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The Journal of Australian Ceramics - Editorial 50/3

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n preparing The Narrative Knot catalogue, which starts on page 49 of this issue, I assembled a visual image of how this exhibition may look when it comes together under Gerry Wedd’s curatorship. But, as stimulating as images can be, seeing work in front of us, and being able to touch it, is very different to what we see on a page in a magazine. That sense of balance, fragility and construction is best experienced when we can see the work in front of us: see the scale; touch it; walk around it; look into it. I hope you will be able to make it to Sydney sometime over the summer months to see this and our other celebratory exhibition, PROmotion, at Manly Art Gallery and Museum (MAGM). Curator Dee Taylor-Graham has chosen nine emerging artists who have featured in the Journal in the last ten years, and together with work from the MAGM collection she will weave a story of the 50 years of publication of the magazine first called Pottery in Australia and now known as JAC – The Journal of Australian Ceramics. It promises to be a big "double bunger" of exhibitions at Manly in December 2011 and January 2012.

Exciting times are ahead in 2012 for the Journal and the Association as we celebrate 50 years of continuous publication of the magazine. On Sunday 22 January 2012 (the closing of the two exhibitions at Manly), we will kick off our anniversary year by awarding the first of the Trudie Alfred Bequest Ceramic Scholarships. Thirty-four ceramics students from around Australia are in the running for five $4000 scholarships. A hot afternoon in Manly is forecast!

The statement below appeared in Vol 1, No 1 of Pottery in Australia as part of Wanda Garnsey’s editorial:

Acknowledging the stimulus of Bernard Leach’s personality by publishing this edition following his visit to Sydney, we would yet stress the fact that the potters themselves are the mainstay of this and any future production. We depend on the support of our subscribers and the stimulus of our contributors. With this encouragement the journal may expand in scope and perform a genuine service to potters.

Tell me ... have we succeeded and where to for the next 50 years? You are invited to contribute your comment as a loyal subscriber, contributor and/or reader, to the next issue. See page 100 for details. I look forward to publishing your brickbats and bouquets in the next issue, Vol 51, No 1, our 50th Anniversary special edition.