Historical information

Bruce STEWART

A Diploma Student in Ceramics at the Gippsland Institute of Advanced Education from 1977 to 1979.

Jan Feder is an alumna of Federation University having studied ceramics at the Gippsland Institute of Advanced Education (now Federation University Gippsland campus). Jan Feder was respected by all students for her diligence and technical ability. Her tragic death in 1981 evoked an immediate response from her peers for a memorial. Students discussed a number of memorial options, such as funds for equipment, scholarships and awards. The decision to commence a collection was made based on the idea that all future students could benefit from the availability of a collection, whereas only a very few individuals could benefit from a scholarship. Students immediately set about raising money by selling 'seconds' called 'Junque Sales'. A total of $760.00 was raised and the first two works purchased were by Victor Greenaway and Victoria Howlett.
Ceramic works were purchased from visiting lecturers who became leading ceramic artists around the world, as well as from many of the staff who taught at the Gippsland Campus. The Artist in Residence Program assisted the collection, with many resident artists contributing to the Collection (ie Robin Welch, Anna Zamorska, Sandy Brown), as well as international guests. Ceramic events such as 'Strzelecki Spotkanie 1984' and 'Woodfire 86' also resulted on major contributions to the collection.

Physical description

Salt-glazed pots.

Presented to the Jan Feder Memorial Ceramic Collection by Bruce Stewart