School of Art ceramic student pop-up

What do birds with forks for legs, bowls that double as acoustic bells and the humble tea cup and saucer all have in common? A lot, if you visit the Product Collective at Lonsdale Street Traders in Braddon over the next few days.

Nine students from the School of Art have been busy creating some diverse yet creative masterpieces, including cloud broaches, necklaces and birds in different poses. And the fantastic thing is all of the works are for sale.

The experience hasn’t just been about showing off their creativity or selling their wares. It’s also been a chance for the budding artists to work together to open the exhibition.

One of the artists is first year ceramics student Mahala Hill, who has created mirrors that offer a sea-side theme complete with a coral and shell motif. The shapes were created by dipping lavender into a type of ceramic liquid and once the ceramic shell is dry, the lavender is burnt out, leaving the outer layer which looks like coral.

Mahala says having her work on display at the Product Collective has been a perfect opportunity to learn more about the business-aspects of running a gallery.

“The ceramics department shows us how to actually market our work and make a living out of it. That’s one of the biggest things, especially in first year,” she says.

“It’s not ‘we just teach you how to do the work’, it’s ‘how to actually create a living out of it’.”

The pop-up shop of project work from first and second year students is open from 10 to 4 until Sunday at the Lonsdale Street Traders, Braddon.

“It’s a lovely space, the Craft ACT pod space. It’s just a good idea to be able to rent it so cheaply and get your work out there.”

To see photos of the works, click here.