Yvonne Rust, QSM – Pioneering Potter

 

When we call Yvonne Rust QSM a pioneering potter, it isn’t so much because she was one of the first potters, although she was certainly one of the early rush of potters in New Zealand to make the craft popular in the late 50s and 60s. She pioneered in another way and that was that she introduced the medium of clay as art and sculpture. Typically potters made domestic ware, useful stuff, plates, bowls, mugs, jugs and so on, but Yvonne innovatively made anything she could think of out of clay: drums, door handles, kitchen knobs, light shades, the list is long.

This is a washstand made by Yvonne Rust. Today it is being used as a planter but it was originally made for her bathroom at Tahunatapu Point in Parua Bay.