ANGELA VALAMANESH 1 INTERPRETIVE RESOURCE | Learning at the Gallery | Art Gallery of South Australia artgallery.sa.gov.au/learning , 2001, Everybody’s Everybody’s bout being here (2017) inspired (2017) scientific by image: Angela Valamanesh, Australia, A 1953, Adelaide, South Australia, stoneware, x 80.0 29.0 x 20.0 cm (overall); Gift of the Potters’ Guild of South Australia Inc. assisted by the South Australian Government Grant 2002, Art Gallery of South Australia,Adelaide. Angela Valamanesh © illustrations. Valamanesh explored In 2015, medical imaging techniques as an artist in residence at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) as part the of South Australian Living Artist (SALA) Festival. The simplicity and beauty the of natural world and its range earthy of colours continues to influence Valamanesh. After a residency at the Barr Smith Library at the University Adelaide, of she created Everything: Insect/Orchid illustrations orchids of and their insect-like characteristics. She completed residencies at the Smithsonian Institute, Washington where she DC examined in 2014 botanical (2007) was About being here Animal Vegetable Mineral Mineral Vegetable Animal is a series seven of unglazed ceramic objects that depicted views the of human body not normally seen with the naked eye. rather small in scale and share a similar earthy colour palette and texture. inspired observations by human of anatomy as seen in medical illustrations anatomical of models. Valamanesh transformed medical imagery into three dimensional Valamanesh began to move away from functional objects and instead became fascinated scientific by illustration, creating works art of that made links to scientific plant, human and animal specimens. These objects appear like enlargements microscopic of organisms, yet are the South Australian landscape including the Riverland and the Flinders Ranges.Valamanesh prefers to arrange the vessels on a shelf at level, eye suggesting a link to the western tradition the of still life, which often includes an arrangement objects. of University South of Australia Working primarily in 2012. in ceramics, Valamanesh creates functional and non- functional items. About being here vessels varying of shapes and earthy tones, inspired by Angela Valamanesh was born in Port Pirie, South Australia and currently in 1953 lives and works in Adelaide. She attended the South Australian School of Art, completing Masters a Diploma in Design in 1977, Visualof Arts and was awarded in 1993 a PhD from the ANGELA VALAMANESH ANGELA VALAMANESH 2 INTERPRETIVE RESOURCE | Learning at the Gallery | Art Gallery of South Australia artgallery.sa.gov.au/learning (2007). KEY LITERACY WORDS Anatomy illustrations Botanical Ceramic Fire Function Glaze illustrationScientific Texture Utlitarian Vessel Animal Vegetable Mineral Mineral Vegetable Animal , 2007, Forrestville,, 2007, South Australia, stoneware, x 20.5 19.5 x MAKING Create vessel a clay that is inspired the by natural environment. Look at Valamanesh’s Shareenlargements microscopic of plant and animal organisms with students. Can students identify which enlargements are from plants and which are from animals? Using these images as a reference invite students to draw their own microscopic images or carve patterns in slabs. clay

, Wakefield Press, Adelaide, Animal Vegetable Mineral Vegetable Animal

About being Angela Valamanesh: About Being Here . VIDEO National Gallery Australia, of Angela Valamanesh – Airborne https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2wWYNaMTBU SA, 2009 WEBSITES Adelaide City Pieces Council – 14 http://adelaidia.sa.gov.au/things/14-pieces image: Angela Valamanesh, Australia, Australia, 1953, 1953, 6.3 cm (a); Gift of the Potters’ Guild of South Australia Inc. : Winner of the SouthAdelaide Angela Australian Valamanesh © Ceramics Award Art 2007. Gallery of South Australia, you live and explain why you have chosen them. Consider why Valamanesh titled this work here have you seen these colours before? Find another work art of on display where these colours feature. Select fivecolours that best represent the place where RESPONDING RESPONDING The colours Valamanesh’s of vessels are Where similar. EARLY YEARS YEARS EARLY Kenneally, C. RESOURCES RESOURCES BOOKS ANGELA VALAMANESH 3 INTERPRETIVE RESOURCE | Learning at the Gallery | Art Gallery of South Australia artgallery.sa.gov.au/learning for inspiration for or create your own About being here, Animal Mineral Vegetable Look at

