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A series of events & pop up displays organised by independent potters, ceramic artists & other creative contributors from (or closely associated with) Stoke-on-Trent. These inaugural ‘DIY’ activities aim to complement the British Ceramics Biennial (11 September - 17 October 2021) & encourage the development of a more substantial ‘fringe’ programme for future festivals.
A series of initial ‘fringe’ events & DIY pop up displays organised by independent potters, ceramic artists & associated contributors based in (or near) Stoke-on-Trent to complement the British Ceramics Biennial (11 September - 17 October 2021)
*There will be a number of activities & venues across the city added to this ‘self-organised’ programme as & when confirmed. Please keep checking our event listings & social media for details.
As an initial taster of things to come… here’s a selection of ‘Made in Stoke-on-Trent’ (BCB ‘fringe’) activities taking place at Ceramic City Stories, Winkhill Mill, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 7RH between 11 September - Sunday 17 October 2021)
*Final details to be confirmed; please keep an eye on these event listings & our Twitter channel for updates @PotteriesTiles (other related/linked social media channels will be added here).
‘CLAYHEAD' (Secret Museum) *Friday 10th September - Sunday 17th October: Window showcase & collection of 50 individual small scale ceramic items & related ‘curios’ (to be viewed ‘remotely’ from Swan Street). The window will be open on a regular basis during the following days & times throughout the BCB festival:
Every Thursday (10:00am - 3:00pm)
Every Friday (10:00am - 3:00pm)
Every Saturday morning (9:00am - 12noon)
We will also open as & when possible at other days & times but this is dependent on other commitments. If you plan to visit the BCB outside the regular days & times listed above & would like to view the ‘Made in Stoke-on-Trent display; please get in touch with us & we will do our best to open the window showcase to coincide with your visit: hello@ceramiccitystories.info
*Includes Friday 10th September to coincide with launch of Heritage Open Days 2021 & BCB ‘private view’ (although BCB opens to the public on Saturday 11th September.
‘MADE IN STOKE-ON-TRENT’ ONLINE EXHIBITION: The window showcase items can also be accessed online here: (*link to be added here when launched 10:00am on Friday 10th September). This virtual exhibition offers additional information about the items & the makers or contributors. Links (QR codes) will also be displayed within the physical window display to enable visitors with smart phones to Swan Street to access this additional information about the ceramic items, makers or contributors.
*Physical & online exhibitions actually go live from 10:00am Friday 10th September to coincide with the launch of Heritage Open Days 2021 & BCB 20201 (‘private view’).
'POP UP POTTERS' Saturday 16th & Sunday 17th October 10: A relaxed & informal gathering of a number of local potters, ceramic artists & creative contributors which aims to compliment & mark the final weekend of British Ceramics Biennial 2021.
This pop up event & showcase taking place over the weekend will take place at Ceramic City Stories’ CLAYHEAD space (Winkhill Mill, Stoke-on-Trent). Participants will make creative use of the interior factory space/surfaces/hanging opportunities. We might even venture outside on the pavement weather permitting!
Public open times 10:30am - 3:30pm on both days (+ ‘Kiln Songs’ on Saturday teatime/evening event between 5:00pm - 8:00pm (see ‘Kiln Songs’ details below).
This is an informal & unashamedly ‘DIY’ opportunity for local artists/ceramicists/creative contributors to gather & bring work to display over/during the two days. It will also offer participants & visitors a relaxed opportunity to meet & chat with one another.
‘Clay Conversations’: There will be a series of very informal 10 minute ‘talks’ by participants on the hour every hour throughout both days (5 each day). This could range from a simple introduction to someone’s work to a ‘point of view’ conversation regarding an aspect of the city’s ceramic heritage or contemporary scene.
KILN SONGS | LATE 5:00pm - 8:00pm Saturday 16th October : An early evening DIY event taking place on the Saturday teatime/early evening 5:00pm - 8:00pm as part off the ‘Pop Up Potters’ weekend hosted by Ceramic City Stories at CLAYHEAD (Winkhill Mill, Stoke-on-Trent). Enjoy an informal & relaxed evening with chilled out chat & gentle live music). Made in Stoke-on-Trent activities are organised by local potters, ceramic artists & other creative contributors & aim to complement & mark the final weekend of the British Ceramics Biennial 2021.
Non alcoholic drinks will be available but you are welcome to BRING A BOTTLE to enjoy at the event.
ALL EVENTS ARE FREE; COME & SAY HELLO!
