Assemble - Crafts Council Conference 2010

Over the past five months, Jon has participated in a crafts council research programme, investigating artists and makers who demonstrate a portfolio approach to their creative practice. The research was published on a Tuesday at the Crafts Council's 'Assemble' Conference held at the London Symphony Orchestra's headquarters at St Lukes, London. http://www.assemble.org.uk/

Jon was invited to talk to delegates in a break out session, and set up a mini exhibition demonstrating how his work had changed over the past 17 years, with particular focus on how his social engagement has effected his exhibition work.

Jon shared the exhibition space with the textile artist Arantza Vilas. Check out her fabulous textured sculpture (pictured above) and website :http://www.blogger.com/www.pinakistudios.com .

The Guardian also ran a story... http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/jun/24/craft-about-more-than-crochet

Family Learning at Cherry Orchard

Jon spent a very enjoyable day working with families at Cherry Orchard First School in Pershore.

The workshops, initiated by Worcestershire Extended Services took place in the morning and afternoon, with 12 participants in each session. Everybody got to throw a pot on the wheel and make clay models.


The relative small number of participants made for a quality experience, good conversation and creative clay outcomes.

The last time Jon worked at the school the children produced this lovely ceramic tile panel in the shape of the school logo.

Mud Sofa Fun

Jon spent a glorious sunny day outside at Arrow Vale High School, working with Year 8 transitional students and the Eco club to produce a large mud sculpture.

Everybody worked blooming hard, particularly considering the near Sahara conditions. The students dug, shifted, and mixed rubble, sand, and earth to produce a natural eight legged sculpture.

Having permission to get totally, head-to-toe filthy was extremely appreciated by the students, who all had great fun smearing the clay over the structure and each other, (judging by the photos, mostly each other!) Once the grass seed has established, the work will function as a seating arrangement for outside lessons.

Cakes at The Three Counties Show

All aspects of food production are never far from the agenda at the annual Three Counties Show at the Malvern Showground. The event offers plenty of themes for Jon's sessions taking place in the discovery zone. This year, cakes provided specific inspiration as schools and families made towering plates of cupcakes and slices of sponge.

We also completed the commemorative tile panels left over from the Spring Garden Show (see previous blog entry titled Spring Garden Show 2010)

Clay Skating

A couple of years ago Jon, staff and the children at Evesham Nursery School discovered the fabulous sport of clay skating. Originally the large sheets of perspex on the floor were designed for painting slip and arranging clay coils onto - then the children took it upon themselves to develop the activity into a full body clay/slip experience.

They slid, squelched and rolled around on the stuff. The only drawback occurred in the clean up operation - for half an hour of activity there was approximately one and a half hours of de-claying and scrubbing the children clean.

Everybody was keen to repeat the experience but the next time outside, bare foot, and on a nice sunny day. Well we didn't get too many of those last year so it was a whole 24 months later that clay skating made a welcome return to Evesham Nursery.

Once changed into old clothes and socks, and shoes firmly to the side, the children enjoyed clay in the most physical way imaginable...They started off by jumping up and down en mass to flatten soft clay lumps onto the perspex. Then water via paintbrushes was introduced to make things a little more fluid!

How to Wear Your Clay!

It's been quite a week for participants depositing more clay on themselves than on the objects they've been creating. Jon's short residency at Brearley Teviot Nursery was no exception as youngsters were encouraged to wear clay jewellery and create clay facial add-ons - lots of moustaches, hats, glasses and eyebrows!

Danielle's Hen Party

Fourteen beautiful women from Watford descended on Eastnor Pottery on Sunday as part of Danielle's hen party weekender celebration.

The girls had been partying hard in Herefordshire for the previous two nights (5.00am bedtime!!!) and pot throwing was the final activity before heading back to London.

Making coil pots and shapes on the wheel proved to be the perfect hangover cure, with everybody valuing the relaxed atmosphere of the studio.

Charlotte's 21st Birthday

An unfortunate piece of workshop planning meant that Jon was in the studio for England's opening world cup match against the USA. This slight diary hiccup was more than compensated by Lottie and her lovely group of friends who chose Eastnor Pottery to celebrate her 21st Birthday.

The girls spent the three hours on the potter's wheels throwing some fabulous shapes, and having lots of clay fuelled fun...and Jon even managed to make it home in time for the second half! C'mon England!

Family Learning at Cutnall Green

Having facilitated family workshops for some 15 years, experience has shown that the adult contingent is predominantly female.

Jon was encouraged by a recent family session at a first school in Worcestershire. Nearly all the parents with their children were dads.

Everybody had a great time creating models and having a turn on the potter's wheel. For more information: http://www.eastnorpottery.co.uk/pages/eastnorpotteryschools.htm

Brearley Teviot Childrens' Centre

On Wednesday, Jon kicked off a summer term project working with the children at Brearley Teviot Nursery. The Nursery is renowned for its work with artists and has a great track record for providing creative learning opportunities for the young children who attend.

