Leigh & Bransford Testimonial

Here are a couple of comments from the headteacher at Leigh & Bransford Primary School following Jon's visit on the 15th of November 2010:

Q: Did the project live up to your expectation? "Yes, it was superb. I didn't see too much of what went on during the day but the assembly had them captivated."

Q: Please comment on my approach? "Good strong relationship with the children - this is the whole reason the workshop worked so well. Staff found you very easy to relate to and work with.

Course & Workshop Dates 2011

We're running very, very late this year, but at last, we are pleased to release dates and details of all our regular workshops for 2011:

For the grown-ups!

30th Jan - Potter's wheel

26th & 27th Feb - Potter's wheel

12th Mar - Dig Your Own!

20th Mar - Potter's wheel

9th & 10th Apr - T-pots & Toast Racks

7th May - Potter's wheel

10th & 11th Sep - Potter's wheel

2nd Oct - Potter's wheel

5th & 6th Nov - Nature's Clay!

19th & 20th Nov - Potter's wheel

11th Dec - Potter's wheel

Further details.

For the little potters (themes to be confirmed):

23rd & 24th Feb

19th & 20th Apr

1st & 2nd Jun

27th & 28th Jul

26th & 27th Oct

29th Dec

Further details.

Lillian De Lissa

About this time, each year, Jon has the privilege of working with the children and staff at Lillian De Lissa Nursery in Birmingham.

On the third day of the residency the children got to choose from a range of messy clay play activities, including experimenting on the potter's wheel. Jon found it so inspiring observing the children's uninhibited learning. At one point there were 8 children in the 'clay zone', working alongside each other but each exploring the medium in a totally unique way.

Bye Bye Carla...

On Friday we bid farewell to Carla Welling, our Graduate Advantage employee. Carla's spent the last four weeks (where did they go?!) analysing our web presence and suggesting ways to better market ourselves online. Like all these things the more that you discover, the more questions and possibilities present themselves. We are indebted to the work Carla started and look forward to putting her proposals into action.

One of her final tasks was to set up a Flickr account. Some of the photographs from our two years of blogging have been categorised and are up there for perusal. Please take a look!

Young Throwers

Jon introduced the potter's wheel for the first time to the current intake at Evesham Nursery. The children each made a pot on the wheel before embellishing their creations with clay blobs, beads and worms.

Just in Time!

Check out this fabulous collaborative friendship clock made by the Year 3 children at St Richards First School in Evesham. Jon delivered the time piece at 8 am on Thursday, and by 8 30 am that very same morning, it was up on the wall thanks to the DIY expertise of Barry the site manager and the organisational powers of Headteacher Elizabeth Spencer. Well done team!

The school is expecting a C of E Ofsted inspection early next week and was therefore keen for the clock to be installed in good time for their visit. We're sure the inspectors will be suitably impressed with the children's efforts.

Lucton Night-lights

Having worked with the 'boarders' in October last year, Jon returned to Lucton School in North Herefordshire to work with the pre-prep department. The children made tea-light lanterns using the potter's wheel and coil-pot techniques. Each piece was totally unique - some resembled Igloos or pre-historic dwellings, while others were bejewelled with Christmas trees and robins.

The masterpieces will be fired, glazed and returned in time for the children's Christmas performance. The plan is to display them illuminated on top of the school piano.

Leigh Tree

Leigh and Bransford Primary School is twenty years old, and to mark the occasion Jon was invited to work with the whole school, to produce a collaborative and commemorative tile panel.

After the obligatory potter's wheel assembly, each class visited Jon in the school hall to make oak leaves, each one depicting that particular youngster's aspect of school life.

Once the tiles have been dried, fired, and glazed they will be composed into a gigantic oak tree, destined to be hung in the school.

Ellen's Pottery Birthday Party

Elen and nine of her friends enjoyed making 'Colourful Critters' to celebrate her 10th Birthday at Eastnor Pottery last Friday.

Creative Breaks at the Courtyard Theatre

Creative Breaks is an association of artists who provide courses and workshops in Herefordshire. It was set up over 10 years ago to collaboratively market all the diverse and wonderful creative things you can experience here in the Shire.

Each year, members promote the association at the Hereford Contemporary Craft Fair to a discerning captive audience. Jon demonstrated last Friday morning, encouraging visitors to have a go on the potter's wheel. Check out our Facebook page for more photos.

Rainbow Fish

There were 'fishy' going's-on at Leominster Infants' School this week. The children in Nursery and Reception each made a pinch-pot fish while the slightly older Key stage 1 children collaborated on a fish-shaped, wall panel inspired by Marcus Pfister's lovely 'Rainbow Fish' book. We have created an album on Facebook of some of the children's creations.

Christmas Candle-holders

Jon worked with all of the 120 pupils at Cherry Orchard First School in Pershore recently. The children each made an individual candle-holder decorated with seasonally themed regalia - holly, stars, snowmen etc. Once the pots have been fired and glazed they will be returned to the school in time for the end of term.

Collaborative Fruit

The recent gusty conditions have certainly put pay to all things Autumnal - all the gorgeous yellow, red and russet leaves have been swept from the branches and the Autumn Garden Show at Malvern Showground seems a long time ago. Regular visitors to this blog will know we encouraged workshop participants at the show to contribute to a giant clay apple and pear. The pieces have now been fired and photographs can be viewed on our Facebook page.

