A Chat with JamFactory's Alice Potter

Alice began working as Program Manager in the Metal Design Studio in 2012 after working as the Technical Officer in the Jewellery and Metal studio at the University of South Australia for four years. She completed a Bachelor of Graphic Design in 2004, a Bachelor of Visual Arts [Jewellery] in 2006 and received First class Honours in Visual Arts in 2012. Alice was an access tenant at Adelaide's Gray Street Workshop for over four years and regularly exhibits her work throughout Australia. 

We are focusing the attention of our blog on the people who make JamFactory what it is. Watch for interviews with staff, associates and the many artists who hire studios and studio time at JamFactory. 

On to our chat with Alice Potter:

Alice Potter at her work bench at JamFactory

A Tiny Pile of Black Shiny Things brooch

How would you describe your work?

Colourful. Busy. Organised mess. Wearable (even if it doesn’t look like it). The work doesn’t take itself too seriously. Happy and fun (but never ‘quirky’). Not for everyone, but that’s ok.  

Exploding tummy pig necklace

You studied Graphic Design. How did you go from this to Jewellery Design?

Even through highschool I had always been interested in, and was making jewellery (wire and beads, etc) and creating tangible ideas, but during my Visual Communications degree using computers to present my ideas felt a little backwards. What I wanted to say never came out how I wanted it to look, except the times I was cutting up bits of paper and card then colour photocopying assignments instead of using computer programs. 

I enrolled in an Intro to Jewellery winter elective at the then UniSA Underdale Campus and there was no turning back. My sister convinced me to finish my degree instead of quit half way through (which I am now thankful for), and after 18 months of interesting design classes and saving hard earned retail-monkey dollars for a new Bachelor, I enrolled in the Visual Arts and Applied Design degree at AC Arts TAFE. 

I'm Not A Kid Anymore

All The Good Things You Can Think Of brooch pair

Are friends constantly giving you stuff they think you'd like to use in your work?

Yes!  And I love it. Sometimes it’s ‘no this actually would be better given to the Op Shop or bin’ stuff, but most of the time I can find useful things – even if it means chopping it up or melting it down.  

Fake Nails Darling brooch

Where do you find most of the objects you use in your work? Are you always on the lookout for more material to work with?

The bits and pieces that I use in my work come from literally anywhere and everywhere; my grandpa’s pear tree off-cuts, op shops, garage sales and two dollar shops. I prefer to use second hand items as it gives the objects new purpose, plus it means I haven’t just gone out and bought the most convenient things at hand. I like the challenge of finding and using random gold (sometimes actual gold) knowing that I won’t be able to just go out and buy another one if I use my limited supplies or my idea needs a second go.  

She'll Be Apples - Bang Bang!

You started working at JamFactory in 2012 as the Production Manager for the Metal Design Studio. How do you find the teaching/managing role compared to the designer /maker role?

Completely opposite and complimentary at the same time. When you design and make for yourself you are in a bubble of thought, process and, well, you. When you teach, manage and tech for a team of people you have their skills and interests in the front of your mind, as well as making sure the jobs are completed to the best of everyone’s ability in the timeframe available. Making in my own practice gives me a good idea about how a job can be made, managed and delivered by others, and managing others also gives me a better understanding about how I can meet my own personal deadlines.  

She'll Be Apples - Here's Looking At Your

How is JamFactory different to Uni SA where you were employed as the technical officer in the Jewellery and Metal Studio there?

I look at JamFactory as post-tertiary training and development, whereas the university is somewhere where you attend to learn the skills to start or further your artistic career. At the Uni I was teaching people skills and then we would all part ways to other jobs, workspaces, studios or classes. At JamFactory there are a group of staff and associates who all already have the skills you were teaching at the Uni, which you collectively apply to real life jobs and clients. Then at the end of the day, or on the ‘non-Jam days’, we all are still here working on our own practices side by side at our personal benches.

 His Mo Mo Had Mojo brooch

Your work is very colourful. Has it always been this way?

Yes and no. I love colour and have forever loved rainbows (I know, right!). I have always tried to make colour the focus or a part of my work, and some of my earlier pieces were quite subtle and restrained (even no colour at all – shock, horror!). But these days I just think ‘stuff it’ and make it all as bright as I want. Having said that I do take great care in which colours go where. Too much green will make a blue piece look like something under the sea, and too much red will make something look… too red. A mini fluro green dot or a tiny orange CZ can either make or break a piece – it’s actually not as easy as it looks!  

Sticks and Stones brooch

 You recently worked in conjunction with several other artists, each of you contributing something to a particular piece of jewellery. How was this experience different to your normal process? What was it  like to give up control?