in your area. Locate medical imaging photographs that reveal the insides a human of body not normally seen with the naked eye. Using this image, transformit into three- dimensional object simplifying by the shapes and enlarging its scale. Perhaps you might use an image human of capillariesnow – imagine enlarging these ten times the size. TIP MAKING MAKING Spend time drawing arrangement cups, of glasses and vases placed ona shelf or table to draw. close Pay attention to proportion and scale. Draw it again from another angle, or from above. Aschild, a Valamanesh was always interested in drawing. After visiting the Adelaide Botanic Gardens or a local park nearby, create a series botanical of illustrations. Use a viewfinderfocus to on one areaof a plant or flower. Draw your specimen with as much detail as you can see. Making functional objects is often a way for artiststo make a living. Inge King made jewellery prior to making her large sculptural pieces or commissioned public works. Milton Moon, Gladys Reynell and Angela Valamanesh all made functional ceramic works throughout their careers. Create a series functional of objects such as vessels, plates or decorative items. Decorate your objects using colours that capture the environment you live in. Create a class stall to raise money for an environmental charity , 2001, Adelaide, South Australia, stoneware, x 80.0 29.0 x 20.0 cm (overall); Gift of the are different in bout being here ? used About being here here **** 20022c2a **Image Valamanesh’s About being image: Angela Valamanesh, Australia, A 1953, Potters’ Guild of South Australia Inc. assisted by the South Australian GovernmentValamanesh Grant 2002, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide. © Angela work is functional? What is the function works of art of that aren’t necessarily towards non-functional works art. of Locate other works artof where an artist or designer has balanced form with function? Valamanesh’s vessels are unglazed – does this mean her Valamanesh achieved such pristine shapes? Designers and artists are often concerned with form and function, the shape an of object and the way it looks versus the intended purpose the of object. Valamanesh created functional items early in her career but shifted Valamanesh’s works have a minimal quality that evokes a sense stillness of and quiet. Find other examples ‘quiet’ of or ‘still’ works art. of Describe what qualities make them quiet. Research wheel clay throwing. How do you think and research the animals, plants and climate these of landscapes. Each the of vessels in size, shape How and has colour. Valamanesh created a series? unified The colours used in Valamanesh’s works art of are often borrowed from the South Australian landscape and reference the dry red sand from the central desert, the Riverland and the Flinders Ranges. Find images of these landscapes that match each Valamanesh’s of works PRIMARY RESPONDING ANGELA VALAMANESH 4 INTERPRETIVE RESOURCE | Learning at the Gallery | Art Gallery of South Australia artgallery.sa.gov.au/learning . Bruce Anatomy Anatomy . Micrographia compatible , from the 'Collec+tors' “our work goes together – its Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide. photo: Grant Hancock image: Khai Liew, designer, Australia, 1952, Bruce Nuske, ceramist, Australia, 1949, stand] on [cabinet series, Cabinet, 2010, Norwood, South Australia; tiles, Adelaide, South Australia, American white oak, porcellaneous stoneware, sgraffito decoration,130.0 x x 50.0212.0 cm; Gift of Michael Armitage, Susan Armitage, Philip Bacon AM, Colin and Robyn Cowan, Julian and Stephanie Grose, Andrewand Hiroko Gwinnett, Jim and Andrea Katsaros, Diana Laidlaw AM, Sonia Laidlaw, Macquarie Group Foundation, David McKee, Pam McKee, Jillian Russell, Peter and Mary Sutherland, Janet Worth to the Collec+ors Appeal through the Art Gallery of South Australia Foundation Art 2012, . Select two works art of each by artist and and scientist Robert Hooke’s book explain how these works art of are Investigate English Botanist Nehemiah Grew’s Plantsof Other than subject matter, what connections can you make between the characteristics their of work and the ceramic objects made Valamanesh? by Investigate how artists and scientists have influenced each other throughout art history. Consider the use of anatomical wax models, or the physical and chemical properties materials of artists use to make a work art. of Locate other works art of in the Gallery that have been influencedby science. Use this example as a starting point for discussing a scientific idea or principle. What similarities do these works art of share with Valamanesh’s works? Angela Valmanesh and her husband Hossein Valamanesh have worked together on many joint art projects. Angela Valamanesh once stated compatible” F.J. Holden pretending to be an , 1982, Adelaide,, 1982, earthenware, x 14.5 14.0 image: Margaret Dodd, Australia, 1941, Australian native porcupine x 32.1 cm; South Australian Government Grant Art 1987, Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide terms technique of and ideas. to create domestic items before moving towards less functional items that were more playful. Other South Australian ceramicists such as Gerry andWedd Margaret Dodd produced objects that have been described as ‘quirky’. They make reference to Australian culture in a humorous Discuss way. their different approaches in What is the differencebetween an artist or designer and a craftsperson? Which title best describes Angela Valamanesh? Australian potter Milton Moon inspired Valamanesh create? While Valamaneshwas studying at art school she was influencedby Asianceramics, including the translucent pale green glaze called celadon used in Chinese ceramics. Compare Valamanesh’s works art of to other ceramic traditions used by artists throughout history. Valamanesh’s objects became less usable as she focused more on texture. Compare Valamanesh’s work to the work Khaiof Liew. Discuss the formal qualities their of work. Do you think they share similar ideas about the objects they SECONDARY RESPONDING ANGELA VALAMANESH 5 INTERPRETIVE RESOURCE | Learning at the Gallery | Art Gallery of South Australia artgallery.sa.gov.au/learning , 2013. After rain

image: Installation view, HEARTLAND, Art 2013, Gallery of South Australia, featuring Hossein Valamanesh, The Art Gallery of South Australiagratefully acknowledges the support of the Wood Foundation in the development of this resource. . Consider, texture, Consider, . subject . This work is located outside the South Animal Mineral Vegetable Mineral Animal THINK AND DISCUSS AND THINK no longerWe need botanical illustrators since the invention photography of and the microscope – discuss. The Gallery’s Learning programs are supported by the Department for Education and Child Development. Information and hyperlinks correct at time of print. Art Gallery of South Australiaof this resource. staff Kylie Neagle and Lisa Slade contributed to the development sculpture to be placed at the entrance the of Art Gallery Southof Australia. How might your design respond to or connect with the Gallery’s content and mission statement? Angela Valamanesh and Hossein Valamanesh have collaborated together on public works art of including 14 Pieces Australian Museum and was inspired the by contents in the museum. Collaborate with a partner to design a Valamanesh was inspired early by scientific illustration. Using a microscope, gain access to an invisible world. Collect plant life to examine under a microscope and create a series illustrations. of one these of Turn illustrations into a three-dimensional form. Valamanesh describes the linear display some of her of works like the way letters form words or a sentence on a page. Create a fifthwork thatwould sit seamlessly next to matter and palette. durability. Imagine you are one these of materials. Write and performa monologue with the title ‘I am the supreme material’. Can you morph into any shape by hand? Are your materials easily found and affordable? Do you need heat to become strong and unbreakable? Or are you heavy and can’t be easily moved? Materials are an essential part making of a work art. of Valamanesh describes as clay having its limitations. List some the of limitations clay? of Compare ceramics to three dimensional objects made from other materials. Considerweight, strength, appearance, texture and SECONDARY MAKING