June 2021*Final thoughts…
This R&D residency has enabled me to create a lot of new work. It has been exciting, intense & exhausting at times; I have produced more new work in this concentrated six months than the previous six years! My objective was to produce a portfolio of six ‘finished creative products’ (approximately one each month); this was achieved (although it didn’t really work out as simply as ‘one each month). These sample products & related collection of ‘tests’ reflect the wide range of ideas & techniques explored within my studio practice & collaborative activities over this period. I have had the privilege of working in the inspiring & evocative surroundings of Winkhill Mill; an historical factory building in Stoke-on-Trent. I have liaised & worked closely with ‘The Firing Line’; a small family company that own the building & produce a range of ‘dust pressed’ ceramic tiles using c.100 year old technology & traditional skills. It has been a unique & fascinating insight. I have developed detailed knowledge & understanding of the production processes & business model.
This residency has been a unique & extremely valuable professional development opportunity for me. My original proposal outlined a significant departure from my previous creative practice & related skill set/experience. This was to begin a concentrated & sustained exploration of ceramic production especially tiles & architectural ceramics for the first time. I have developed so much new knowledge & a huge variety of new skills. The ‘hands on’ experience & ‘learning by doing’ has been phenomenal during this residency.
This whole endeavour would simply not have been possible without the investment & support of Arts Council England. The DYCP grant has enabled an extremely valuable & timely period of creative research & development & a unique collaborative experience. The application process helped me to focus & frame my ambitions. The detailed work plan required helped turn hopeful thoughts & conversations into a clearly defined programme & collaborative partnership.
‘Learning by doing’ has been the basis for this residency. Richard & Steve Wilshaw (The Firing Line) have been generous & open cultured throughout. I have been introduced to all aspects of tile production from sourcing raw materials to final product (clays, precision engineering, pressing/moulding, glaze & kilns). This knowledge has fed my studio activities during the period. This detailed knowledge of traditional skills & techniques has provided the basis for experiment, ‘disruption’ & innovation. The concentrated studio time afforded has been so precious & valuable. It has enabled me to make a significant step change in my creative practice; namely ceramic production. It has been an intensive time for making & ‘practical doing’ but it’s also enabled me to review & reflect on my professional activities of recent years & map out a future direction that firmly places my own creativity & production at the centre.
The original proposal identified the development of a wide range of experiments & test samples. That was certainly the case (some more successful than others of course!). I now have an extensive collection of trial pieces that include different engraving & ‘moulding’ techniques, glaze trials (including inlay, brush, pour & dipping) & experiments using new bisque & glazed ‘field’ tiles as well as a variety of ‘vintage’ wall & floor tiles (etched/re-glazed/re-fired/re-purposed).
I am really pleased with the specific outputs & excited by the potential longer term outcomes of this intensive learning experience. This is the first time I have made & worked with ceramics & tiles; so it is even more satisfying to have achieved these results from a ‘standing start’. I feel that the skills legacy & learning resources developed will provide a strong foundation for further work & will offer many future development opportunities.
This investment has been critical to taking risks & mapping my future artistic practice. The creative freedom has been truly liberating. In practical terms; I simply would not have been able to undertake a concentrated period of development time both ‘in the studio’ & in collaboration with The Firing Line; exploring a new area of my creative practice (ceramics). The day-to-day decision making has been joyful! Although guided & structured by the original proposal; activities have been constantly driven by ideas, creativity & experimentation. Every trial has offered a unique & different exploration. There have been no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ answers; each process & outcome provides the potential for a lot of further development. It feels like ’one road leads to another’ on this exciting new phase of my creative journey.
This six month R&D residency has enabled me to make a fundamental change of direction & approach in my overall creative practice; namely ceramic production. It has helped me to focus on my own artistic production again rather than facilitating others; although this will remain an important part of my ‘hybrid’ activities going forward. It has given me renewed confidence in my own creative ability & helped me to identify new ways to work going forward.
It has also promoted future collaborative opportunities with The Firing Line & a wider linked community of interest. The knowledge, hands-on experience & relationships (consolidated & new) have helped to establish a strong foundation for further development. The ‘finished works’ & test collection has provided me with a portfolio of samples & related images that will help to showcase my creative ceramic skills. This is vital & will help me to explore & hopefully gain further/future professional activities: commissions, residencies, sales etc. The residency & portfolio samples have already helped me to promote my visibility & profile as an artist that works with ceramics in particular tiles & architectural ceramics.
THANK YOU ARTS COUNCIL ENGLAND
*In response to ACE evaluation report questions.
