THE POTTER’S MIRROR- Education and Outreach Iznik Ceramics Residency 2005

Burrell Collection, Glasgow 2005. The Potter’s Mirror exhibition was the culmination of an artist’s residency focussed on the Iznik ceramics collection at the Burrell. During the residency, history, cultural contexts, forms and techniques of Iznik cermaics were studied, and under the guidance of the curator of Islamic collections Noorah Al Gailani, the rich Sufi imagery contained within the pieces. Several new works and a series of photogrpahs were made during the course of the residency. These are found in the exhibitions section of this website.

The Iznik ceramics workshops were successful in drawing together disparate groups from the local community including Pollok Painters, and a women’s group from the Central Mosque. Several primary and secondary schools took part, as well as groups from art school. The residency also provided an opportunity to particiapte generally in the life of the museum, and to respond to events and converations as they unfolded. For example a seminar on feminist art was created for staff at the museum- curatorial, cleaning, café, guards and guides as a response to their comments on the arrival of Titian’s Venus Rising on loan to the Burrell Collection in July 2005.

The Potter’s Mirror Exhibition ran from September- November 2005. A DVD was produced to accompany it, including interviews of artists and workshop participants. The Burrell Residency featured on BBC Radio Scotland, “Zarieh”, broadcast 29 May 2005.

Funding: Glasgow City Council Cultural and Leisure Services, and the Scottish Arts Council.

Here are glimpes of the varied ways in which the contents of the Burrell’s Iznik Ceramics collection, and the approach taken to its study were shared with visitors and community groups.