Ten years ago acclaimed potter Rick Rudd sold his house, together with its unique native and sculpture garden in Castlecliff, Whanganui to establish the Quartz Museum of Studio Ceramics in downtown Whanganui. He's lived there ever since. Photo: supplied
Born from Rudd’s concern there was nowhere which exhibited the history of New Zealand ceramics, it is Aotearoa’s only museum devoted to the ceramic arts, and the largest ceramics display in this country. This at a time when there has been a huge revival in interest in ceramics.
Work by John Parker at the Quartz Museum Photo: Mark Amery
The two-storey premises near Whanganui River and Moutoa Gardens is full to the brim with hundreds of pieces in thoughtful displays. It features both permanent displays of significant artists' work and numerous temporary exhibitions. The entire collection is well over 4000 pieces.
Quartz brings together Rudd’s own sizable collection with those of other artists and collectors to tell the diverse story of our work in clay.
Works by Rick Rudd at the Quartz Museum Photo: supplied
A man with a strong eye for design, the building formerly known as Moutoa Chambers, took Rudd’s attention because of its brutalist architecture. The recipient of a New Zealand Institute of Architects design award, unusually it was built in two stages, the ground floor in 1964 and the first floor added in 1978.
Quartz Museum of Studio Ceramics Photo: supplied
Perfectly for a museum, each of its small rooms is filled with light, as it was designed for engineers and valuers requiring natural light for architectural drawing.
One of the initiatives Rudd is most proud of is the Rick Rudd Foundation’s Emerging Practitioner in Clay Awards. Now in its third year, the winner receives $15,000 and the finalists are exhibited at the Quartz Museum.
It's Rudd's way of giving back to a new generation - recognising how life-changing it was for him to win the Fletcher Brownbuilt Pottery Award back in 1978. He went on to become one of our most significant studio potters, and hundreds of diverse examples of his work are on display at the museum.
Entries close for this year’s Emerging Practitioner in Clay award on 30 June with information available on the Quartz website.
Just a corner of a room devoted to work from the late Simon Manchester's collection at the Quartz Museum of Ceramic Arts Photo: Mark Amery
Works by Bronwynne Cornish at the Quartz Museum Photo: Mark Amery
Quartz Museum of Ceramic Arts Photo: Mark Amery
Mark Mitchell's Pattern Play at the Quartz Museum Photo: Mark Amery
Quartz Museum Photo: Mark Amery
Bowls and mugs by Ross Mitchell-Anyon at Quartz Museum of Ceramics in Whanganui. Photo: Mark Amery
