Sue Acheson
Sue Acheson is a multi-disciplined artist working with ceramic, wood and paint to create artworks that have two main influences. The marks she makes are graphic representations of the light and shadow created by the sun as it travels through the day, and the forms she creates reflect the personalities of individuals and groups of people.
She works primarily in clay, but is adaptable, using materials that are suitable for each circumstance. Natural materials, especially locally sourced timbers are important in her practice. Sue fires her ceramics in a catenary arch wood-fired kiln which she built in 2008.
Background
Sue worked for many years in the advertising and marketing industry as a graphic designer, creative director and business owner. She is trained in graphics, ceramics and fine art, and has worked as a multi disciplinary artist since 2008.
She is active in the local art community, helps run the Baw Baw Arts Alliance and is a member of the Arts and Cultural Advisory Committee (to Baw Baw Shire). Sue is an inaugural committee member of the Old Drouin Butter Factory Inc. – set up to fundraise, develop and purchase a historic building on behalf of the community for a Creative Arts Complex.
Exhibition History
February 2011 Selected to be part of Emergence Exhibition, Federation Square, Melbourne.
March 2011 Shortlisted for the biannual Victorian Ceramics Award 2011, Manningham Gallery, Melbourne.
April 2011 Selected to be part of 50 Australian Woodfirers Exhibition, Deloraine, Tasmania.
April 2011 Winner of the Woodfire Exposed photography competition, Deloraine, Tasmania.
August 2011 3 pieces selected for Energy (emerging artists), Skepsi Gallery, Melbourne.
March 2012 Solo exhibition at Abi Edwards Gallery, Jinks Creek Winery, Victoria.
Sept 2012 Selected as an emerging artist to exhibit in Engaging Form at Montsalvat, Melbourne.
June 2013 Essentials for the Domestic Goddess Revisited, Skepsi Gallery, Whitehorse Art Space.
March 2013 Shortlisted for the biannual Victorian Ceramics Award 2013, Manningham Gallery, Melbourne.
Sept 2013 Selected as an emerging artist to exhibit in Expressions of Self at Montsalvat, Melbourne.
August 2014 Selected as an emerging artist to exhibit in Quiet Conversations at Montsalvat, Melbourne.
August 2014 Prominitions, group exhibition at Warragul Arts Centre, Warragul, Victoria
October 2014 Inspired by Birds, selected sculpture exhibition at Neerim South, Victoria.
May 2015 Jindivick Sculpture Show (selected for Narkoojee Winery exhibition)
July 2015 Shortlisted for Victorian Ceramics Award 2015, Manningham Gallery, Melbourne
July 2015 Victorians Stepping Up, group exhibition, Ceramics Triennial, Canberra
Oct 2015 Baw Baw Artists, group exhibition, Warragul Arts Centre, Victoria
Feb 2016 Lead Artist, People and Place installation, Station Gallery, Yarragon
May 2016 #toomanywords art performance and collaboration, Arts Centre, Warragul.
June 2016 Artists Residency at Leigh Creek, Flinders Ranges. Funded by Country Arts SA
May 2017 #toomanywords art performance and collaboration – sculpture. Civic Park, Warragul
August 2017 Joint exhibition with Russell Lilford at the Station Gallery, Yarragon, Victoria
April 2018 Selected for the Emerging Artists exhibition curated for Clay Gulgong Ceramics Conference 2018
Public Art
2002 – 2006 Set design and painting for Warragul Theatre Company, Victoria.
March 2006 Collaboration in bollard painting project at the Linear Trail, Warragul, Victoria.
February 2008 Collaboration in installation for the ‘Longest Lunch’, Drouin, Victoria.
April 2008 Collaboration in mosaic project ‘compass rose’, Warragul, Victoria.
March 2010 Creative direction of Baw Baw Shire exhibition stand, Larders Park, Victoria.
October 2010 Installation of creative pathway, Pioneer Park, Yarragon, Victoria.
March 2011 Mural painting for Baw Baw Shire exhibition stand, Lardners Park, Victoria.
April 2011 Community tile making for Callignee memorial wall, Victoria.
March 2012 Mural painting for Baw Baw Shire exhibition stand, Lardners Park, Victoria.
December 2012 Carved wooden totem poles for childrens playground, Burke Street Park, Warragul, Victoria.
February 2013 Carved wooden totem poles for childrens playground, Jacksons View, Drouin, Victoria.
May 2013 Relief carved panels for Burke Street Park, Warragul, Victoria.
July 2014 Carved wooden sculpture Reeds Gathering for Warragul Community Garden.
Feb 2016 RAV funded Community project People and Place Installation in the Station Gallery, Yarragon, Victoria
June 2016 Artists Residency funded by Country Arts SA at Leigh Creek, Flinders Ranges, SA
About me
Name: Susan Jane Acheson
College: Jacob Kramer (UK), York Art College (UK), Harrogate Art College (UK), Chisholm Tafe (Aus)
Subjects: Graphic Design, Fine Art, Ceramics
Favourite Colour: Orange
Favourite Book: The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery
Favourite Film: Amelie
Favourite Food: Salad!
Favourite Quotes: Thinking. The talking of the soul with itself. (Plato)
There is no truth (Nietzsche)