I went to see the ceramic works resulting from this year’s competition initiated by the North Cyprus Ceramicists Association. Bedia Kale, the new President of the Association had come to meet me and to present the works to me. Very kind of her. The venue for the display is the Atatürk Congress Centre at the Near East University with its excellent light and spacious rooms.

15 amateur ceramic artists have participated in the competition and are altogether displaying 26 pieces. I was surprised by the energy and joy the participants have put in their efforts to show the progress they have made in courses or in one case as apprentice of a professional studio. They are mostly young to middle aged persons, house wives taking courses at the Atatürk Meslek Lisesi.

The idea is to show the students that there are other ways of using the clay than to make cups and plates, to work and form the clay into an art work, to realise an idea and let fantasy be the guiding force. Many of them followed the idea of the theme “Limits” very closely and in many cases other material such as wire or bricks were used in combination with the clay composition. Metaphorical representations such as “Limits of mind” by Mustafa Kansay or Kisir Döngü by Biray-Buse-Aysel with the same kind of brains on both sides of a division – I first mistook the pieces for something else – or two animals – mother and baby – separated by a piece of wire, beautifully sculptured by Ayse Kilgin.

On March 22 the jury had decided on the first three prizes and two honourable mentions:

1. Yıldan Güldeniz with her work called "2 multiply 1"
2. Sermra Tahsin with her work called "Peace"
3. Mustafa Kansay with his work called "Limits of mind"
Honourable Mentions:
Osman Murabık "Limits"
Feza A. Sanıvar "No name"

The members of the jury were: Ceylan Dimililer, Aşik Mene, Ruzen Atakan, Sinem Saydam, Bedia Kale, Musa Kayra, Filiz Ankaç, Hüseyin Özçelik.

It is very important to promote craftsmanship and give people the opportunity for further education.

Should you become inspired to try your hand in sculpting with clay after you have visited the exhibition which is still on display until Tuesday, March 30, then contact:

The head of the department for adult education at the Atatürk Meslek Lisesi is Semlar Öztan, mobile No. 0533 868 5919. You can enrol for a course at the beginning of the academic year.

Have a look at the photos and judge for yourself.

Heidi