17 October – 2 November 2024
about the exhibition
Canberra artist Cathy Franzi continues to demonstrate her knowledge and admiration for unique Australian flora. In this exhibition, Cathy looks at plant-life situated in the Tinderry Range, an easterly sub-alpine area in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales. In a time of great environmental change, Cathy’s focus turns to the distinctive ecosystems that are found in this area’s striking landscape. Cathy says, “Each work is based on a plant I’ve seen during a field trip, such as the Dampiera fusca in post-bushfire abundance between the highest tors, or the tall Trachymene, flowering with profuse white umbels on a moist south facing slope. Sometimes a familiar plant is not there the next season and all I have are my memories.” The elegant shapes of her wheel thrown and altered porcelain vessels hold the image of a particular plant species, rendered and enriched with various methods of surface decoration. These techniques range from hand-drawn stencils and delicate inlaid ink drawings to the dramatic and textured effect of sgraffito – the technique of carving her design through colour onto the ceramic surface. With the eyes of both the scientist and the artist, Cathy’s love of the natural world is exemplified by the detailed approach she takes to her work. She pays extraordinary attention to the rendering of each plant and, simultaneously celebrates the diversity, beauty and importance of our natural world.
Cathy graduated with a Bachelor of Science from the University of Sydney before returning to her interest in ceramics. During the early part of her career, she fine-tuned her skills throwing in large potteries, and travelled and worked overseas. In 2010, she completed a Master of Visual Arts at the Australian National University School of Art & Design. After completing a practice-led PhD in Visual Arts (Ceramics) she received the ANU Vice-Chancellor’s College Artist Fellowship. Cathy has undertaken several residencies over the years including the Centre for Ceramics in Berlin, Fremantle Arts Centre and the Bundanon Trust. In 2020, she received a Highly Commended award in the Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize and in 2021 was the People’s Choice winner for the Klytie Pate Ceramics Award. She is a finalist in the North Queensland Ceramic Awards October – February 2024. Cathy has worked as a teacher of ceramics over her career and is currently a lecturer at the School of Art & Design at the Australian National University. She was the president of the Australian Ceramics Association from 2017 – 2021. Cathy’s work is held in several collections including the Canberra Museum and Gallery, ACT Legislative Assembly, Grassi Museum of Applied Arts in Leipzig (Germany), Parliament House Art Collection and Manly Art Gallery & Museum.
