Qualifications
2020- current | PhD Candidate, School of Art, RMIT University |
2019 | Master of Research Candidate, (Commonwealth Supported Place), RMIT University |
2004– 2010 | Bachelor of Fine Art (Ceramics) Honours, RMIT University |
1997 | Postgraduate Diploma of Fine Art (Art Curatorship and Museum Management), University of Melbourne |
1983-1987 | Bachelor of Education (Arts and Crafts), Melbourne College of Advanced Education (MCAE) |
Awards & Grants
2023 | Inaugural Women in Academia Symposium Art Prize Winner, RMIT University |
2020 | RMIT School of Art Community of Practice Awarded for contribution to Ngulu Group and the Bundyi Girri Reading Group |
2019 | Higher Degree by Research Travel Grant (HDRTG), RMIT University |
2011 | Australia Council ArtStart Grant |
Scholarship Recipient, RMIT Honours Endowment Travelling Scholarship | |
RMIT University Ceramics Honours Award for Excellence | |
2010 | RMIT Ceramics Honours Student Award |
2009 | Ge & Ge Sponsors Award, Ceramics Victoria 40th Anniversary Exhibition |
2007 | Mary and Lou Senini Student Art Award, McClelland Art Gallery |
2007 | Clayworks Ceramics Award for Excellence, RMIT |
George Alexander Foundation Grant, RMIT | |
2006 | Siemens RMIT Fine Arts Scholarships |
Exhibitions
2022 | Window Sessions (reflective), with Group Sessions, City of Melbourne. |
2022 | The Weight of Waiting, Rubicon ARI |
2022 | Wearing out the days, REY Space, RMIT University |
2021 | To Dwell & Respond, Kyneton Stockroom |
Finding Form on Landscape Road, CLAD-Centre of Learning & Design, Bendigo Pottery | |
2019 | Conversation with a Landscape, Vitrine Gallery, Craft Victoria |
2012 | Ain't No Mountain High Enough-Milestones for Two Centuries of Women Climbers, Mailbox 141 Flinders Lane, Melbourne |
Selected Group Exhibitions
2023 | Rendered, Boom Gallery, Geelong. Curated by Alichia van Rijn |
Vessel, Cloth & Cloak, Australian Tapestry Workshop | |
My Body in My Hands, Curated by Nick Grellier & Sam Lucas, SVA Gallery, Gloucestershire | |
2022 | Nurses & Midwives Exchange Project, Big Anxiety, (with Andrea Wu), RMIT Design Hub The Vase & Flower Show 2, curated by Sassy Park, 7 Clovelly Road Gallery, Sydney |
2021 | Design for Wellness Deity Project by Vipoo Srvilasa, Linden Art Gallery |
2020 | Tarkine in Motion 2020: Frontlines, Bob Brown Foundation Exhibition,Long Gallery, Hobart |
Wyndham Art Prize, Shorlisted, Wyndham Art Gallery | |
The Vase & Flower Show, curated by Sassy Park, 7 Clovelly Road Gallery, Sydney | |
The New (ab)Normal, curated by Tammy Wong & Helen Rayment, RMIT Gallery | |
The Vase & Flower Show, curated by Sassy Park, 7 Clovelly Road Gallery, Sydney | |
2019 | Presenters Exhibition, Princes Wharf One, Hobart |
2018 | Material Memories, Queen Victoria Museum & Art Gallery, Launceston |
Finalist, Kyltie Pate Award, Mansfield | |
2017 | Finalist, Craft Award, Craft, Melbourne |
Finalist, Klytie Pate Award | |
2016 | Wonky, Curated by Sophia Cai & Caitlin Shearer, Tinning Street Presents, Brunswick. |
2015 | Storm in a Teacup, Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery, curated by Wendy Garden |
Victorian Craft Award, Craft Victoria | |
Manningham Victorian Ceramic Art Award, MC3 Art Gallery, judges by Robert Reason, Curator of European & Australian Decorative Arts, Art Gallery f South Australia | |
2014 | the course of objects: the fine line of inquiry at the Manly Art Gallery and Museum, an Australian Ceramics Association Biennial Exhibition |
2012 | 28th Gold Coast International Ceramic Art Award, Gold Coast City Gallery |
Tooth and Nail: Cross Cultural Influences in Contemporary Ceramics, a RMIT, NETS (Victoria) and Chinese Museum (Melbourne) International and National Touring Exhibition | |
2011 | Narrative Knot, Manly Art Gallery and Museum |
RMIT Student Representative, Affordable Art Fair, Exhibition Buildings | |
2010 | Ceramics RMIT Student Exhibition, Carbon Black |
Resonate, First Site Gallery | |
2009 | Bottled, Pan Gallery |
Siemens RMIT Fine Art Scholarship Exhibition, RMIT Gallery | |
Unearth, RMIT Graduate Exhibition, Skepsi on Swanston | |
Stirring, Skepsi on Swanston | |
Perspective, selected members exhibition, Craft Victoria | |
