A timeless appeal

My good friend and neighbour Marea Gazzard died yesterday. She approached the end of her life with the same dignity with which she'd lived it - as she had wished to do. Marea was a ceramicist and sculptor of international renown, who had also played an active and most productive role in closely linking art and craft in Australia. I loved chatting with Marea. As well as hearing her talk about art and aesthetics more generally, I loved her stories of travel, and of Sydney in the 50s and 60s when she seemed to know all the people who went on to build the cultural life of our city.

Today I watched the brief interview with Marea that was done for the ABC in 2010. She's surrounded by her work in her living room, that was also her studio and gallery. I was very moved when, towards the end of the interview she speaks of her wish that some of her work might have a timeless appeal - that it will be appreciated into the future.

It's fitting that the Art Gallery of NSW recently acquired one of her works - Selini 1 - and that it has featured in the main entrance hall over the last few weeks. A most appropriate way to acknowledge her work.



Like so many of Marea's many friends, I will miss her presence in my life.