Off Centre is a Tasmanian Arts Collective Gallery featuring Ceramics, Jewellery and Paintings by 11 Tasmanian Artists.
Off Centre opened in August 1999 as a collective of 8 Potters. The original idea was to provide studio space for the Tasmanian Potters’ Society (later re named The Tasmanian Ceramics Association), and a commercial outlet for as many of the members who were interested. Jude Maisch and the late Margaret Doe were the originators of the idea, and Cherie Nicolson, Junita Stevens and Carolyn Toselli joined them, together with Sue Murphy, Marjorie Lenehan and Throwers Arms (a partnership of the late Helen Engisch and her husband Andre Gavlik.)
Jude, Cherie and Carolyn are still members of the collective. Jude is a life member of The Tasmanian Ceramics Association, and was for several years Workshops Officer and at another time President. Cherie has been Newsletter editor, Junita President, and Margaret secretary, so for many years most of the members of Off Centre had, in particular in the early years, close connections with the Potters’ Society. The same is the case with other members who joined later, such as the late John Watson (President and workshops officer, and committee member) and Kim Foale (President), who joined in 2010. Other Off Centre partners were members of the Potters’ Society. Yulia Szalay joined when we were upstairs, and is still part of the collective.
The Kelly’s Lane window end of Space 109 (now the home of Betty Nolan’s business) provided an exhibition space, where a grouping of plinths allowed for many small pottery exhibitions. These included school groups, first time exhibiting potters and many special collective exhibitions.
The back room was the Potters’ Society studio, with wheels and a slab roller. A Ward kiln was stored there but never connected. The studio also housed the extensive library and pot collection.
Jude ran several pottery classes there and took work home to fire in her own studio. This included children’s classes, and provided some income for both her and the Potters’ Society.
As well the Potters’ Society ran many very successful weekend workshops with international and interstate potters such as Jeff Oestreich, Greg Daly, Janet de Boos and Matthias Ostermann, and held functions for both past and present members, as well as Open Days. Members also were able to come in using business hours and use the facilities.
In October 2003 The Potters’ Society moved to a new studio space at the rear of Cosgrove High School. The Society had paid a small sum for the studio rental compared to the collective’s retail space paid by the members, but the committee saw different opportunities by housing the studio in Glenorchy.
The previously used studio space was then converted by the collective to a gallery space, celebrated with an opening in Off Centre’s 4th Year by the exhibition “Now We Are Four”, an exhibition of the partners’ ceramics and painting by Sister Kathleen Howe.
From 2003 there were many successful exhibitions in the gallery including painting, printmaking, photography, other pottery and some wonderful group exhibitions by the collective members. It has always been the collective’s purpose to not only provide a commercial outlet for its members, but also support and encourage emerging artists.
The gallery space also for several years was sectioned off at the rear to provide two small studios, which were rented to artists such as John Robertson, a leadlighter. As well Off Centre housed and maintained the Potters’ Society library.
For almost 12 years Off Centre was in Space 109. When some of the original members stopped being potters, decided that the commitment did not suit them or found other galleries to sell their work, new members joined. Sadly during this time we lost two of our partners, Helen and Margaret, passing away before the next big opportunity that we had all been waiting for. In May 2011 we moved downstairs!!
By 2011 Off Centre had changed from being solely pottery, to include bronze and drawing (Sylvie McClay), as well as a glass artist and later a jeweller. While it was originally to be only pottery it has become evident over the years that a small number of other art forms enhance the overall image of the gallery. Off Centre can still claim to have the largest collection of local pottery in Tasmania. One of our most interesting and prizewinning ceramicists, John Watson, passed away in 2017.
Between 2011 and the present day there have been a number of other artists come and go, some for short periods, others significantly longer. Some have come across new opportunities through being visible in Off Centre, been “discovered by some of the bigger galleries, or have started businesses of their own.
Off Centre’s Microgallery was first suggested by Kim and has been running exhibitions fortnightly since 2011, both member exhibitions and for outside exhibitors. It is housed in a large window space immediately off Salamanca Place, with the opportunity to display on plinths or hanging in the window. Potters, painters, jewellers, a shoemaker, photographers, and others have all been part of an interesting programme, creating ideal opportunities for first time exhibitors in particular. A notable and extremely successful exhibitor has been Judy Tierney, who has found a new passion in jewellery design after a successful career as an ABC journalist.
Off Centre continues to be a unique outlet for potters: Jude Maisch, Cherie Nicolson, Carolyn Toselli, Yulia Szalay, Verena Truninger, Lisa Wise, Henrietta Norris, Kirsty Riddle and Christine Adby. They are joined by Angela Blake with jewellery and paintings by Jessika Kreps.