ClayCraft #55

Welcome love this time of year. Usually, it provides a welcome step-change from the hot summer months – this year? Not so much (where did the sun go?!) – but the smell of autumn in the air, misty mornings and warm afternoons make me happy. It’s the season for events, too, with Halloween and Bonfire Night on their way, and in this issue, we have some great themed projects, including one that’s simple enough for children to make. There’s also news of a series of new events where artists can sell direct to the public in three different locations across the country – Birmingham, Peterborough and Wetherby, in Yorkshire. The Great British Craft Fair is taking applications now, and you can see more details on page 51. It’s really heartening…

IN THE NEWS THIS IS ENGLAND If you have a news story, product launch or details of some other topical item you’d like our readers to know about, email claycraft.ed@kelsey.co.uk Hannah McAndrew’s ‘This is England’ charger, featured in Doug Fitch’s diary last month, has just hit the internet to raise money for Fair Share, the charity championed by footballer Marcus Rashford. The charity aims to fight hunger and tackling food waste. It’s been quite challenging to find the best way of potentially generating the most money while not excluding people who might like a chance to own it but can’t a.ord it. This consideration immediately ruled out auctioning it, which would be the most straightforward way, but auctioning it, of course, would mean that it would go to the person…

Kent Potters’ Association exhibition After a disrupted year with no in-person events, the Kent Potters Association is delighted to announce that it will be holding its annual exhibition at the Maidstone Museum, St. Faith’s Street, Maidstone, from 18-30 October. Admission is free, and the exhibition aims to showcase the incredibly wide range of the talents and ideas of the membership.…

STUDIO CONTENTS Sylvia Edwards from Creative Sparkworks has been in touch about the sad closure of the charity’s pottery studio, but with a very generous o.er concerning its contents. Sylvia takes up the story: “My charity has just closed down our small community pottery studio in north Lambeth to focus on other creative activities. I am sad to do this, but I am unable to run it myself due to severe allergies to clay and glazes. “So, my team and trustees would like to pass the contents, including front-loading kiln (Arterial Engineering Works Ltd), controller (Cambridge), Shimpo tabletop electric wheel, guide sticks, rolling pins, modelling tools, press moulds, kiln furniture, to one organisation or individual potter. “There will be a modest charge for these, to reimburse our charity towards refitting…

LONDON EXHIBITIONS London gallery Maud and Mabel is holding two exhibitions in November and December, respectively; ‘Layers’ and ‘Hideo Sadawa: Still Moments’. ‘Layers’ will be on display from 12-21 November, with a private view on Thursday, 11 November. This exhibition brings together the works of Wataru Hatano and Tetsuya Ozawa, two Japanese artists whose works explore the application of layers. Hatano works with Japanese washi paper, while Ozawa is a ceramicist, and ‘Layers’ will bring to light how layers, even on di.erent mediums, can be so impactful. The solo exhibition of Hideo Sawada’s work,’ Still Moments’, will run from 3-12 December, with a private view on Thursday, 2 December. The first of Sawada’s solo exhibitions in the UK, this will be a special opportunity to experience the e.ect of being…

Electric Kilns and Firing Tim Thornton is running a comprehensive online course all about kilns and firing. Starting on 23 September, the eight-week course will cover all the information you need to select, maintain and fire an electric kiln safely and eciently. It also covers what happens to clays and glazes when they’re fired. The course is held live but will be recorded for those who can’t attend at the time. Additional discussion sessions will also be available. For more details, visit: tim-thornton.com…