{"title":"BARBARA GITTINGS","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAfter 30 years as a pattern cutter in the fashion industry, Barbara Gittings discovered her fondness for ceramics in 1999 while taking evening classes. She discovered her niche after seeing an image of an ancient Chinese \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003enerikomi bowl and instantly fell in love with the technique. To further develop her practice, Barbara attended a smoke firing course and made the creative decision to integrate the skill into the nerikomi technique she had been mastering. She says, \"both techniques can be cruel task masters,\" and therefore spent several years perfecting her work, which she officially started selling in 2013. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe meticulously developed use of these two techniques makes Barbara’s work exceptionally unique, blending a sense of serenity with experimental inexactness. Her pieces are slightly unbalanced in form, an entirely intentional decision that allows the viewer to physically connect with the work. “If they’re not a bit wobbly, I’m not happy,” says Barbara. Her pieces are identifiable through this imbalance, complemented by obscure, irregular repetition, primitive mark-making, and soft earthy colours. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBarbara’s work is shaped through her constant observation of life around her, allowing daily moments to seep into her subconscious, waiting for them to be released when later engaging with clay. Thoroughly enjoying the tactility of producing ceramics, and using her existing skills as a pattern cutter to develop complex shapes, she sees her work as “the manifestation of a thousand traditions.” Her fascination with the world’s organic geometry and the way in which processes such as weathering and erosion distort nature’s original symmetry has incredible influence on her practice. She says: “I’m constantly exploring these balances between symmetry and asymmetry, perfection and imperfection, the line between order and chaos and the juxtaposition between control and spontaneity in my work.” \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","products":[],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0233\/5583\/collections\/hj01_fa831a68-3957-42d8-a3a3-f513e48fa0ec.jpg?v=1784385614","url":"https:\/\/maudandmabel.com\/collections\/barbara-gittings.oembed","provider":"Maud and Mabel","version":"1.0","type":"link"}