Surrey Docks Farm Pottery - part 2

My farm pottery dream is going from strength to strength!  It has become so much more than a class, it s about the people on my doorstep. What a delight for me to watch how people have bonded in the relaxed environment of the farm.  In a community where we have mostly hurried passed each other to catch transport to get to our next commitment... we are making new friendships as well as mighty fine pots : )

A cluster of dedicated Surrey Docks clay lovers : )


Why do they look so happy....?

Because they made these........

Functional wares by Jon & Simon

Mellisa - throwing champion!

Antonella is our very own Italian designer.

I love it when people turn up to class eager to see their fired pieces

Chung Chung's beautiful bird

Max our master model maker

Kids clay creations! How a pinch pot becomes a scary animation.

Little Noa loves pink : )

It has been so much fun, and that is down to all the fantastic people who have attended.  I am delighted that everyone is able to return in September and excited to be adding more classes for the people who we haven't been able to fit in yet.

The set up process has been organic and we are always ready to hear ideas from the public. This September we will be trying 'Slow Pottery Evening' for people who prefer to share a cheap chilled out Friday evening with a seat and music you can hear over - although it is still open to the under thirties who have seen the light early : )

Also 'Make it together', pottery class for parents and guardians who want to get stuck in along side the kids.... its not fair that they always have the fun! 

Get in touch if you'd like more details, I can't wait to see you at Farm Pottery!

leylaemilyfolwell@hotmail.com                    07745 725750

Weald of Kent Craft Show

When I was Artist in Residence at King's School Worcester http://www.ksw.org.uk/ , I worked with Rodger Plant AKA 'The Pencil Man'.  Thus named for his beautiful pencils made from twigs http://www.twigpencils.co.uk/ , he's also a dedicted photographer and a lovely bloke : )

Rodger introduced me to the lovely craft events organised by ICHF http://www.ichf.co.uk/outdoorcraftsalive/  I have been their potter ever since and I love it!  My job is to go twice a year to the beautiful grounds of Penshurst Place in Kent http://www.penshurstplace.com/ and once a year over to Stonor Park near Henley-on-Thames  http://www.stonor.com/. 

Within the peaceful grounds of Penshurst

I take my portable wheel, tent and lovely boyfriend/assistant (when he is available) and set up workshop and camp for a weekend.  These shows have a terrific attendance no matter what the weather and the atmosphere is fantastic between the visitors, demonstrators and exhibitors.   I have been going for 5 years now and feel like one of the family.  It also feels like a mini break. Don't get me wrong, we work our little socks off, but I find myself looking forward to being in such a beautiful place.

View from out tent

Our set up is a simple one, offering the opportunity to have a go on the potters wheel.  Children usually leap at the chance to get mucky and try something new.  It never ceases to amaze me how they vary in their abilities regardless of age.... speaking of age... so many adults say they have always wanted to do it. But, my god, it can be harder work persuading then to give it a go than it is teaching them!  Poor old adults, at what age does this fear kick in? 


My aim is to support and guide verbally, limiting my physical contact with the clay to give the student as much of the making experience as possible. And guess what? Nobody has ever failed : ) They all leave with a pot!  However, the odd one hits the grass before they reach the car... but I just can't help with that bit.

Russell - the best staff I ve ever had!  lol : )

Some of our lovely crafty friends:
http://ficakes.co.uk/
http://www.mouseandmoon.com/

Other things that we have made

Modelling Table

Dinner and a well earned cuppa

...and then a good nights sleep in the fresh air. Bliss!

If you think you might like to join us at the next event, let me know and I will do my best to get you a complimentary ticket.

Easter 2011 Farm Orchard Map Project

Tracey Neil the Education Coordinator at Surrey Docks Farm http://surreydocksfarm.org.uk/index.php  fantastically won some funding from the Team London Bridge http://www.teamlondonbridge.co.uk/ and asked me if I would organised a series of mural workshops.

Now, as you may already know, I cannot stay away from the Farm - to me it is paradise in this crazy town : )  So, naturally I jumped at the chance!


We decided on a map of the orchard, showing the different species of trees, the products that the farm produce and the wildlife that inhabit the area. This was to be produced by local children over 3 days .... no problem!? 

You can see in this image that currently the trees have laminated signs hanging from them. These contain further information about the species,  products and time of harvest etc. 


