Art gallery ready to play with clay

For fans of fast-paced reality competition TV shows, there’s no need to keep watching the action through a screen.

For one night only, a live pottery competition — inspired by shows such as The Great Canadian Pottery Throw Down — will be coming to the WAG-Qaumajuq that will put four local ceramics artists to the test in a variety of different ways.

Tonight’s event, dubbed The WAG Studio Pottery Throwdown, has competitor Eric Au excited — and a little nervous about the talented artists he’s set to face in the competition.

“They are well versed in their craft. I like to say I am, but in practise it’s a different story, and being in a competition is much different than practising in your own time,” he says.

Au, along with competitors Meriel Bond, Teegan Walker and Julianna Zwierciadlowska-Rhymer, will face four timed challenges that will be evaluated by judges Toluwalope Toludare and Alan Lacovestsky.

Au, an industrial designer behind the brand Metro Grade Goods, has been making ceramics on and off for 20 years, and got his start as part of his fine arts degree at the University of Manitoba. He focuses on crafting practical items, such as coffee mugs, teacups and teapots. He teaches at the Forum Art Centre and Pottery By Tolu, the studio run by competition judge Toludare.

Au was called to step up to the competition when two other friends who work at the WAG recommended him.

He says he has been too busy to practise for the competition, but this isn’t his first rodeo; he’s put his skills to the test before.

When Toludare held a grand opening for his ceramics studio earlier this summer, he asked Au to perform a challenge along with other artists.

The goal was to use just under one kilogram of clay to make the tallest cylinder possible, while stretching it only three times.

“My heart was pounding out of my chest when I was doing that, so I’m excited to have a whole evening of keeping myself in check,” he says.

While Au couldn’t reveal the full details of Thursday night’s challenges, he teased that audiences could see a similar scenario play out with even less clay.

“It’s a very visual medium; it’s going to be very exciting for everyone to see,” he says.

All proceeds from the event will go towards funding various programs at the WAG, including its ceramics classes.

“It’s really hard sometimes when you don’t have the resources available to go and take that class, and this will allow more people to take that class and fulfil their desire to create,” Au says.

The showdown has been in the making for six months and is an opportunity to highlight some of the talented potters in Winnipeg’s art community, says Rachel Baerg, head of educations and programs at the art gallery.

“It’s competitive fun that’s very entertaining to watch, but it’s also educational in that you really understand the skills that are involved in creating a clay piece,” she says.

The night will end in a final test that will have the artists create a work inspired by a few chosen pieces from the WAG’s collection.

A grand prize will be awarded, along with bragging rights and a handmade ceramic trophy to show for the winner’s efforts.

Baerg hopes the competition will gather interest in the gallery’s clay programs this fall.

Tickets are $60 at wag.ca.

tiago.resko@freepress.mb.ca