A/Prof. Pamela ( Pam ) Sinnott

The research contributes to discourse in Feminism through its aim to deconstruct conventional gender roles. The solo exhibition of ceramic sculptures illuminates traditional kitchen labour as a mainly female activity and in doing so attempts to provoke impetus for change through challenging societys acceptance of this traditional role. The sculptures in the exhibition act as metaphors for complex textual Feminist theory and thus provide a new and visual interpretation. Ironic text embedded into the ceramic sculptures is drawn from Mrs Beetons Cookery Book, (c. 1919) and refers to the continuing domestic labour of women today. The significance of this research is that it questions the traditional role of women in the kitchen; it encourages reassessment and reevaluation in relation to the production of labour in this domain. Its value is attested to by the following indicators: publication of the research in Ceramics Monthly. March 2007 ISSN 0009-0328 (pp 48-51) Pam Sinnott Memorials From the Kitchen by Elizabeth Ashburn. Image on front cover and five images with article. Published by the American Ceramic Society the worlds oldest, most comprehensive and largest international ceramic art periodical; two of the larger works were exhibited in Verve, University of Newcastle Gallery, Manning Region Art Gallery, Taree (traveling exhibition) and Tamworth Region Art Gallery; images of the exhibition and individual works were shown in Clay STATEments NSW 09 (selected exhibition of NSW ceramists), at VERGE the 11th National Ceramic conference, Brisbane.

Limon was one of a series of ceramic sculptures which contribute to discourse in Queer Theory (gender and sexuality). Through its visual representation and interpretation it challenges the validity of heteronormative discourse and questions heteronormative labels by encouraging reassessment and reevaluation in relation to gender and sexuality in a visually accessible form. The works of this series used forms of fruit (a derogatory name for queers) in their construction in order to disrupt and question the derogatory connotation as well as to empower. The form of the work metaphorically points to alternative gender identities which defy normative categorisation. The significance of this research is that: Limon was selected for a prestigious international exhibition by the executive committee through invitation; Limon was accepted into the Sanbao International Ceramic Art Institute collection, Jingdezhen City, Jiangxi Province, China; the exhibition was held during the International Ceramic Fair October 18-28, 2008; the work was one of 242 in total; more than 4000 visitors saw the exhibition; an image of the work was published in a high quality catalogue; the work was one of a series exhibited in Pink II, Maitland Regional Art Gallery (Curator: Joe Eisenberg), Maitland (2006), which was an official event of the 2006 Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival.