Talking Earth

This upcoming exhibition features works from artist Rebecca Steedman. Everyone is welcome to join us for the opening night on Friday May 3rd from 6pm - 8pm. The exhibition will be available to view from Saturday May 4th until Saturday June 22nd, 10am - 4pm.

“One of my fondest memories as a child is hanging out with my Grandmother at her two storey 1970’s decorated duplex in St George street in Papatoetoe. She had a small bright garden full of flowers, and brighter orange patterned couches and table cloths and an impressive collection of china. She was always cooking for kids, and grandkids. The smell of her famous fudge made with crushed arrowroot biscuits as well as stewed apple and roast chicken and potatoes I’m sure has never left that house. She treasured Royal Albert fine china for Christmas, like many of her generation, but as one of the grand kids I would eat off the more practical yellow and mustered coloured Crown Lynn plates for everyday visits and meals. Those yellow plates, which I still eat off today, remind me so exactly of that time, of the brightness of the small kitchen.”

Talking earth comprises of a collection of pottery by Rebecca Steedman. Employing locally sourced materials, Rebecca incorporates irregularities that reflect the natural environment into her work, encouraging contemplation of the potential relationship between the landscape and contemporary dinnerware. With each piece of pottery linking to a local place, Rebecca creates a unified series that embodies various locations across Tāmaki Makaurau.

Drawing inspiration from her recent visit to, and childhood memories associated with, the Crown Lynn Museum, Rebecca investigates the significance contemporary dinnerware holds for us. The exhibition thus becomes a journey that explores the contemporary connections binding us to the plates and bowls we use for dining, the cherished company we share meals with, and the environments we select for our dining experiences.