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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 the next student on our Full Time Dipl

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

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...

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

Kira Catani is the next Full Time Diploma student

Kira Catani is the next Full Time Diploma student to be introduced...

Kira has joined us from Helsinki, Finland where she first became interested in ceramics after taking evening classes. Prior to joining Clay College, she studied ceramics for two years at a vocational school in Forssa a couple of hours from Helsinki.

She is excited at the opportunity of learning about different materials and glazes, especially the different firing techniques. Kira is mostly interested in functional ware and would like to become better at throwing.

Next up in our introductions of the Full Time Dipl

Next up in our introductions of the Full Time Diploma students is Shaun...

Shaun wants to make pottery that people take pleasure in using, which isn't too serious and makes them smile. Creating ceramics in a sensitive and sustainable manner is important to him. While a little unsure of the direction his work will eventually take, Shaun is interested in exploring low/mid-fired ceramics. He is currently looking at English slipware and early Islamic lustreware, and is keen on the idea of pottery as a ground for painterly decoration. When not practising pottery, Shaun enjoys reading, playing online chess, birdwatching and writing about himself in the third person.

If you would like to see what Shaun has been working on recently, you can follow him here on Instagram: @shaunmcgurdy

Wishing everybody a happy new year! ✨ We though

Wishing everybody a happy new year! ✨

We thought it was about time we introduced each of the current Full Time Diploma students. Over the next couple of weeks, we will be introducing all of the students individually. First up is Sandra...

After studying art in Switzerland, Sandra developed a passion for clay and a solid foundation in hand-built ceramics through her involvement in a pottery studio in Istanbul, where she currently resides. Having previously had little experience at the wheel, Sandra's throwing skills have developed rapidly whilst studying at Clay College. Sandra's passion for the natural world influences both the shapes and forms she creates and the highly decorative surface patterns that she is currently exploring.

If you would like to see more of what Sandra has been working on, you can follow her on Instagram here: @sandralucymoll

✨🎄Merry Christmas from everyone at Clay Colle

✨🎄Merry Christmas from everyone at Clay College! 🎄✨

Thank you to everyone who has supported us through what has proven to be been a very challenging year. Here's to a happy and healthy 2021! ✨⭐

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