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CLAY COLLEGE
STOKE

Helping the next generation

Lockdown Update

Full Time Course Information

WELCOME TO CLAY COLLEGE

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Introducing our next Full Time Diploma Student: Ni

Introducing our next Full Time Diploma Student: Nicola Collins...

Having studied contemporary art at John Moores University and Goldsmiths, Nicky has spent the last fifteen years working in art education in the South East. Within her own artistic practice, Nicky loves to explore the themes of fragmentation and decay and is currently gaining inspiration from the historical buildings and industrial ruins that surround Clay College.

She is currently developing a body of work that translates these ideas into clay, playing with the boundaries between fine art and functional ceramics.

If you would like to see more of Nicky's work, you can follow her here on Instagram: @nicolacollinsartist

Introducing our next Full Time Diploma Student - J

Introducing our next Full Time Diploma Student - Jessica Turrell...

Before starting at Clay College, Jessica studied Art and Design in Brighton. From there, she went on to make hand-built pots as a hobby for 7 years.

In 2019, Jessica attended a week long wood firing course run by Nic Collins and Sabine Nemet. The week was transformative for her and she knew then that pottery had to be a much bigger part of her life.

Prior to Clay College, Jessica had minimal throwing experience and is excited to be getting to grips with this new skill. She still enjoys handbuilding and feels it suits her as an expressive outlet. She is especially drawn to exploring mark-making and textures on her pots and feels naturally inclined to be playful in her making. Jessica is inspired by relaxed and expressive pots.

Now at Clay College, she is eager to learn as many different skills and techniques as possible to keep in her tool kit for the future.

Outside of college, she enjoys swimming in the sea and rivers, foraging in the countryside which joyfully feeds back into her work.

If you would like to see what Jessica has been working on recently, you can follow her here on Instagram; @jessicaturrell_ceramics

Introducing the next student on our Full Time Dipl

Introducing the next student on our Full Time Diploma course; Ervin Cirikovic...

Ervin is drawn to making wheel-thrown domestic pottery that feels linked to its process. He enjoys making simple forms and shapes; hoping people will use the pots he makes in their homes for a lifetime.

He is keen to learn how to work with different clay bodies and is looking forward to experiencing various firing methods achieving unpredictable and exciting qualities in his work.

If you'd like to see Ervin's work, you can follow him here on Instagram; @ervincirikovic

Introducing our next Full Time Clay College studen

Introducing our next Full Time Clay College student; Han...

Han Nguyen is from Denmark and used to mill about in the game industry where she was a game designer of educational games as well as an artist and animator. She discovered clay about 2 years ago during a career break, which has since then turned into a career change with Clay College. With the world of games and toys still being a predominant source of inspiration, she'd like to explore how playfulness can translate into ceramics and everyday objects.

If you'd like to see more of Han's work, you can follow her here on Instagram; @studio.nyggen

Introducing the next student on our Full Time Dipl

Introducing the next student on our Full Time Diploma course; Frances Savage...

Frances is interested in making pots that are joyful to use as part of everyday rituals. Coming from a social science background, she is fascinated by our relationships with materials objects. She is a great admirer of British medieval pottery and loves to create pots in an expressive manner with generous curves and playful handles.

She has really enjoyed developing glazes to use in gas reduction firing following Matthew Blakeley's glazing masterclass and can’t wait to gain more experience in wood, salt and soda firing at Clay College and in the future.

She is currently based in Manchester and is a member of Manchester Ceramics Collective, a group of 12 ceramic artists who work in a lovely studio space in Old Trafford.

If you'd like to see more of what Frances has been working on you can follow her here on Instagram; @frances.savage.pots

Introducing our next Full Time Diploma student Ell

Introducing our next Full Time Diploma student Ellie Thomason...

Originally from the south-east coast, Ellie has recently been developing wood ash glazes from local materials found whilst out walking in the Scottish Borders. With a background in fine art printmaking, she is interested in the subtle disruptions carving and incising can make within a glaze surface and is currently exploring this via a series of handbuilt ceramic boxes.

Ellie is a multi-disciplinary maker who enjoys the variety of making methods ceramics allows her. Outside of college she enjoys walking, birdwatching and has nearly finished knitting her first jumper.

If you'd like to see what Ellie has been working on recently you can follow her here on Instagram; @elliethomasonpottery

Although the college is closed at the moment, the

Although the college is closed at the moment, the students are working on their own projects and research at home and in their studios.

Introducing the next Clay College student Jessica Mason...

Jessica is a process-led maker with a background in textiles and metals. She grew up in Devon and was first introduced to ceramics at Hollyford Pottery by @fitchandmcandrew before going on to study Fine Art at Chelsea College of Arts London.

Her work is focused on the sensitive interaction between maker and material. Exploring the dialogue between the plastic qualities of clay and its relationship to the user. She considers the evolution of each piece as being intrinsically linked to the rituals of functional wear.

Expanding her knowledge of the material, she is using her time at the college to widen her historical and practical understanding of ceramics. So as to gain a strong foundation of technical skill from which to formulate her designs and future practise.

If you'd like to see more of what Jessica has been working on recently, you can follow her here on Instagram; @jessicamason_ceramics

Dear pottery folk, supporters and followers of Cla

Dear pottery folk, supporters and followers of Clay College Stoke,

It is with the greatest regret, that the Trustees have taken the difficult decision to close the College for the latest lockdown. The students arrived back, after the Christmas break, on Monday the 4th, but by just after 8 pm that night, Government regulation on schools and colleges had changed and the Trust took the difficult decision to close the College.

Unlike many colleges because Clay College is a small unit. We were able to be open and operate almost normally from July until the Christmas holidays; working safely within COVID-19 rules. Everyone remained COVID free during that time. We thank our students and staff whose conscientious approach made that possible.

The students who are able to accommodate a Potters’ wheel and take clay home did so. Those who were unable to do so, collected tools and clay to work on their hand building projects, as they had done during the previous lockdown in March. This time, the students will continue with their business module remotely, so as not to take away from their practical time when the College re-opens.

We had already decided to extend the course until Christmas 2021 after the last lockdown. The Trustees and the Course Director are now working on revising the curriculum so that all aspects of the course are covered once we can re-open. This will ensure our students leave Clay College with the necessary skills we envisioned when setting up the College almost 4 years ago. All students should finish their Diploma with skills needed to be self-sufficient makers. We will be back as soon as we are allowed and will work harder than ever to deliver the course as best we can, and that our hard working students deserve.

In order to protect the College’s future we have furloughed our staff for the current lockdown.
We will continue to post what our students are doing from their isolation so do please keep watching out for the posts and support our students at what is a difficult time for all students everywhere .

Thank you for reading and keep safe everyone,

Lisa Hammond and the Adopt a Potter Trustees.

Introducing the next student on our Full Time Dipl

Introducing the next student on our Full Time Diploma course; Sharon...

Sharon grew up in the South Island of New Zealand against a backdrop of the Southern Alps and the wild Pacific Ocean. This, coupled with her background in Botany and more recently textiles, is the foundation for organic interpretation in her ceramic work. Witnessing the power of nature in action has generated a lifelong fascination with the complex forms that wind and water can create over time.

She has been working on capturing the more transient state of sand patterned by tidal action, in a series of slip-cast beach texture forms as part of the porcelain project.

If you would like to see more of what Sharon has been working on, you can follow her here on Instagram; @sharonleaceramics

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