Over the next six weeks Jon will work with the staff and pupils in a variety of ways, exploring clay and ceramic in all its glorious forms. As well as facilitating the workshop sessions, Jon will produce documentation - a pictorial record to serve as a reminder of just some of the marvellous things you can do with clay.

Hawbush Clock

Here at Eastnor Pottery, we really value the 'leave a legacy' type of projects we get asked to do particularly at this time of year. Whether its Nursery children progressing on to a Primary School, or Year Six moving to High School - we're regularly asked to commemorate these transitions in ceramic.

Jon spent the day with 35 Year Six children from Hawbush Primary in Brierly Hill, producing a collaborative clock. Once fired and glazed it will be installed in school, keeping time for generations of children to come.

Post Office Clay Play

Evesham Nursery have a role play corner for the children to explore. The theme is changed on a weekly basis and has been a Hairdressing Salon, Chinese restaurant and an Opticians. When Jon visited this week, the area had been converted into a Post Office, complete with mail bags and sorting boxes.

The children were creating 3D self portraits out of clay, encouraged to think about themselves and what they like to do.

The learning and themes often spread across the activities - this week being no exception as one child had been so inspired by the role play corner:

Jon "So what do you like doing?"
M "Playing Postman with my Dad and cousins - look...a letter!"
M applies small slab to her figure's hand.

Terracotta T-Rex

Having never produced a collaborative Tyrannosaurus Rex before, we were all very satisfied when this beastie emerged from the kiln recently. The T-Rex was made in a morning with a class of year one children from Badsey First School, near Evesham.

Harriet's Birthday Party

Harriet and her friends enjoyed the clay in all its glorious forms as part of her 8th birthday celebrations at Eastnor Pottery. The gang threw boats on the potter's wheel, made pinch pot owls/pussycats and then combined the creations to fabulous effect.

To book a children's birthday party, or for more information: http://www.eastnorpottery.co.uk/pages/eastnorpotterychildrensbirthdayparties.htm

Rubery Yin & Yang Project

For the past few weeks, Gemma has been working on an Eco themed project at two schools in Rubery. Overall, four North Worcestershire Schools are involved, each one producing a pair of wall panels, in a Yin and Yang design. The idea is to have one half as the negative environmental issues (such as the use of a car, or leaving lights on), and the other as the positive (including things like re-cycling, walking etc). We will post some photos of the wall panels on the blog as they emerge from the kiln!

Surf's Up!

Eastnor Pottery may be miles from the coast but it didn't stop children who attended the half term workshops from enjoying some surf action. Everybody had a go on the potter's wheel to throw a 'wave' pot, before modeling a surfer dude/gal/animal to ride their clay crest.

The next children's workshops take place in the summer holiday, on the 11th and 12th of August. Email ADMIN@eastnorpottery.co.uk, or telephone 01531 633886, to reserve your place.

Family Fun Day

Usually, Jon avoids events where he's asked to coax huge numbers of people through the throwing process, sausage-factory style. However, at a recent family fun day, organized by Hereford Housing, he opted to do this as it just felt like the right thing to do.

There was never really a 'queue', only eager spectators across the generations supporting and watching each other. A real feel-good event, well attended with appreciative punters. Other activities on offer included a bouncy castle, story telling and junk drumming provided by www.beatbangbong.com

Birthday Parties

A couple of lucky children celebrated their birthday parties at the Pottery recently. Charlotte saw in her 7th birthday making 'Owl and Pussycats', eating Russian snacks, and dancing to Russian children's music.

Hannah, her three year old chums, and assorted grown-ups had a lovely morning, throwing pots on the wheel and enjoying a picnic in the Pottery garden. Check out this link to book your birthday or special occasion party: http://www.eastnorpottery.co.uk/pages/eastnorpotterychildrensbirthdayparties.htm

Last Throwing Workshop

Jon had the pleasure of working with some talented individuals at the weekend in the last 'throw a pot' workshop before the summer break. The participants all hailed from a scientific/ engineering background and took to the technique like ducks to water. The results were very professional.

Here are just a few of the comments:
"Everything was explained well and close attention and help available and readily given" John "Well taught, hands-on fun - loads of time at the wheel although the day went too fast!" Oliver and Rachel.

The next throwing workshop takes place on the 4th and 5th of September. Take a look at the following for more information: http://www.eastnorpottery.co.uk/pages/eastnorpotteryadultworkshops.htm

All About Me!

An annual fixture in Jon's diary is 'Arts week' at Cherry Orchard Primary School in Worcester.
This year the theme was 'All About Me!'. Jon entertained all three classes from Year One, helping them construct individual 3D self portraits. What a lovely looking bunch!

