FABRICATE
issue 01 - december 2019
the magazine for mindful crafting
interview with ceramicist ethan powell
the mindful benefits of pottery
spotlight on: the japanese art of kintsugi
2
this month... 06
03
potters of instagram
A collection of Instagram posts from Wales’ most influential potters and ceramic artists
04 & 05
making it mindfully with clay
How pottery can help develop a positive outcome to your mental health
06
interview: ethan powell
Cardiff potter talks career ambitions and the link between mental health and pottery
07
what is kintsugi?
The Japanese art of Kintsugi, where broken pottery is repaired is this month’s spotlight
08
Jack Wynn chats to ceramicist Ethan at his workshop
dear readers,
W
elcome to Fabricate: a monthly publication delivering inspirational and mindful craftmanship. We’re a small but dedicated team that is passionate about bringing captivating activities to the forefront, showing how introducing an activity like pottery into your life can improve your mental health and relieve modern-world pressures. Pottery is the key focus for the first issue, delving into the craft that has attracted a younger audience in recent times. The Fabricate team explore the mindfulness effects of pottery (pg.4&5), Ethan Powell, a Cardiff-based ceramic artist, explains the relationship between pottery and mental health (pg.6) and we discover the Japanese art of Kintsugi (pg.7).
We hope you feel inspired by the spirit of Fabricate!
give throwing a go
A showcase of pottery classes in and around the city for you to take part in
contributors
JACK WYNN j.wynn@fabricate.co.uk
Emily Ellis & Amy Fretwell investigate the power pottery has on your mental health
SORCHA HORNETT s.hornett@fabricate.co.uk
EMILY ELLIS e.ellis@fabricate.co.uk
04 AMY FRETWELL MICHAEL THOMAS-OWEN a.fretwell@fabricate.co.uk m.thomas@fabricate.co.uk
FABRICATE / ISSUE 01 / CONTENTS
@jrpceramics is a Cwmbran-based
ceramic artist and creative practitioner, who has been making pottery for over 25 years. She works from her own studio where she creates each piece individually.
@southwalespotters is one of the largest
groups of professional and hobby potters and ceramicists in the UK. They have over 200 members across the country, whether it’s South, Mid or West Wales, in the heart of England or abroad. The group also organises events like demonstrations and exhibitions.
Potters of Instagram
Sorcha Hornett looks for inspiration from some of Wales’ top pottery-based accounts
3
@raineceramics is a ceramic designer, mould
maker and potter. He set up Raine Ceramics in 2012 where they offer ceramic design consultancy, product design and servicing potteries. He is influenced by post-war Scandanavian design, Japanese porcelain and the marine environment.
@sarah_glazier_ceramics works in Cardiff,
creating functional, hand-built ceramics from her home studio. Alongside this, she teaches pottery to adults with learning difficulties. Her ceramics are made from high-fired flecked stoneware so they can be used daily.
FABRICATE / ISSUE 01 / INSPIRATION
making it
mindfully with clay
Emily Ellis & Amy Fretwell explore why clay is the perfect medium for mindfulness practice
M
indfulness is the art of paying attention to what’s happening in the present moment without judging your experience. It can involve exercises like paying attention to your breathing, scanning your body or eating your meals more slowly. Mindfulness meditation can be a truly powerful tool in your wellness arsenal. Not only does it reduce stress, it improves anxiety, depression and physical wellbeing; it’s fair to say mindfulness is the wellness trend of the last decade. Garthine Walker, an integrative therapist and psychotherapeutic counsellor, runs her own therapy practice in Cardiff. She says, “For many clients who experience stress, anxiety, or depression, the self-awareness that comes with mindfulness can be empowering.”
relax and de-stress at the pottery wheel
why mindfulness works The mental health charity Mind have identified five core benefits of mindfulness practice:
* Become more self-aware * Feel calmer and less stressed * Feel more able to choose
how to respond to your thoughts and feelings
* Cope with difficult or unhelpful thoughts
* Be kinder towards yourself
These steps work because they allow space for you to understand what’s happening in your present moment, and in time the practice of not judging how you are feeling - whether it’s sad, happy, stressed or anxious - can help to release old and negative patterns of thinking.
5 The effects of mindfulness practice are not just anecdotal. Scientific American has exciting news about the science behind mindfulness benefits. MRI scans conducted after participants have undergone only eight weeks of mindfulness have shown that the amygdala - which is where your ‘fight or flight’ centre is located appears to shrink. This area deals with your brain’s response to fear and stress. If that wasn’t good enough news - at the same time as the amygdala shrinks, the prefrontal cortex becomes thicker. This area of the brain is associated with functions like awareness, concentration and decision-making. Regular practice of mindfulness can lessen your brain’s reaction and responsiveness to stress and fear, while at the same time building other, more helpful parts of your brain.
Chill out with creative clay
One of the most important factors of effective mindfulness practice is building your ability to be in the moment nonjudgmentally. This means mediums like clay are great for mindful practice. Ceramics artist, Lizz Gill, uses her artform as meditaton. She says, “The meditative effects of working with clay is used in a range of practices within ceramics. For example, the repetitive motion of the potter’s wheel, as the foot dictates the speed in which it is moving, tied with the intuitive movement of the hands, creates a sense of unity through the body.” Lizz thinks that the mediative motion of the potter’s wheel when throwing can enhance a sense of calm. “The mind is allowed to relax and reach a state of clarity,” she explains. “Similar to meditation.” Additionally, using clay is something you can do at home. You don’t need to have a throwing wheel or a kiln to experience working with clay mindfully - and you can hand-craft pots and other items from the comfort of your kitchen table.