I thought it would also be nice to make some permanent ceramic signs to replace these. 


What is interesting is that because our seasons are so erratic we decided not to include the harvested time as it can no longer be accurately predicted.




The plan was two, two hour sessions a day and my design required 140 tiles to be made and decorated. So a tile per person, plus a few. We made the actual map by painting on to manufactured bisc tiles and an ornate frame by adding clay sprigs to freshly rolled out slabs... that was a lot of rolling for me.


As an opening activity we made biodegradable honey bees out of clay and found greenery from around the farm. The lovely thing about this was the children scoured around the plants and gardens just like the farm bees. They turned back up in the class room delighted with their loot, images of what it would become buzzing (sorry!) in their minds.  It was great fun, the bees became more and more elaborate as the sessions went on.

Here is the map half painted.  I drew out the trees with underglaze pencils and numbered the backs. 

The children worked out designs on paper first and the used underglazes paints to transfer their images on to the tiles.

These tiles are part of the frame. Its made from an outdoor terracotta and painted with decorating slips.

No two the same!

All hand made with love : )

Every session was full to bursting, it was a lot of fun.

 When that was all over, the job was only half done for me. The 'greenware' frame needed careful drying and all tiles needed to be fired in the kiln to fix the painting.

  

Glaze comes from the manufacturer in powder form.

Glaze mixing equipment

Applying the glaze. 

And that is as far as I have got. When all the glaze firing is complete, I will apply transfers with text and then fire those on and then it will be ready to install.  I cant wait to see it in place!

Couldn't possiblyt tell this story without mentioning the lovely Katie Netley who took time away from her Brighton Degree work to come and help. She was an all round star and I really enjoyed her company. Check out her own work: http://materialspractice.moonfruit.co.uk/#/katie-netley/4548371738

And of course Tracey Neil who organizes and runs everything she does with such grace and calm it is almost unreal!  But that is her proffession, she has four schools a week through her class room! She provides tailor made educational activities for groups as well as running a Young Farmers club.
http://surreydocksfarm.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=28&Itemid=57

That 's it for now, I will add more when we have installed it. 


To be continued.......

Pottery at Surrey Docks Farm

In November last year I ran a few taster Pottery sessions at the local city farm.  http://surreydocksfarm.org.uk/ 


I had handed my notice in at my studio in Deptford. http://www.corblimeyarts.com/
Not sure it was the right thing, but knowing I was creatively stuck and had to do something drastic to snap me out of it. This is no refection on the super talented residents of Cor Blimey. In fact the opposite, there was so much action at the all new Core Gallery that it made me realise I just wasn't feeling it...... and now I am looking forward to going back next month and taking part in their latest brain child 'DIY Educate' http://www.coregallery.co.uk/diy-educate/


So, what was the problem? It's a deep one, and I am still working on the answer. Basically I am trying to understand what being an artist is really all about, what is my role in society and how to feel fulfilled.  I have always been driven to make what I feel from within and not work towards what might sell.  This is made possible by working part time and living cheaply.  But making 'forms' (as you see in my previous blog) loaded with emotion but unsupported by any critical writing or explanation to the viewer is a bit of a long shot. How do I make the world a better place and stop filling up my space with my own self expression....?
Everyone loves pottery, I travel the country with my wheel and have the most enriching exchanges through sharing the skill.  I have done some work previously with the Tracey who runs the education section at the farm. In fact, the farm used to have a pottery.... sadly, it burnt down. Arson not an out of control kiln firing.
I called Barry Mason the new farm manager. He said ' Ah yes, I ve been wondering how I was going to add pottery to our growing program....'


Bingo! .... I am a believer in Taoism.  It has never let me down yet.

After a quick poster production and distribution I waited....


Three days before the first class Anne-Marie called and after that enthusiastic calls & e mails have been flowing my way.


The evening classes built up and in the end I was turning people down. The family day and Christmas fair left me with a list of interested people. Everyone enjoyed their pottery time. I love to see how people get so absorbed in creative activity, we all need more of this in our lives. Creativity is the antidote to consumerism, it can fill a part of you that shopping will never touch. I felt great because I had facilitated this, this is the buzz I had lost.

