The Rust-en-Vrede Gallery + Clay Museum is launching the first ever SA Clay Awards, which will showcase ceramic works from November 2 to December 7, 2024. This event comes after the gallery was accepted as an affiliate member of the International Academy of Ceramics (IAC), an organization recognized by UNESCO for its excellence in ceramics.
The SA Clay Awards aim to honour the skill and creativity of South African ceramic artists. This award will take place every two years, alternating with the Portrait Award. Unlike many competitions that name just one winner, this awards program will recognize the top 50 pieces of ceramic art. The prize money will be shared equally among the artists of these selected works, reflecting the diverse ways clay can be used and interpreted.
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Hennie Meyer, the curator of the exhibition, expressed excitement over the variety of submissions received. He believes that such a broad collection illustrates the amazing potential of clay as an artistic medium. “We wanted to create an exhibition that highlights ceramic excellence and truly reflects the current artistic scene in South Africa,” Meyer stated.
The judging process for the SA Clay Awards involved a panel of 10 judges who are respected experts in ceramics. This group included both international and local figures, such as renowned artists and esteemed academics. Some of the judges were Magdalene Odundo from the UK/Kenya, Andile Dyalvane from South Africa, and Janet de Boos from Australia, among others.
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Each judge picked their favorite pieces, and the most popular 50 from the overall votes created the final list of selections. To ensure fairness, the judging was done anonymously, allowing judges to evaluate the works without any influence from one another.
The award-winning pieces will be on public display starting Saturday, November 2, at 11 am at the Rust-en-Vrede Gallery + Clay Museum until December 7, 2024.