“you can get as creative as you want - there’s no pressure with clay”
Peaceful pottery
If you’ve ever sat down and played with materials like clay, you’ll know they are highly tactile. But, did you know it can also prove to be a mindful experience? And, it’s one that’s increasingly popular with young, savvy professionals. Using craft activities like pottery can add to the benefits of mindfulness and wellness practices, especially for those who love to get creative and use their hands to focus on a calming activity. “Any activity that involves complex hand-eye coordination is potentially therapeutic both in the moment and over time,” says Garthine. “At a neurological level, repetitive hand-eye movements fire up our brain to produce a mix of neurotransmitters dopamine, endorphins and serotonin - that can both soothe us and make us feel great.”
stimulate your brain with creative clay
more than just a hobby... shaping his crafts at his calming work station
6
Somewhere that you don’t have to be ‘Mr Big’ to get your work in.” In addition to working on his dissertation and developing his business plan, Ethan, a third-year ceramics student, has explored the strong link between pottery and mindfulness, quoting studies where conclusions include a connection with resilience to depression. “Pottery is definitely one of those activities where it completely grounds you and puts you in an embodied state,” he explains. From his time as an apprentice teaching primary school children, Ethan developed an understanding of how the craft can shape mental health and recognised its potential effects later in life. He went on to suggest pottery should also be introduced to older children. “In secondary school, you’re a little bit more judgemental of yourself and think, ‘I’m not sure if I can turn this into a beautiful pot’. I believe it should be introduced to the 11-18 year-old bracket – the development stages.” So where does a modern-day potter get inspiration? “YouTube is a great way to look at different methods and find out what works well for you,” he says. He also finds speaking to colleagues another great source; a benefit to a university environment. “You tend to pick up something that you’re not expecting. Someone will be saying about their practice and they’ll say a little something that they’ve discovered and it’s something that I can take.” But, above all, first-hand practice makes perfect for Ethan’s philosophy. “The lifetime experience: that’s where the real, rich knowledge comes from.”
ethan’s theory Jack Wynn talks to Ethan Powell about the powerful effects pottery has in the development of mental health
P
ottery and its mindfulness qualities is something Ethan Powell, 25, strongly believes upholds a powerful connection. He greets the Fabricate team at Cardiff Metropolitan University’s student cafe, wearing clay-stained overalls and boots, before giving a guided tour of the very prosperous workshops. “I moved from a place called Malvern and it can be quite daunting moving to a city,” says Ethan, as he demonstrates the different types of machinery before heading towards his own corner studio, brimming with his own works, green plants, a work bench and his very own
pottery wheel. “But, in Cardiff, there’s lots of independent galleries popping up all over the place.
his workshop is bursting with inspiration, including a number of his own works and an array of green plants
FABRICATE / ISSUE 01/ INTERVIEW
7 SPOTLIGHT ON
kintsugi Michael Thomas-Owen explores the Japanese art of repairing broken ceramics
B
uilt on the idea of strength and beauty in imperfection, Kintsugi is the Japanese art of repairing broken ceramics with precious metals. The word translates to mean “golden repair” or “golden joinery” and is thought to have originated in 15th century Japan. Legend has it that shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa sent a cherished tea bowl to China that had been cracked for repair. When the bowl returned, it had been awkwardly mended with metal staples, looking unsightly which displeased Yoshimasa. Insisting that his artisans identify a more suitable and aesthetically pleasing method for pottery repair, their solution was to seal the cracks with a golden lacquer. This repairs the ceramic while simultaneously increasing its value; thus Kintsugi was born.
By the 17th century, this method of repair had become common in Japan. As well as being aesthetically pleasing, Kintsugi also relates to the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi, the acceptance of transience and imperfection. Therefore, Kintsugi is also seen as a metaphor for life and accepting your flaws. This art form considers the breakage of the object
to be a part of the piece’s history rather than the ending of its story. When the cracks are sealed with lacquer mixed with gold, silver or platinum, the damage and cracks in the crockery are highlighted rather than hidden. This means that each work of Kintsugi is a completely individual piece of art. The irregular and unpredictable patterns formed by the broken ceramics makes every piece unique. The principle of Kintsugi teaches us many lessons. Perhaps most importantly, that the things that have broken us do not decrease our value. Instead, it is the challenges we face that mould us into who we are, each beautiful and unique like these works of pottery.
FABRICATE / ISSUE 01 / SPOTLIGHT ON
picture credit: @kintsugifrance
give throwing a go
Amy Fretwell checks out where you can try out mindful pottery in Cardiff
Pen-y-lan. Crafts Council is hosting Hey Clay! Pontcanna.
The historical Llanover Hall Arts Centre, Romilly Road. Their pottery room fits 20 students at a time, equipped with several pottery wheels, a drying room and a kiln for firing the pots. CF5 1FH
where they offer free taster sessions. Crafts Council celebrate the power of craft, believing that it can empower individuals to be creative. CF23 6XD
Grangetown. Re-Fire offers
six-week pottery classes to help people struggling with their mental health. They also provide a supportive community to exercise the creative therapy. CF11 8EQ
Roath. One Wall Studio offers
10-week evening courses as well as one off taster sessions. For ÂŁ25 you can try a two and a half hour taster throwing session to learn the basics of the craft, with refreshments. CF24 1JN
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - in next month’s issue - - - - - - - - - - - - - - explore mindful crafting through sewing