ArtHouse + Team ROC Collaborate With Islington Art Factory For The Islington Ceramics Course For Clients
During the Summer months, Arthouse hosted a new hands-on ceramics course designed and facilitated by Islington based Recovery Opportunities Co-Ordinator - Charlotte in collaboration with Islington Arts Factory and hosted at SHP Islington Mental health service.
The format for the project allowed makers to explore the tangible and changeable therapeutic tendencies of clay, learn ceramic processes and techniques and create something for themselves to take home and enjoy.
Six makers over eight sessions were taught basic clay modelling techniques such as pinching for pots, sculpture slab building and scoring for relief, as well as traditional ceramic methods including tile making, designing, firing and glazing.
The sessions were proven to be a great success, have created a relaxing and calming environment for many of the makers, finishing with an excellent celebratory exhibition at St Mary's Horney Rise Church, Islington.
The messiness of working with wet or damp clay and the need to follow a process to achieve results creates a safe space for clients to slow down and focus on a single mindful activity. The course also allowed people to create something satisfyingly functional and give them the confidence and knowledge to design and create more usable items for themselves and others.
“The great thing about it is when I was doing it (glazing the ceramics) I wasn’t thinking about anything else I was just completely calm and focused” - Lawerence, Ceramics Maker
Creating safe spaces and opportunities to take part in activities that encourage creativity and positive experience play an important role in improving clients mental health and over-all wellbeing.
"It's been an amazing experience and will be useful to the art foundation I am studying and now I know how to make tiles. I am hoping to start running my own art workshops soon. Your reference will be brilliant for me" - Volunteer
Blog by Meg O’Malley | Art Manager
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