TAFE diploma of ceramics student Luke Atkinson was lucky he was able to keep potting his ceramics at home this year – when Covid stopped students from being able to go to class.

With his own potters wheel at hand, he ‘threw’ clay and made sculptural forms in his garage workspace.

Now, with a body of his work on display at ‘Emerge’ the annual TAFE end of year exhibition, he will graduate with the class of 2021. 

Some of Luke's ceramic works.

Students ready to Emerge after a Covid year

The student exhibition is usually the highlight of the TAFE year – but with Covid restrictions still in place, the opening night this year on November 26 will be by invite only. 

The public are invited to check out the works of all fine arts TAFE students after that night – on display at TAFE until December 2, from 9am to 4pm.

“Centred is the name of our ceramics show,” Luke said. “It’s part of the broader fine arts show.

"It will be set up in the TAFE ceramic workshop area – and the other classes will be cleared to display all of the other graduating students works too.”

Passion

For Luke, making things with clay is his latest passion and he says he loves it. In fact, he’s successfully been selling his functional ceramic works throughout the year – sometimes as soon as he has made them.

Luke has an artistic background, having been a graphic designer in Sydney for 30 years. Then he studied a bachelor of fine arts in Sydney and started working in clay.

“Then I came to Lismore and found Lismore TAFE has a great reputation in ceramics and I applied this year and got in,” Luke said.

Challenge of Covid

“It was a challenge studying through Covid - when the TAFE college was closed and we couldn’t go in there. That’s where we need to finish our works with glazes and firing.

“However, we are a tight knit class of 16 people. We had a lot of support from teachers who would do live Zoom sessions.

“But, the Covid isolation was not conductive to a creative environment – and the stress levels were high. 

“My work changed because of it.

Functional wear

“Because I have a graphic design background, my work has a strong sense of design.

"I make one off display pieces with a sculptural feel – like vessels for flowers or unusual shaped bowls.

“My ideas often start with sketches in my notebook, but sometimes the clay dictates to me when I’m on the wheel – so things may not go as planned.

“I’ve been lucky enough to have a following for my work and sell through Instagram and PAC gallery studios in Bangalow.

“I’ve loved studying at Lismore TAFE, the teachers all come from professional ceramics background and are highly skilled.”

The TAFE fine arts end of year exhibition runs from November 26 until December 2 at Lismore TAFE on Keen Street, Lismore.