Voices & Visions Private View at Worcester Cathedral

Over two hundred Worcestershire schools are currently exhibiting artwork in the Cloisters of Worcester Cathedral. Now in it's eleventh year, Voices and Visions displays the fruits of all the fantastic arts projects that have taken place across the county.

As part of the celebrations, approximately twenty artists who work in schools were invited to promote their activities at the private view. Amongst the artist exhibitors and promoting her educational jewellery workshops, was our very own Gemma. Check out www.gemma-farr.co.uk

The Voices and Visions exhibition continues until the 28th of June. http://www.voicesandvisions.org.uk/

Variety is the spice...

Wednesday - Jon worked with all 200 children at Mitcheldene Primary School in the Forest of Dean. Thursday - just 10 children at Welsh House Farm Primary in Birmingham. Two very different environments and experiences, both relevant and equally rewarding projects. Mitcheldene produced three fabulous terracotta planters whilst the ten Year Six boys worked on making a ceramic legacy in the school garden before moving on to High School.

Team E.P.

It wasn't just Jon out and about last week, both Sarah and Gemma were also delivering sessions in schools. Sarah worked with Simon De Montfort School in Evesham, to produce a giant terracotta wall clock. Gemma worked with Holywell Primary in Rubery as part of an Eco project with four North Worcestershire schools - more details to follow!

Riverside Primary School

A few weeks ago, Gemma returned to Riverside Primary School in Hereford. The sixty reception age children that she worked with throughout the day were encouraged to get their hands dirty using messy clay play.

The children had fun painting a piece of clear perspex with clay slip, and sticking bits of clay on to make designs. Although some of them were hesitant to begin with, it wasn't long before they got stuck in and started to paint their hands with the lovely slip as shown in this picture!

"This is awesome!". Just one of the many comments during the day.

Jessica's Birthday

Clear blue sky, cool clay to squidge, and a picnic on the lawn - perfect ingredients for Jessica and her friends 7th birthday celebration at Eastnor Pottery. The girls made 'colourful critters' - pinchpot animals painted there and then, with coloured slip.


Once they'd finished their models, it was outside to feast in the shade of the gazebo.
If you'd like to celebrate your special day at Eastnor Pottery please follow this link for more details: http://www.eastnorpottery.co.uk/pages/eastnorpotterychildrensbirthdayparties.htm

Chrissy's Hen Party

Jon dashed back from a Surestart gig in Walsall on a Saturday morning to host Christine's hen do at the Pottery.

The 11 gals hailed from in and around Evesham and hired a minibus and driver for their pottery/pub road trip. The weather was perfect and the gals were in great spirits (literally!) enjoying the pottery garden, clay and potter's wheels in equal measure.

The creative bunch produced some stunning coloured coilpots and wonderful shapes on the potter's wheel - these will be fired and glazed in time for Chris's big day!

Come On England!!

World Cup Mania begins to build in the Williams household. Elliot the potter made these charming footballing figures, complete with goal posts, crossbar and netting!

A fine brace...or trio!

Check out these marvelous collaborative fish made at Widemarsh Children's Centre, in the Easter break...See the previous blog entry dated Tuesday 13th of April 'Collaborative Fish' : http://eastnorpottery.blogspot.com/2010_04_01_archive.html

Catshill Middle School at Eastnor Pottery

We really appreciate a home match! Twelve Year Eight students from Bromsgrove made the journey to Eastnor to work on the potter's wheel and make clay sculpture. Head of Art Kate asked if we could make something 'heraldic' as the guys and gals would be visiting Eastnor Castle, to study the fantastic collection of Knight's Armour. http://www.eastnorcastle.com/

Here are just a few of the fantastic clay results...

Mud, Mud, Glorious Mud!

'Tis mud sculpture season again! On this occasion Jon helped Key Stage One children at St Mary's Primary School in Evesham construct an earth sofa in their grounds.

The school supplied a roll of turf that provided instant greenery - the darker green 'rug' in front of the sofa was a happy accident, created when the mixing tray was lifted, revealing the untrodden grass beneath.

The children loved mixing the mud/clay/water/straw gloop and really really enjoyed getting their hands proper dirty!

Spring Gardening Show 2010

It had to be one of the coldest Spring Gardening Shows ever. Thermal vests and woolly gloves were definitely in evidence as I tried to coax participants into my 'Potting tent' ..."It is marginally warmer in here...honest!"




Over the three days of the show, families and individuals produced garden inspired tiles - each tile a part of a giant daisy or sunflower. The panels will be installed by the fishing lake at the Three Counties Showground, commemorating twenty five years of the Spring Gardening Show.

Nursery Grown Ups

As part of my on-going artist residency at Evesham Nursery School, I get the opportunity to work with the parents in a one off, special evening session. Babysitters in place, the parents and carers enjoy playing with clay and having fun on the potter's wheel - basically enjoying all the things that their offspring do during the day.