Sustaining the Studio - Sustaining Self
Online Symposium: 23 & 25 February 2021
Prof. Simon Olding
An exciting symposium of Zoom talks and panels convened by Prof. Simon Olding, exploring the sustainable pottery studio and how pottery participation through our studios and communities sustains the self through wellbeing. Important and vital to all of us, wellbeing is even more significant in the current times.
The symposium has been developed by the Leach Pottery, in partnership with the Centre of Ceramic Art (CoCA) Subject Specialist Network at York Art Gallery. It is supported by Arts Council England.
Overview
In ‘Part One: Sustaining the Studio’ a Keynote by Dr Jeffrey Jones examines the symposium’s overarching themes, drawing upon the context of 20th century studio pottery through to contemporary practice. A panel of practitioners will then present different studio models in relation to sustaining practice, from the Leach Pottery with Roelof Uys to independent Cornwall-based practitioners Rebecca Harvey, Richard Phethean, and Laura Crosland. Reflecting on these accounts, discussion centres on how these models remain sustainable in today’s economic and creative climate; whether working in partnership with arts organisations, supplementing personal practice with course delivery, or using digital channels to reach audiences.
Helen Lee
In ‘Part Two: Sustaining the Self’ focus shifts to exploring the wellbeing benefits of clay. It will consider how working with clay can help people sustain themselves and provide greater engagement opportunities with broader audiences. Helen Lee will focus on the role of clay in helping someone with dementia, Janna Edwards explores how clay can enable extraordinary change and transformation in individuals, and Mark Essen will consider how clay can resolve social inequality.
Full Programme
“There is Love, Pleasure and Co-operation in Our Work”
“Everyone has the right to be heard, to be seen, to be given the same opportunities and to be treated as equals.”
“What role should the arts have in resolving the issue of social inequality? How can we reframe the role of the artists’ studio to be useful in the community in which they live and work?”
Programme
Part One: Sustaining the Studio
Tuesday 23 February 2021, 17.00 - 18.30
17:00-17:05 - Symposium welcome: Simon Olding
17:05 -17:40 - Keynote presentation, including Q&A, ‘There is Love, Pleasure and Co-operation in Our Work’ (Bernard Leach 1947): Jeffrey Jones
17:40-17:45 - Break
17:45-18.30 - Panel discussion / Q&A: Roelof Uys, Rebecca Harvey, Richard Phethean and Laura Crosland, facilitator: Simon Olding
Part Two: Sustaining the Self
Thursday 25 February 2021, 17.00 - 18.30
17:00-17:05 - Symposium welcome: Simon Olding
17:05 -17:25 - ‘Why Making Pots Helps if You Have Dementia’: Helen Lee
17:25 -17:45 - Examining ‘15 Days in Clay’: Janna Edwards
17:45-17:50 - Break
17:50 -18:10 - ‘Who is the Potter & Who is the Pot?’: Mark Essen
18:10 -18:20 - Panel Discussion / Q&A: Helen Lee, Janna Edwards, Mark Essen
18:20 -18:30 - Symposium Close: Simon Olding