Testimonial from Adult Taster Sessions

"I am amazed at what you had us producing during the first session, and by the quantity and range of things I produced over three. You  created a very relaxed and welcoming environment, and not having to worry about bringing any materials made the whole thing so accessible. Many thanks for providing the opportunity to try something I've wanted to do for years. It was great, and I am very much recommend it to others. The farm also made a great venue.”

Mark McNestry

www.markmcnestry.co.uk

NCVO Approved Consultant

Supporting communities, charities and the public sector

Mark, Justine and Harry

Mieke 

Anne-Marie and Adam

One of Anne-Marie's beautiful designs

There were many successes and triumphs, defying the challenging nature of ceramics. We started with a simple slab project and I was delighted how quickly everyone took it off in their own direction. As usual the wheel was very popular and once again, the gang picked it up so quickly!  However the project was not without its trails. The first panic was when the pots froze! They were stranded along with my car in the heavy snow and turned sort of furry??? I was devastated, as any potter will tell you, the chances of survival were slim... but they defrosted slowly under a duvet, and against all odds fired fine! With the gods supposedly on my side I headed back to the farm only to slip over on the ice and scatter the lot on the pavement outside the farm!! Most survived or were repaired with good old araldite, and my blood pressure returned to normal after a matter of days :)

What's next? 

There is lots more coming up. I am fine tuning dates right now for more classes starting very soon and I am also planning a 'Sketch Club' and a tame gorilla art movement. If you aren't already on my mailing list get in touch through www.throwapotparty.co.uk

Monochrome Set - a turning point

Pat and Hanz, who I met at Core Blimey Arts, two amazing people who work hard and  with sincerity.
They saved me really as I was wallowing in a rut, it was time to make something different!
It felt like a holiday from myself but at the same time it put me back in touch with why I work as I do. 


Freedom, spontaneity, raw and honest.... oh and black and white?! A first for me, I worship colour but this gave me an uninterrupted look at the form.

'Adam's Peak'

This was a period of change, a fresh look at my work, my studio situation and those nagging questions of 'what is it all for...?'

Core Gallery - Monochrome Set 




Similarly when I did 'throw a pot' at the open studios, I felt like I had made a valuable contribution instead of sitting there feeling slightly uncomfortable about my work........

Monochrome Set

Seeking inspiration from the work of Pat and Hanz helped me draw deep in to the character of my own work and put me back in touch with the reasons for my choice of material and process. Using their work as a mirror, I found the rhythm that I admire in their work in my process rather than the end result.

For nearly a decade I have worked solely with the potter's wheel, using this tool to provide speed and flow in the creation of dynamic forms. When restricted (by choice) to only my bare hands, a few simple tools and the clay I found myself creating the same immediacy and spontaneity.

Monochrome has been a reawakening and a reassuring journey, I feel truly in touch with

my practice and believe I am on the right path.

Pat and Hanz - Setting Up

I had been feeling quite detached from the 'Cor Blimey' set up but setting this up made me feel at home.  The same applied when we set up 'Bleedin' Heart' in Brighton.  You really only ever feel on the outside when you put yourself there.

The Journey So Far

'Bleedin' Heart' 

So this is what I ve been making. Ornaments I guess. They mean more to me than that but that is another story for later.... my dear friend Emily Wilson and I are working on a written piece which will hopefully help me shed some light in that direction.  

'Death- Not as bad as you may think'

For me these ceramic objects are beautiful because they are free and energetic. They are as sincere as I can be in clay and with the skills I learned at college.  I have enjoyed every minuet of my clay quest, but I feel it's time to move on.....

Leyla Folwell. 'My work so far'. June 2010

My practice as an artist has become holistic. I am learning to look at my life as the art rather than the reverse. This body of work is the result of my need for a physical element of my self expression, but this is not a need exclusive to artists but to all people. Children feel free to express themselves through play and crafts but sadly at some point most of us loose this unselfconscious liberation. Laying dormant for years, being satisfied with the endless supply of 'dummies' our consumer society lays in front of us, we often reawaken half way through our life as the reality of our mortality starts to murmur.

What concerns me, is what do we miss in the mean time? And what are the consequences of our absence?

'Sanctuary'


 All these beautiful photographs were taken by the Italian Master Daniele Longo 

     http://www.danielelongo.co.uk/

Freedom on the Water