The Journal of Australian Ceramics, Vol 65 No 2, July 2026

FOCUS: MONEY AND MEANING
FOUR ARTWORLDS
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF
THE PRESSURE COOKER AND SELF CARE
NATIONAL EDUCATION SURVEY

What does it mean to make for a living? What is the impact of this making? Where is our craft going? Is what we are selling more than a pot? Can we say no to opportunities when they arise if they are not aligned with our beliefs? Can refusal be generative? Can we keep on going, cleaved to the meaning that remains, either way?

The theme for this issue of the Journal – MONEY & MEANING – is big, bothersome, and activating. We start from difficult positions – trying to continue to afford doing things, what to do with the accumulation of work (that no one tells you about), changing connections and relationships, the unaffordability (and undesirability?) of having a solo practice, the strangeness of commerce intersecting with the enduring magicalness of our material practices … and all these happening in rough socio-political times. What an important, good, unavoidable challenge. We are all worthy of doing good work. Giving a damn is irresistible.

Editor: Montessa Maack
Assistant Editor: Jane Orme

CONTRIBUTORS TO JAC 652: Dr Louise R Mayhew, Bernadette Huang, Georgie Avis, Dr Ash King, Chloe Watfern, Natalie Ward, Carys Martin, Adele Macer, Karin McCormack, Tahney Fosdike, Zi Xin / Sylvia, Peta Berghofer, Jennifer Conroy-Smith, Aelish Healy, Amelia Black, Gerry Wedd, Clare Unger, Theodosius Ng, Simon Locke, Kate Bowman, Nicole Adams, Kirsty Collins, Ilona Bruckard, Yurong Xia / Frances, Cath Mackie, Keroshin Govender, Pei Jun Zhang, Raymond Huynh, Tali Koto, Joanna Pinkiewicz, Kate Sutton, Ann Gillespie, Gillian Karpiel