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Julian Centofanti, a largely self-taught Potter, runs the Carlton Arts Centre Pottery |
| School in Nicholson Street Carlton. |
| Julian grew up in Fitzroy but was born in Abruzzo, near the central coast of Italy |
| and came to Australia with his family as a small boy. |
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| The first time he saw clay being used it was in the more traditional surroundings |
| of a former Collingwood Technical School classroom. |
| An art teacher introduced terracotta clay to a modelling class and Julian found it |
| fascinating. "You could stretch it, you could push it. It was very exciting. We fired it |
| and made many different shapes and forms with that clay" |
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| That first meeting with classroom clay fired his creative juices. He started reading |
| books on pottery and experimenting with clay. "I had some clay at home, but most |
| of the time I didn't get to firing stage. I was busy studying to become an Industrial Chemist". The training he received in Chemistry has proved to be invaluable in the development of glazes, experiments and kiln firing. |
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| Julian continued working, creating and experimenting in his Fitzroy studio as well as reading, asking questions |
| and observing other potters. |
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| In the early 1980's he came to the Carlton Arts Centre to take a structured class. The centre was run by Branko |
| Stanbuck, who had learnt his craft from Melbourne potter Reg Preston. Julian pursued his passion through |
| out the eighties, and he began selling his pieces at the centre and through art galleries. The interest had turned |
| into a lifetime commitment. |
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| Julian took over the Carlton Arts Centre in 1993, and furthers his passion and enjoyment of the creative process by |
assisting students increase their skills, enjoyment and knowledge of pottery techniques. |
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