When I start a piece I stare at it for ages and then get fed up procrastinating, so I ‘throw’ bits of paint and plastic and other colourful tid-bits its way until it resembles something I am visually satisfied with. With the Mixquisite project I was constantly aware I would be handing it on to someone else to contribute to, so you never really finished (or started) a piece fully. It was bizarre seeing something you had worked on and believed to have ‘OMG made it so amazing’ in the final exhibition look completely different. But that’s the game, and that’s the project. If I was a control freak I wouldn’t have said ‘Yes’ to Lisa Furno when she proposed the idea to me back in early 2012. 

A few potential supplies?...

What are you listening to in the studio at the moment?

I can’t help singing along to my music in the studio – it makes me happy and more productive (I hope everyone else doesn’t mind!). So I suppose the massively eclectic mix that happens to be on my iPod at the time, but that’s always changing.  

Today is a Good Day - triple shot Jade, glass, lapis and faux pearl 2

The best place you’ve seen your jewellery worn or displayed?

Sometimes you walk down the street and you see a complete stranger wearing one of your pieces. That’s the best feeling – knowing that a little bit of you means something special to someone you hardly know. And it also feels like you know a tiny secret about that person. It makes me smile every time. 

website  alicepotter.com
facebook  facebook.com/alicepotter

A Chat with JamFactory Associate Llewelyn Ash

Llewelyn Ash is a Second Year Associate at JamFactory, and most recently won the Youth Category in this year’s Museum of South Australia Waterhouse Prize for his work titled “Above and Below. “  We thought it a great time to talk to Llewelyn about his practice and share it here.

You’ve come to glass from a print making background. How did you discover glass and how does your graphics background influence your glass work today?

I discovered Glass in my second year of study at UniSA when I took an introduction to Glass Blowing class. I was taken by the technical and physical challenge. I was going to major in Printmaking in my final year but at the last minute changed my focus to glass, a decision I’m very happy about. In this final year of study I worked towards incorporating my printmaking designs onto the glass to create a distinctive and unique design. So my graphic background has influenced my glass that I make today.

Can you discuss the influence of landscape, and the coast in particular on your work?

The ocean consumes my thoughts as a surfer and allows me to see some very inspirational parts of coastline. It also allows me to spend a lot of time in nature observing and seeing its beauty, I like to share my observations through my artwork.

How has growing up in an artistic family influenced you?

Yes it has played a large part in my career. I grew up on a hobby farm with three artists working from there, Margie Shepard and my mum and dad, Janet Ayliffe and Glen Ash. So I was always surrounded by art. All of their work as influenced me greatly.

You’ve won a few awards recently, including the Youth Category in this year’s Waterhouse prize. Can you tell us about that experience?

Yes it is a real honor to win this award. It has been a little overwhelming experience with a lot of media involved, it has been fun though. 

What was the reaction at JamFactory? (Associates and staff?...)

It has been so nice to share this experience with the other associates and staff, feels like I have one the prize for the team.

Have you any advice to other young artists out there who are considering, or who are new to the medium of glass?

Glass is a medium that you really need to spend a lot of time with it to learn. So if you want to do it, volunteer your time assisting other artist to learn and get a feel for the medium. Volunteering my time was the most valuable thing I did to get me started.

It’s your second year as a JamFactory Associate. Is the program what you expected it to be? What effect has the Associate program had on your work?

The associate program has been what I expected and has given me the skills to continue glass blowing as my career. It is nice now because when I have an idea or designs I know have the skills to make it.

Has anyone or anything in particular influenced you and your work over the past year and a half?

I think being part of the JamFactory and the glass community in Adelaide has influenced me the most with so many different glass artists and designers working around me. It is a very special place to work. I also got to participate in a glass blowing class in Pilchuck glass school in Seattle last year. Getting to work with many Artists from around the world, learning new tricks and techniques that have been very helpful.

What’s it like getting to make your own trophy?

Well it makes me laugh and I can just make another one if I break it.

Where can we see your work?

Fine Art Kangaroo Island, The JamFactory, Art Images and the Hahndorf Academy and currently at the Museum in Adelaide.

www.facebook.com/Llewelynashglass

llewelynashglass.com

facebook

On a lighter note:

What are you listening to or watching lately?

I’m listening to a lot of Tripple J and watching Offspring and Surfing Competitions Online

It’s 12:01 at JamFactory…What’s your favourite place for lunch whenyoudon’t bring one from home?

Haha, Roll and Roll make the best Sushi and or there is a place next to the Jam that makes an epic yiros

What can’t you live without?

Surfing and a good Bakery.