Urns and Ash - Exhibition by Jordie MacDonald

Jordie is a ceramic artist living in Ōtautahi. Her interest in using locally found materials is at the forefront of her ceramics process and is a roadmap of her movements around Aotearoa. The relationship between function and sculpture interest her and as a self-described ‘obsessive maker,’ Jordan creates families of work with local geology which represent time and place.

This collection is grounded in the raw materials of Aotearoa, with every element sourced, processed, and transformed by hand. The raw clay used in these pieces is all self harvested and hand processed, the glazes are NZ rocks, again hand processed and formulated over months of testing. They are wood fired, a real labour of love, over many hours with waste timber.

"This raw materials approach connects my work to the specific geology and landscape of Aotearoa. The clays carry the memory of its origins and there are subtle variations in colour and texture that no commercial material can replicate. The rock glazes respond unpredictably to the wood-firing process, producing surfaces that range from earthy and matte to glossy with ash deposits and flame markings unique to each firing.

"The vessels are functional in form, often bottles and urns. I'm drawn to the tension between control of the wheel throwing and surrender to the firing process, the wood kiln always has the final say.

"Each piece is a collaboration with place and process, carrying within it the physical minerals and character of place."

— Jordie MacDonald