Ceramics Victoria 40th Anniversary Exhibition, Manningham Art Gallery | |
Pat Emery Award & Exhibition, Yarra Sculpture Gallery | |
2007 | Mary and Lou Senini Student Art Award for Ceramics, McClelland Gallery |
Pat Emery Award & Members Exhibition, Paynter Gallery, Bendigo Pottery | |
Ceramics Faculty Exhibition, RMIT School of Art Gallery | |
2006 | Siemens RMIT Fine Arts Exhibition, RMIT Gallery |
Residency
2020 | Wood firing & Studio of Sandra Bowkett, Tallarook, Victoria |
2017 | Northcote Pottery Residency |
2013 | Travel to Berlin, Dresden, Munich, RMIT Honours Endowment Travelling Scholarship |
2008 | Jingdezhen Pottery Workshop and Experimental Sculpture Factory, China |
Professional Development
2023 | Studio Session with Kim Norton, a_bprojects, London/Los Angelos |
2022 | Ampere Mparntwe Ceramics Triennial Conference, Alice Springs |
Studio Session with Amanda Leigh Evans, a_bprojects, Los Angelos | |
Studio Session with Sarah Christie, a_bprojects, London/Los Angelos | |
2020 | Rag weaving with Ilka White |
2019 | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Awareness Training, Koorie Heritage Trust |
Show like a Bauhausler! Workshop - Justene Williams & Mikala Dwyer, CAST, RMIT University | |
Mirrnong Minnie Bush Animals Inspired by the Tjanpi Desert Weavers with Aunty Bronwyn Razem Razem, RMIT University | |
Weave Down South Workshop with Maparu Weavers, CERES Environment Park | |
2017 | Holding Place Making Space, The Australian Ceramics Triennale, Hobart |
2013 | Clay Push, Ceramics Conference Gulgong, NSW |
3D Collage with conservator Penny Byrne, Slow Clay Centre | |
2012 | Subversive Clay, 2012 Australian Ceramics Triennale, Adelaide |
2011 | Anton Reijnders, Masterclass, RMIT University |
2009 | Australian Ceramics Triennale, Sydney |
2006 | Verge 11th National Ceramics Conference, Brisbane |
Media
Writing about me
2016 | Cai, S 2016, ‘Embrace a Little Wonkiness’, Wonky Exhibition Catalogue |
2013 | O'Dwyer, R 2013, Delivering the Long Look, Journal of Australian Ceramics, Issue 522, (July 2013), pp.71-74. |
2012 | Ballard, B., The Narrative Knot, Ceramics Art and Perception, Issue 88, p. 28-33 |
2011 | Wedd, G 2011, ‘The Narrative Knot Stories in Ceramics’, Journal of Australian Ceramics, Volume 50 Issue 3, (Nov 2011) pp. 49-64 |
Professional Activity
2023 | Board Member The Australian Ceramics Assocation |
Australian Design Centre Podcast - Object: stories of design and craft. Featured in Clay Connections. | |
2022 | Tools for Practice Lecture: Writing about your work, The Australian Ceramics Association |
2008-ongoing | Critical writing & publishing on contemporary ceramics & craft |
2019 | Master of Ceremonies, Holding Space Making Place Conference, Australian Ceramics Triennale, Hobart |
2018 - 2019 | Lecturer in Ceramics RMIT |
2017 | Workshop: Sculptural Ceramics and Individual Touch with Robyn Phelan, Northcote Pottery |
Lecturer in Objective-Based Design Ceramics, RMIT | |
2016 | Workshop: Sculptural Ceramics and Individual Touch with Robyn Phelan, Northcote Pottery |
2014 - ongoing | Victoria Wide Writer for the Journal of Australian Ceramics |
Blog on contemporary ceramics lookingwithsofteyes.blogspot.com | |
2012 - ongoing | Studio at Elm Place Studios, North Melbourne |
2011 | Guest Editor, Journal of Australian Ceramics, Issue 550/1 |
2009 | Lecture 15 Days In Jingdezhen, Australian Ceramic Triennale, Sydney |
2004 | Curator, Fold - generative actions in craft making, Craft Victoria |
2003 | Project Manager, Craft Victoria |
Curator inaugural Scarf Festival, Craft Victoria | |
2002 | Curator of Fold, group exhibition at Craft Victoria |
2000 - 2001 | Program Manager, Craft Victoria |
1999 | Touring Services Project Manager, Museums Australia (Victoria) |
1997 - 2000 | West Space Committee Committee Member (Footscray to CBD) |
1996– 1998 | Assistant Registrar, National Gallery of Victoria |
1988– 1994 | Art and craft teacher, Kurunjang Secondary College, Victoria |
Industry Membership
Bluestone Collection, inaugural member & Honorary Treasurer 2010 - 2020 | |
Craft Victoria | |
Australian Ceramics Association | |
Victorian Institute of Teaching |