Coleford Brick and Tile Company

I spent the majority of last week working at the Coleford Brick and Tile Company in the Forest of Dean.

The directors have been very generous, (once again) in allowing me to work on the factory floor and 'play' with their wonderful materials and products.

I'm making some large vessels - some one metre in diameter, out of carved 'green' bricks. The process involves piling the bricks into a rough shape before carving the surfaces to achieve a smooth effect. Once it's all dried, it will be disassembled, carefully labelled and then fired in the giant gas kilns at the works.

The piece will then be re-assembled in time for my exhibition in July at Bilston. For other blog entries relating to this project please take a look at: Coleford Residency 5 and 6, Brick Factory Visit 3, Coleford Residency, Bilston Show a Go-Go!,

Jon

Gillian's Pots

Gillian's probably our most loyal and long serving workshop participant; she's been coming here for years!

We love these daffodil vases made on a recent visit.

St Richard's and Simon De Montfort Workshops

Gemma completed a series of after-school workshops in Evesham recently, working with parents and children at both St Richard's and Simon De Montfort schools. Coil-pot figures provided the theme, with everyone creating their own masterpiece - check out these fabulous examples. Once these pieces have been dried, fired and then glazed, they will be returned to their owners.

Oven Celebration

I've been working in collaboration with forest school Fiona at Washwood Heath Nursery School to build a pizza oven in the playground.

It took just three days to complete with lots of help from the children and staff at appropriate stages.

The children loved mixing the cob (clay, straw and sand) whilst the staff excelled at decorating the dome. Even when they were unable to help, we had an inquisitive audience sat on the periphery of the build site.
The project culminated on the last day of term and co-incided with the Nursery's Ofsted celebration event. The children's families were invited to share in the Nursery's 'Outstanding' report by enjoying music, food and other entertainment - as well as witnessing the inaugural lighting of the pizza oven.

Once the embers were nicely a glow, we were able to cook chapati's.

Jon Williams

The Magic of Madley Primary School

I don't think, in all my years of working in schools, I have ever come across a setting so up for clear blue creative experimentation. Imagine this, two major creative partnerships projects running alongside each other, one for the children (the village) and the other for the staff (muddy mountains). Throw into the mix no less than seven creative practitioners and you begin to get a feel for the innovative and imaginative approach to learning.

The head is keen that a certain amount of cross fertilisation occurs between the two projects, and with so many stakeholders involved, roles and logistics can sometimes be chaotic and blurred. However, the sheer volume of stuff going on makes for an exhilarating and creative atmosphere.

Initially, my role was to instigate the staff project - encouraging the team to design and build their very own 'muddy mountain' from two huge spoil heaps on the school field. The physical outcome could take any form, based on their reaction to the material, tools, techniques and environment.

Despite some early wobbles as we all grappled to get to know each other and the open-ended approach to problem solving, a wonderful maze and pod design was taken forward and executed with enthusiasm. It always amazes me how given time a group of individuals can pool their skills and resources to produce a brilliant outcome.

We now have three steel frames on order for the domes and the maze is definitely taking shape. On Thursday the children were invited to start their 'muddy mountain' in response to what the staff had produced so far. The children had great fun making a lovely mud chair in the woods, eventually to be housed in one of the pods.

Jon Williams

Cherry Orchard First School

The fourth and final workshop in the current series took place at Cherry Orchard First School in Pershore the other day.

Jon's session provided the perfect opportunity to deliver all the fired work produced on his previous visits to the school. They'd certainly made some wonderful pieces including x4 large terracotta planters and a collaborative caterpillar - all designed for the school's sensory garden.

The final session was devoted to each child making an individual mini beast or bug.

Pottery Birthday Party

Although it would have been cutting it fine getting back from Birmingham, Jon and Gemma had agreed to host Emily's 11th birthday at the studio on Friday afternoon. We were delighted to say that everything fell in to place with Jon the potter, Emily and friends arriving within minutes of each other in Eastnor.

The session began with a collaborative pot - all the guests modelled Emily a little ballet themed motif. These were then applied to Jon's wheel demonstration piece - the result:- an encrusted, commemorative jug to be fired and will serve as a permanent reminder of a brilliant 11th birthday.

If you would like to celebrate your birthday or special occasion at the pottery, please visit our birthday party page at www.eastnorpottery.co.uk

Pizza Oven at Washwood Heath Nursery

Another day, another inspirational Birmingham Nursery!

Jon got the chance to join forces with Washwood Heath Nursery's resident forest school artist Fiona Hopkins. The pair had planned to build a pizza oven for the children to cook flat breads; and Friday provided the first opportunity to start work on the structure. Fiona had secured some beautiful reclaimed bricks which were fashioned into the stand. This activity took the majority of the day, what with moving, stacking, and admiring the aesthetics of the bricks!

The oven is being constructed in the outside play space so there was a constant audience of inquisitive youngsters. Jon and Fiona were kept busy answering a hundred questions and ensuring the children didn't stray too close.

The next stage is to make the oven - a messy business indeed, but one that the children will be able to engage in fully.

Sticks and Clay Play

In previous clay sessions at Brearley and Teviot Nursery, Jon had observed that a lot of the children enjoyed sticking multiple clay tools into lumps of clay. These wonderful creations became hedgehogs, cakes, forests and in one instance, the sun. In an attempt to further explore the activity and extend the children's learning, Jon offered a range of larger sticks and small branches for the children to enjoy with the clay.

The nursery pride themselves with providing outside play whatever the weather, so although rain was imminent, Jon set up a stall in the great outdoors. The children created some wonderful sculptures, "a big big power", " exercise" (dumbbells) and a "microphone".

Then the rain came down and turned the working surface into a muddy swamp. After a while rain did indeed stop play and everybody retreated inside.