Tirlebrook Primary Coil-pots

Ancient Greece is certainly in Vogue with regard to clay work at the moment. Jon spent a very enjoyable morning working with Years 5 & 6 at Tirlebrook Primary School in Tewkesbury. The children made coil-pots, which were painted with terracotta slip and then 'ancient greek' inspired designs scratched into the surface.

Potter's Wheel Workshop

A fantastically talented group of individuals made and decorated pots at the weekend here at the studio.

Saturday is a messy day with participants each assigned their own electric wheel to make pots. Their fine attempts were then speed dried overnight, ready to be worked on on day two.

Handles, colours and decorative motifs were added before the close at 4.30pm. We've created an album on our Facebook profile if you would like to view more images.

Curiouser and Curiouser

Worcester Arts Education and Worcester City Art Gallery have collaborated to produce an exhibition celebrating Early Years Creative projects in Worcestershire. Curiouser and Curiouser showcases example projects undertaken by children and their families, working in partnership with artists and creative organisations.

"Let your curiosity and imagination be ignited as you meander through the exhibitions in the gallery and the museum. Please look but also touch and enjoy making connections with what you see."

Jon has lent the show a selection of his discovery pots; lidded vessels containing unique ceramic interiors designed to inspire the imagination.

The exhibition runs from the 6th of November 2010, until the 15th of January 2011. For more details visit www.voicesandvisions.org.uk

MMM (Marvelous Monday Magic)

Check out these fabulous fired results from the recent sessions at the St Thomas Centre in Birmingham. If you would like to see more photos, we've created an album on our Facebook page.

Evesham Nursery - Session 2

The children at Evesham Nursery school in Worcestershire enjoyed a sensory 'squidge' session earlier this week.

Initially paintbrushes and slip were offered so they could 'tattoo' their hands and arms. Confidence quickly grew and before long the children had dived into the slip bucket - some quite literally!

Mad About Madley

Having a professional interest in all things creative in Herefordshire schools, we've been hearing good things emanating from Madley Primary School for quite some considerable time.

The school works incredibly hard to maintain an innovative and creative approach to learning.

Children set the curriculum based upon their interests. Each child is provided with a journal to record their 'Learning Journey' through the school - reflective practice and dialogue between children, staff, parents and youngsters is genuine.

Play and investigative enquiry are taken seriously not just in Foundation and Keystage 1, but throughout the school.

"You should see the things the Year 6 children make in the sandpit" a comment from the Headteacher when he gave Jon a tour of the school this week.

Jon is looking forward to working with the school in the new year on an exciting project in the school grounds...watch this space for the journey!

Greece Is The Word!

We believe that any aspect of the school curriculum can be interpreted using clay.

In the past, Jon has worked with hundreds of schools exploring Literacy, Numeracy, Science and even PE.

Ancient Greece provided the inspiration for Year 4 at Broadlands Primary School in Hereford, when Jon visited last week.

The children discussed myths and legends before producing a 'Greek God' collaborative pot, as well as their own mythological beast. Medusa was a popular choice (a gift for those who favour clay coils!) as was the Minotaur.

Once the pots have been fired and glazed they will be returned to the school in a few weeks time.

Washwood Heath Nursery

Having worked with parents children it was now the turn of staff members to experience the delights of the potter's wheel. Jon travelled from room to room with the Centre's own potter's wheel tucked under his arm (it really is that compact! - Aspire made by Shimpo if you're interested... )The aim was to give designated individuals in each area a basic understanding so that they could in turn offer the experience to the children!

Ofsted Meets Creativity Conference

Jon provided three breakout sessions for an early years conference in Birmingham on Monday. Jon showed some of his techniques designed to engage little potters, with 150 or so delegates. Participants got to 'wear' their clay, on their faces, arms and hands as well as painting slip onto ready made surfaces. For more photos check out our Facebook page.

New Team Member

Introducing Carla, the newest addition to the Eastnor pottery team. Carla's undertaking a four week placement investigating and analysing our online presence. The placement was made possible via a scheme facilitated by Graduate Advantage, an organisation set up to offer recent graduates work opportunities.

View from the Pottery

We love this time of year here in Eastnor - just look at the colour and texture of the Autumnal landscape from the pottery balcony.

Ladywood Children's Centre

Jon took the 'Troll in a Trug' theme on the road this week, working with families at Ladywood Children's Centre. The half term session was a sell out with 25 individuals - young and old taking part.

Troll in a Trug

Talk about ugly going-ons at Eastnor Pottery last week!

Local and not so local children got to model trolls and trollesses as well as sampling the delights of the potter's wheel.

The next children's workshop sessions take place in the Christmas holidays on the 29th of December 2010. Please email admin@eastnorpottery.co.uk or telephone 01531633886 to reserve your place.

Hereford Family Fun

Herefordshire housing tenants were treated to an afternoon of family fun at the Three Counties Hotel in Hereford. Families enjoyed making pots on the potter's wheel as well as sampling storytelling facilitated by Storyspace, art workshops hosted by Carnival arts and music sessions led Beat Bang Bang.