ak. On Saturday, 23 September 2006 the 3rd National Ceramics Biennale, organised by the Potters’ Association of Namibia as part of the Bank Windhoek Arts Festival, was opened in the National Art Gallery. More than 130 items produced by 47 artists are on display until 6 October 2006.

Four of these artists are beginners, potting for less than nine months. Besides some nice accessories also very useful articles, such as milk jugs, various platters, vases or even a Xmas wreath can be seen.

During the opening ceremony the prizes for the best potter works in 11 categories were presented. Thereby John Nampala was the most successful artist, winning the Gillian Bickell Premier Award, constituting an amount of N$2500 and also receiving 3rd prize in the category wheelwork. Selection judge and guest exhibitor was Betsy Nield, a well known South African potter artist who is currently the administrator of the Skills Development programme of Ceramics Southern Africa where she teaches 5 students in a one year programme. Betsy Nield selected some artwork that she thought is important for the tourist industry to encourage Namibian potters to work for the tourist industry and by this increasing the standard of pottery available in tourist shops.

Three kinds of clay are commonly used for pottery, either pre-mixed or self-manufactured. With its typical terracotta colour earthenware clay is traditionally used by rural potters who burnish the nearly dry clay with a stone, bone or spoon and fire it in a pit by using natural resources, such as grass for achieving the typical smooth surface. Due to the low temperature used for earthenware clay, the items are very colourful but unfortunately often not waterproof. For functional table and ovenware, which should be waterproof, durable and strong, mainly stoneware clay is used. Items made of this kind of clay are usually fired twice with high temperatures leading to a limited colour range. Very challenging for the potter is to work with porcelain, which is usually pure white and dense when fired, but is not plastic by nature and has a critical moisture range from wet to dry. Since its foundation in 1987, the aim of the Potters’ Association of Namibia is to foster art and craft of pottery and ceramics. To reach this objective a regular newsletter is published, related magazines are distributed, workshops are hosted, exhibitions are held and assistance with technical information and skills development is provided.

The Ceramics Biennale was opened in the last phase of the Bank Windhoek Arts Festival 2006, which was once more very well organized and attracted many visitors by its great variety of events. Numerous exhibitions, theatricals or music events fulfilled all wishes of culture and arts interested Namibians but also various other visitors. 

A selection of the lucky winners (from left): Sarie Maritz, Katrin Hochreiter, Mechthild Merdes, Rosi Praetorius, Carola Lorck, John Nampala and Betsy Nield (the selection judge).