Cath Guevara: Feminine Reservoirs – Reservorios Femeninos

Artist Talk on Pre-Hispanic Ceramic Forms Saturday 19th November 2 – 3 PM Free entry, all welcome

Artist Collectives Talk Sur Collective x Wayfind Creative Friday 25th November 6 – 8 PM Free entry, all welcome

For the past five years, ceramicist and Sur-Collective member Catherine Guevara has been researching and teaching ceramics; creating spaces for migrant women to re-mould the relationship between their femininity and new home through clay. This series interrogates the medium of ceramics; abundant vessels, hollow and utilitarian. As a starting point, Feminine Reservoirs – Reservorios Femeninos shares the artist’s memories of jet-black barro pots hanging in their grandmothers’ kitchens, used to make broth or frijoles (beans).   

Feminine Reservoirs is the synthesis of this body of work: a collaborative ceramic project exploring the female form in Pre-Columbian Mesoamerican cultures. Here, the empty functionality of the ceramic is nestled within misogynistic interpretations of the empty functionality of the woman’s body and colonial interpretations of the empty functionality of the New World. All of these are porous and prone to crack. 

This exhibition opens a space of encounter, marking a new line of research about the parallels between migrant diaspora, indigenous experiences and traditions in claymaking across continents.

The exhibition will be supported by the active participation of an Auckland-based Latina artist women collective Sur-Collective, who will develop the educational component (workshops and artist talks) in the same space of the exhibition.

New works, made by the communities invited to take part in ceramic-making workshops held in the same space of Depot will be exhibited and would act as an invitation or call to action for new visitors, so they can leave as well their own creations. 

About the Artist

Catherine is a Colombian visual artist based in Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland. Born in Bogota from a ”paisa” mother and a ”llanero” father. She has a mix between the beautiful grasslands of her country and the majestic Andean mountains of its landscapes, though she can’t deny her deep love for the always vibrant Bogota where she was raised.

5 years ago Cat moved to Aotearoa to deepen her practice by further understanding the relationship between Latin American and Pacific cultures. She has developed solo and group exhibitions in her home country as well as in Aotearoa.

Cat has developed and designed workshops, educational publications, art exhibitions and activities with the Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, the Consulate of Colombia in Auckland, Aotearoa Latin American Community Inc – ALAC, Studio One Toi Tū, Depot Artspace, Auckland Council and Sur-Collective.

She’s passionate about exploring with clay and creating with kids! Currently, Cat is teaching at The Clay Centre, Auckland Studio Potters and at her home studio in Ellerslie.

Creator of CfromCat.

Just grab a ball of clay and see what happens! You can find me here:

To see my latest ceramic pieces and educational resources follow @CfromCat

https://www.instagram.com/cfromcat/

To know about the ceramics community in New Zealand follow @CfromCat

https://facebook.com/CfromCat/

To enquire about a private ceramic-making experience send an email to:

cfromcatnz@gmail.com

To know about our community projects with @Sur.Collective check:

https://surcollectivenz.wixsite.com/sur-collective

To collab or offer sponsorship for the community projects coming up send a DM to:

https://www.facebook.com/surcollectivenz

https://www.instagram.com/sur.collective/

surcollectiveaotearoa@gmail.com

See you in the studio!