BRIDIE HENDERSON

Fallen Feathers10 November -5 December 2012

BridieHenderson

Milford Galleries Dunedin18 Dowling Street (03) 477 7727 [email protected]

www.milfordgalleries.co.nz

Bena Necklace (2012)porcelain, American white oak, LED lighting, cabinet: 840 x 665 x 130 mm 1

Fallen Feathers 1 (2012)porcelain, American white oak, LED lighting, cabinet: 450 x 850 x 120 mm2

Kaya Necklace (2012)porcelain, American white oak, LED lighting, cabinet: 840 x 665 x 130 mm3

Luta Necklace (2012)porcelain, American white oak, LED lighting, cabinet: 840 x 665 x 130 mm4

Maka Necklace (2012)porcelain, American white oak, LED lighting, cabinet: 840 x 665 x 130 mm5



Doba Necklace (2012)porcelain, American white oak, LED lighting, cabinet: 840 x 665 x 130 mm8

Fox and Squirrel (2012)porcelain, fur, wood, feathers, vessel: 540 x 120 x 120 mm, arrows: ca 850 mm long each9

Wolf and Bison (2012)porcelain, fur, wood, feathers, vessel: 530 x 117 x 122 mm , arrows: ca 850 mm long each10

Lion and Antelope (2012)porcelain, fur, wood, feathers, vessel: 545 x 120 x 120 mm, arrows: ca 850 mm long each11

Owl and Mice (2012)porcelain, fur, wood, feathers, vessel: 532 x 118 x 123 mm, arrows: ca 850 mm long each12

Falcon and Rabbit (2012)porcelain, fur, wood, feathers, vessel: 510 x 120 x 122 mm, arrows: ca 850 mm long each13

Since her success in last year’s Portage Ceramic Awards, where she became the

youngest artist to receive the top prize, Bridie Henderson has continued to develop

the narrative of her ‘Feather’ works. Henderson’s translucent, delicately carved

porcelain works display meticulous attention to detail and an innate understanding

of the foibles of her medium. When lit, the porcelain comes alive with a diffuse glow;

the artist’s use of illumination is subtle and is in keeping with her fine carving

and patterning.

Referencing the use of feathers in Native American cultures, Henderson also

examines the mark-making used in these diverse and complex pottery traditions.

While alluding specifically to this (south-western) Native American patterning in the

first instance, the symbols she uses are seen in ceramic practices throughout history

and across cultures. Universal forms such as the spiral, zig-zag, arrow and circle are

combined to create a symbolic language for her totemic objects.

Pairs of oversized porcelain feathers display black and white designs that spill

through and over the feathery background; whorls, circles and triangles play with

negative and positive space and morph in size and shape. Evocative of

anthropological curiosities and fetish items, Henderson does not provide a back story

to her pieces.

The feather necklets suggest the ghosts of the wearers and memories of ceremony

but like curiosities in a Wunderkammer they are shown dislocated from their histories

and narratives, and viewers are left to fill in the gaps with imagined stories. Mounted

and framed, the origins of the works are concealed and the hand of the collector as

well as that of the creator is evidenced.

Fletched with real feathers and featuring delicately carved porcelain arrowheads

and wooden shafts, sets of arrows with matching quivers accompany the vitrine-

encased feather works. The quiver vessels are engraved with detailed images of

both hunter and prey, extending the idea of totem items and linking back to

Henderson’s research into the aboriginal cultures of North America.

All prices are NZD and include GST; Prices are current at the time of the exhibition

E X H I B I T I O N P R I C E L I S T

1 Bena Necklace (2012) 7,500

2 Fallen Feathers 1 (2012) 4,500

3 Kaya Necklace (2012) 7,500

4 Luta Necklace (2012) 7,500

5 Maka Necklace (2012) 7,500



8 Doba Necklace (2012) 7,500

9 Fox and Squirrel (2012) 1,250

10 Wolf and Bison (2012) 1,250

11 Lion and Antelope (2012) 1,250

12 Owl and Mice (2012) 1,250

13 Falcon and Rabbit (2012) 1,250

Bridie Henderson 2012 CV Milford Galleries Dunedin www.milfordgalleries.co.nz

P a g e | 1

BRIDIE HENDERSON b. 1986, lives Nelson

A Necklace of Feathers 1, 2 & 3 (2012)

In 2011, aged 25 and still a ceramics student, Bridie Henderson became the youngest ever

entrant to be awarded the supreme prize at the national Portage Ceramic Awards. Her

winning entry, ‘Feathers’ was described by international judge Janet Mansfield as

exceptional: "Many ceramic artists are inspired by the flora and fauna around them, but

[Feathers] takes it one step further. It's a stunning work".

Henderson shows an innate understanding of the foibles of her chosen medium. Meticulous in

their execution, her back-lit works exploit the qualities of translucence and fragility of the

delicate porcelain; done by hand, surface carving and carefully applied colour further

enhance this effect and give each feather its individual character. Henderson’s attention to

detail extends to the hand-woven cords, purpose-built American oak display cases and

individual keys adorned with their own ceramic feathers.

Suggestive of historical museum displays, Henderson’s feather necklets evoke images of

gentlemen explorers collecting anthropological curiosities on their travels. The rituals of

peering through glass and unlocking the cabinets for closer inspection reinforce the image of

an 18th century Wunderkammer, a chamber of curiosities filled with items rare and precious,

gathered from all corners of the world.

When lit, this sense of wonder is heightened as the glowing works take on an altogether

different appearance, hinting at the hidden stories behind the trophy on display. Were they

worn as fetish items, ritual adornments or signifiers of status? Henderson presents the

necklaces and leaves it to the viewer to supply those who wore them.

Henderson continues to produce works in the ‘Feathers’ series and is also working on large

vessels for her upcoming solo show in November 2012.

Bridie Henderson 2012 CV Milford Galleries Dunedin www.milfordgalleries.co.nz

P a g e | 2

BRIDIE HENDERSON b. 1986, lives Nelson

EDUCATION

2011 Level 7 Diploma in Ceramic Arts, Otago Polytechnic

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2012 Fallen Feathers, Milford Galleries Dunedin

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2012 Royal Queenstown Easter Show, milford galleries queenstown

2012 Selected Works, Milford Galleries Dunedin

AWARDS & RESIDENCIES

2011 Supreme winner of Portage Ceramic Award (youngest ever recipient)

Rainforest Series #3 (2012)

Documents

BRIDIE HENDERSON