ABOUT US...

RIVER AND WOOD is a partnership between two artists: Sharon Smallwood and Gerda Maas

They got to know each other through their work in 2000.

At that moment Sharon Smallwood was working mainly 2 dimensional: painting and drawing in which she also developed special techniques amongst others painting on silk paper. Currently she's working 2 and 3 dimensional, next to painting and drawing, sculpting and photography have become an important part of her work.

Gerda Maas was working 3 dimensional, in which clay was the most important medium. This has changed in the past years to working with other materials as well. At this moment it has resulted in using clay in combination with polymer. She is also part of STILL EVEN, which aims at theme expositions and working at special locations, for example the exposition Tempus Arti, in Belgium, where they placed 2 water objects.

Inspired by each others work they decided to start working together in 2005 on a whole new front, combining art and wayward design under the name RIVER AND WOOD.

They have designed a collection of ceramic objects, which can be filled with flowers keeping the setting of a table in mind. Besides dinner sets, cutlery and beautiful wine glazes these ceramic objects filled with flowers add an extra dimension to the laid table. So let you're table be inspired by RIVER AND WOOD. This could be either a table at a restaurant, a hotel, a wedding table or "just" at your own home. All objects are hand sculpted and unique pieces of art.

Besides several presentations, RIVER AND WOOD entered in the 2005 Prix the Carouge, with theme SOLI FLOWER VASE - Geneva - Switzerland.

Apart from working together, Gerda Maas and Sharon Smallwood also regularly exhibit their own work. Both give courses, Sharon Smallwood teaches drawing classes in Duivendrecht and Amsterdam and Gerda Maas teaches a ceramic course in Amsterdam.

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C.V SHARON SMALLWOOD

Amsterdam 16.05.1969

Education :

1984 Amsterdam Graphical School.
1998-2000 Arts and Craft Foundation - Amsterdam
2000 - Courses and workshops

Exhibitions (a selection):
1999 Art fair - Diemen
2000 Open Ateliers - Amsterdam Zuid - Oost.
2001- 2002 Galerie Art-de-Cor - Amsterdam.
2003 Started up Arts and crafts movement "Open Atelierroute" - Duivendrecht.
2004 Exhibition "Prinseneiland" - Amsterdam.
Social project "The Azalia Hof"
2005 Several culteral activities for the "Culturele Werkgroep Duivendrecht".
Open Ateliers - Duivendrecht.

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C.V. GERDA MAAS

Oostzaan 12.04.1960

Education:
University for Art (before tutor education "d´Witte Leli)
Graduated in 1983 for the following subjects; manual skills/arts &crafts and textiles.
From 1984 - 2000 teacher arts and crafts at the Scholengemeenschap Reigersbos- Amsterdam Zuid-Oost

Exhibitions (a selection) :
1987 Galerie den gulden fonteyn - Amsterdam.
1988 Galerie Grafiker - Haarlem.
1989 Terra Hedendaagse Keramiek - Delft
1992 "Gevormde Aarde"- Kunsthal - Almelo
Abstracte Composities in klei VI - Galerie Amphora - Oosterbeek.
1995 Galerie Dijk I - Alkmaar.
1998 Galerie Grafiker - Haarlem.
1999 Galerie Naber - Groningen.
Galerie Dijk I - Alkmaar.
2001 Theme exhibit "Aarde" - Galerie de Bunders - Sint Oedenrode.
2003 Galerie de Steenlinde - Soest.
2004 Galerie Naber - Groningen.
Galerie de Steenlinde - Soest.
Galerie Nieuw Beerenburght - Eck en Wiel.
2005 Galerie Ja Ja - Amsterdam.

Work in possession of private collectors, Art Center Zaanstad and the City Museum of Alkmaar. Membership of the Dutch Ceramists Association.

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