collaborative terracotta barn owl sat on a terracotta tree stump encrusted with bugs made by school children

collaborative terracotta barn owl sat on a terracotta tree stump encrusted with bugs made by school childrenAll this week Sculpture at Kingham Lodge has welcomed 3000 local school children for a sneak preview of the exhibits – some of which have been made by themselves.

Kingham Lodge has an ambitious vision to put art back on the school curriculum. As well as supporting artists’ residencies in local schools, they fund art clubs, art competitions, art materials, teacher training in 23 North Cotswold settings.  They reckon to give over 3,500 local children the opportunity to engage with art…which we think is pretty amazing!

As part of their artist residency program, Jon took the Flying Potter mobile studio into x4 schools, building  a collaborative terracotta sculpture with each. The results have been fired and delivered to Kingham Lodge where they can be viewed alongside the work of National and Internationally renowned artists.

The Exhibition runs 20 – 29 May 2023 and we definitely recommend a visit. Admission is FREE, but you will need to book your visit online.

Jon thoroughly enjoyed working with:

Bourton-on-the-Water Primary Academy

made these lovely air, sea and land themed collaborative plant pots.

 

Chadlington Primary School

made bees, bugs, butterflies and bee hive.

terracotta bee hive covered in bees made by primary school childrencollaborative terracotta butterfly made by primary school children

Enstone Primary School

made sculptural bird baths encrusted with garden birds.

three terracotta bird baths covered in garden birds made by school children

Stow-on-the-Wold Primary School

made the fabulous barn owl sat on a tree stump.

collaborative terracotta barn owl sat on a terracotta tree stump encrusted with bugs made by school children

rurning point staff memeber proudly showing her oak leaf clay tiles on a circular wooden board at team building day in leominster

turning point mug with turning point staff doing pottery team building in leominsterLast week we took our mobile pottery studio, The Flying Potter,  to Leominster. We were hired by Turning Point Herefordshire to share the immeasurable benefits of working with clay with their staff as part of their annual team day celebrations.

team photo of staff at turning point hereford

Turning Point are a UK social enterprise providing support with drug and alcohol, mental health, learning disability and autism, employment, and sexual health.

mobile phone taking a photo of freshly made pottery tiles as part of pottery team building day in herefordshire

We worked with x40 participants, each person hand modelling a clay tile based upon their individual roles with-in the organisation. Once all the tiles have been fired, glazed and mounted on boards, the work will be installed at Turning Point’s offices in Hereford – forming a gigantic oak tree panel and a permanent reminder of the power of collaboration!

oak leaf shaped clay tiles made by turning point and eastnor pottery

“just wanted to say a big thank you for last week. The team loved the pottery and everyone seemed to get stuck in, which was great. Really looking forward to seeing the final piece.” Turning-Point UK
If you would like the Flying Potter to visit you, anywhere in the UK…or if you and your team fancy an away day in rural Herefordshire, please take a look at our Away Day and Team Building pages.
rurning point staff memeber proudly showing her oak leaf clay tiles on a circular wooden board at team building day in leominsterrurning point staff memeber proudly showing her oak leaf clay tiles on a circular wooden board at team building day in leominster
makershack at cheltenham science festival

girl making an octopus in makershack cheltenham science festival

Delighted to announce we’ll once again be expounding the scientific attributes of clay at The Cheltenham Science Festival taking place 6-11 June 2023.

We’ve been a  staple of the MakerShack since 2016 and worked with 10’s of thousands of participants getting hands on with clay in this marvelous, family friendly interactive space.

Just to whet your appetite, here’s a few photos from the MakerShack last year….and a lovely little video produced by the the organisers.

makershack at cheltenham science festival

pottery tiles made by school children arranged in the shape of an oak tree

pottery tiles made by school children arranged in the shape of an oak tree

As new leaves unfurl, we are reminded of all the lovely tree tile panels we’ve made with school children all over the West Midlands and beyond. This multi-coloured beauty was made with Cheltenham College Pre-Prep in the Autumn term of last year.

thrown and carved bowl made by work experience student at eastnor pottery

hereford college of art student doing undertaking work experience at eastnor potteryOnce or twice a year we liaise with local high schools and colleges offering students work experience placements here at the Pottery.

Putu is a student at Hereford College of Arts currently studying on their Extended Diploma in Art and Design. She joined us recently to experience our busy little creative business first hand.

As well as assisting with our classes and courses, Putu had the opportunity to make her own ceramic work incorporating some of the themes and ideas she’s exploring on her course. Weaving is a process she’s particularly interested in and subsequently had a go at weaving clay. Nice work Putu!

weaved clay work by hca work experience student at eastnor potterypot thrown on potters wheel and decorated at eastnor pottery by hca student on work experience

weaved clay bowlthrown and carved bowl made by work experience student at eastnor pottery