Richard Parker: Master of Craft surveys the career and practice of this defining figure within New Zealand ceramics, with works loaned from leading public and private collections around the country.

Richard Parker: Master of Craft surveys the career and practice of this defining figure within New Zealand ceramics, with works loaned from leading public and private collections around the country. The curator, Richard Fahey, says "Parker had his own picture of what a pot should look like", and that although Parker's practice is grounded within the traditions of studio ceramics, "as an artist, his innovative approach seeks to redefine for us new ways we may understand the decorative object."

At a pivotal moment in his career Richard Parker abandoned the known in terms of how to make a pot and what it should look like and developed his own unique ceramics vocabulary. This singular vision has sustained his career for over 30 years and produced works that are uniquely recognisable. Parker is noted for a variety of distinctive decorative forms frequently embellished with dashes, dots and dribbles in luscious glazes of red and green, black and cream, and his signature green and gold..

Accompanying the exhibition is a lavishly illustrated 120 page publication, written by Richard Fahey, which describes: the local ceramics context that Parker developed within; his work and style of production; a biographical profile and a consideration of his standing in New Zealand ceramics, followed by a timeline of Parker's exemplary career.

Richard Parker: Master of Craft is the first project in the Objectspace Masters of Craft series. This new series will tell the stories of outstanding and influential New Zealand practitioners whose work exemplifies the value of craftsmanship. The show will tour New Zealand to 8 public art galleries after being presented at Objectspace as part of the Auckland Arts Festival 2011. The next project in the series will focus on New Zealand jeweller Kobi Bosshard and will be curated by Dr Damian Skinner.

What: Richard Parker: Master of Craft, curated by Richard Fahey

Where: Objectspace, 8 Ponsonby Rd, Auckland

When: 5 March – 7 May 2011

Gallery hours: Mon-Sat, 10am – 5pm, Free admission.

Publication: Richard Parker: Master of Craft. A 120 page book featuring 68 colour plates, text by Richard Fahey and foreword by Philip Clarke.

Objectspace Public Programme:

5 March, 11am. Richard Parker in conversation with Richard Parker

25 March, 11am. Curator’s floor talk

Exhibition Tour Details:

Pataka, Porirua: 21 May – 28 Aug 2011

Whangarei Art Museum: 10 Oct – Dec 2011

Suter Art Gallery, Nelson: Jan – March 2012

Christchurch Art Gallery: April – June 2012

Sarjeant Art Gallery, Whanganui: August – Nov 2012

Te Manawa, Palmerston North: Dec - March 2013

Hastings Arts Centre: April – May 2013

The Bath House, Rotorua: June –August 2013