird (rustymetal in stone, hook)s
Batancing the scales ( metal, wooded fishes)
Ceramic pot with bicycle cassette lid
Cycle Hut ()bicycle cassette, Raku)s
Welcome (ceramic , feathers)
Aiming High ( ceramic, metas
Turtle Breastbone ( turtle breastbone, Raku base)
No Ironing Today. 2 ( Iron ceramic, Raku) s
Evolution sculpture with flintstones
Evolution (flint stones, ceramic)s
Day Dreaming ( ceramic, stone)s
Number One ( metal, ceramic)s

Exhibitions & Awards

Petra

Over the years I held 17 solo exhibitions in Germany, Iran, India, South Africa, Botswana, England and Scotland. I regularly participate in group exhibitions (about four to five times a year) and have won a number of prizes and awards. My work has sold worldwide. I am a member of the Sutton Coldfield Society of Artists, the Midland’s Potters Association, vice-president of the Birmingham Art Circle and a member of the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists.

Stevenage exhibition opening
Solo Exhibitions                                                                                                               

2021-RBSA, ‘Clay&Bits’, Birmingham, UK

2012- Art Barn, Henley in Arden, UK
2012- Highbury Theatre, Birmingham, UK
2008- Highbury Theatre- Birmingham, UK
2008 – Springfield House, Stevenage UK
2007- Botswana Craft, Gaborone, Botswana
2005- Royal Birmingham Art Society, Birmingham, UK
2004- Ottersburn Gallery, Dumfries, Scotland
1984- National Museum, Gaborone, Botswana
1983- National Museum, Gaborone, Botswana
1980- National Museum, Gaborone, Botswana
1974-The Association of Arts Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa
1972- Walsh Marais Gallery, Durban, South Africa
1971- Max Müller Bhavan Institute (Goethe Institute), Madras, India
1970- (Forgot the name of the Gallery) Tehran, Iran
1965- Witthüs Teestuben, Hamburg, Germany

Prizes and Awards

2021- Royal Birmingham Society of Artists- Candidates exhibition- elected as full member 2021- Sutton Coldfield Society of Artists- Autumn exhibition- Best 3D artwork
2021- Sutton Coldfield Society of Artists- Spring Exhibition- Best 3D artwork
2020 -Sutton Coldfield Society of Artists- Best 3D artwork
2020-Sutton Coldfield Society of Artist- Autumn exhibition -3D Highly ‘commended’
2020 -Sutton Coldfield Society of Artist Spring exhibition- 3D ‘Highly commended’
2019- Sutton Coldfield Society of Artists- Best 3D artwork
2018- Sutton Coldfield Society of Artists- Best 3D artwork
2017- Royal Birmingham Society of Artists- ‘Highly recommended’ for a painting
2015- Sutton Coldfield Society of Artists- Best Portrait award
2014- Sutton Coldfield Society of Artists- Best Pastel award
2014-Sutton Coldfield Society of Artists- Best Craftwork prize
2014-Sutton Coldfield Society of Artists- Sculpture- highly commended
2013-Sutton Coldfield Society of Artists- Ceramics-highly commended
2013-Sutton Coldfield Society of Artists – Best Craftwork award
2013-Sutton Coldfield Society of Artists – Best sculpture award
2012-Sutton Coldfield Society of Artists –Best Painting award
2012-Sutton Coldfield Society of Artists – Best Painting award
2011-Sutton Coldfield Society of Artists – Best Painting award
2010-Sutton Coldfield Society of Artists – Best Painting award
2010-Sutton Coldfield Society of Artists –Best Painting award
2008-Sutton Coldfield Society of Artists – Best Painting award
2007-Sutton Coldfield Society of Artists –Best Painting award
2006-Sutton Coldfield Society of Artists – Painting, highly commended
2002- Royal Birmingham Society of Artists- Painting, Spectrum Art Material Prize