Words by Rosie Fea
The next mindfulness medium
To make with one’s hands is to truly create.To yield to the cathartic rhythms and free form expression of the handmade offers artists a preferable medium to unearth and represent some of the deepest ideas and artful inclinations they have inside them.
Potters can wholly speak to this truth.
We are loving the re-emergence of ceramics. We love that many young people are now investing their ‘hobby’ cash in night classes, and enjoy spending their spare time ogling at African vases in that empty, isolated end of the museum. Pottery is reclaiming its status, shedding the stigma gathered with the excessive use of ‘temuka’ in the 70’s – that stuff your mum speaks of with such contempt, as she relives dinners served from gravy boats and plates in that strange hue of brown that seemed so damn uncool to her 14 year old self.
Fast forward to now, and the naff nature of pottery in the home has dissipated, and pieces representing the unique notion of honourable imperfections now grace the homes of those whose lives reek of good taste.
A collective of clay lovers and art enthusiasts alike shall now all take a bow for standing steady and unwavering in their endless love affair with vases and sturdy mugs with handles askew…. Despite past predictions of modern day trends they have quietly known all along we would one day return to their side.
Image by Rachel Shields
We want to take the time to celebrate the beauty in supporting independent makers. They are artists. They go slow and they put their all into each piece, and the novelty lies in this; rather than just having it hang on our wall, we have the privilege of drinking our coffee out of it every morning. It becomes part of our daily ritual and reminder to slow down and think of where things came from, and how we too can aspire to make good things with our most crafty tool – our bare hands.
Esther McDonald/Thea Ceramics
@thea_ceramics
www.theaceramics.com
What are your thoughts on seeking and seeing ‘the art and beauty’ in the mundane and ordinary?
It’s different for everyone but I’m a visual person and take in everything, even though I’m quite full of energy and very task focused I deeply enjoy those small moments in the day to notice something special about a tree, colour, light or a piece of mud you just pushed into a vessel. It’s quite magic!
You create works that serve to be functional for everyday living as well being beautiful, collectable treasures…What light can you shed on the notion of ‘conscious consumption’ and favouring essentialism when it comes to possessions and purchasing things for the home…
I really want to focus on making and designing items you love and can use everyday that can withstand heavy usage. I suppose it’s easy to slip into “following trends” and buying low cost, mass produced items that you might feel happy about replacing once they are “out of fashion” or once they break, but it takes a more thoughtful consumer to take the time to connect with a maker and also support New Zealand artists. There is something special about items that are hand made. Not only are they lovely but they have a history and story which helps you feel more connected.
Louis Kittleson
Does working with such a natural form as clay inspire you to look more to the outside world for ideas and input when it comes to visual form?
Working with clay forces you to be humble amongst the tsunami of failure associated with making and firing. I look inwards and try to tell stories with my ceramic objects.
They become a personal narrative. Other objects are reflections of the landscape and geology surrounding me.
You create works that serve to be functional for everyday living as well being beautiful, collectable treasures…What light can you shed on the notion of ‘conscious consumption’ and favouring essentialism when it comes to possessions and purchasing things for the home…
We are increasingly surrounded by objects in-built with obsolescence. More fun can be had making your own from found objects. Individualism and self can be expressed through manipulation. As far as people buying my work…. Well they are buying part of my story. They are buying into my ethos and philosophy and attitude. They are purchasing an item that has been part of my personal research and raison d’ etre. I am excited how my objects then go on to have a life of their own and begin to transform spaces.
Renee Boyd
http://www.reneeboyd.co.nz
Do you remember the first piece you ever made? What did it mean to you at the time?
I don’t remember the first piece exactly, I just remember that as soon as I was around other potters when I was young and learning I felt like I was supposed to be there…this was my thing!
You create works that serve to be functional for everyday living as well being beautiful, collectable treasures…What light can you shed on the notion of ‘conscious consumption’ and favouring essentialism when it comes to possessions and purchasing things for the home…
I’m into making work that is minimalist and thoughtful, and allows people to fall in love with tactile qualities of clay and glaze so that when they buy a piece it’s for life. And I personally feel so attached to pieces that I have bought from friends and makers over the years that I’m sure it all begins and ends with hands, from the hands of the maker to the hands of the end user.
Others to watch out for
https://www.instagram.com/hollyhoustonceramics/
@hollyhoustonceramics
https://www.instagram.com/thepotterxtheclay/
@thepotterxtheclay
https://www.instagram.com/yeshamac/
@yeshamac
https://www.instagram.com/katiacarletti/?hl=en
@katiacarletti
https://www.instagram.com/dot.and.co/
@dot.and.co
Rosie Fea, Freelance Writer.
Rosie is freelance content creator and writer from Queenstown. She is an advocate for simplicity, thoughtful creativity and ethical design, relishes wide open spaces, and is committed to a life of uncovering the shifts needed to cultivate a truly contented soul.