Jacqui takes up the story: Occasionally, in our busy lives, we meet people who are such independent thinkers that we are shocked (in the best sense) and, at the same time, thrilled by their aesthetic and attitude to life and people. Matiu Bush was one such person, a ceramic artist based in Melbourne, Australia, with a fascinating back story. He is a lecturer and nurse practitioner in his day job, although no longer full-time, and is working on his PhD thesis. He has a space at Jack Balfour's ceramic studio where he heard about my daughter's mould-making skills – Charlie is known as the 'Melbourne Mould Maker'.
Matiu had contacted Charlie some months earlier to ask if she could make him moulds for an exhibition he was planning of 50 really large bottle forms. The models were glass wine containers or demijohns of the type often used for terrariums. There were two sizes, both huge but one slightly smaller than the other, and Matiu wanted to be able to cast the forms for his project.
Charlie's story
Having corresponded for some time via email with Matiu to discuss the project and all that was required, the models were delivered to Charlie's studio in Rye on the Mornington Peninsula, and the challenge began.
Because of the size of the moulds – the small one being 48cm high with a diameter of 145cm and 21cm neck and the larger one being 66cm high with a diameter of 105cm and 17cm at the neck, there were many things to be considered, not only from the making perspective but also the handling of the finished item when full of slip – they would be heavy before the slip was poured in
