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pottrey animation in progress at tvyp wigmorepotters wheel animation made at tvyp youth clubpotters wheel animation underway at tvyp wigmore

Been working with Teme Valley Youth Project (TVYP) in Wigmore, introducing the young people there to the delights of the potter’s wheel and other clay making techniques. On the suggestion of my co-artist Stephen, we added stop animation into the creative mix. Featured above are a few stills from a short animation experiment created by one of the participants.

work experience student at eastnor potteryEvie, a yr 10 student from Pershore High School joined us last week for work experience. She spent three days accompanying me in schools in Hereford and Ledbury and the rest of the time making bit’s and pieces at the studio. It was a delightful experience with Evie demonstrating employable levels of motivation, maturity and initiative. Here she is with a couple of terracotta clay birds she modelled as example pieces for our ‘bird bath’ children’s workshops this week.

delicious curry at festival of cultures at edward iv grammer school for boys in birmingham july 2012One of my workshop highlights is the annual trip to King Edward vi Grammar School for Boys Aston, Birmingham. I’m there working with the students during the day and then supplying potter’s wheel sessions for friends and family of the pupils in the evening.

The whole event is called Festival of Cultures and continues, year in year out, to be a raging success, not only for the boys but for the many activity suppliers like myself. Organisation of the whole affair is the responsibility of the 6th formers who are motivated, polite and very helpful, and to cap it all you get fed too: Parents set up food stands in the main hall where you can sample cousine from all over the world. The portions are generous and always served with pride, a smile and a whole lot of love. The curries are to die for and the cake stand offers a mouthwatering selection of home baked deliciousness!

Yum yum, looking forward to next year already.

creative arts sessions for young people living herefordshireThe multi facited, multi disciplined YArt project resumed after the Christmas break recently. This week I had the privillage of working with the young people of Leominster, Wigmore and Michaelchurch Esclay.

The project will culminate in a big arts event on 1st April in the centre of Hereford.

Jon returned to Grace Academy in Solihull to work with 22 of the new September intake of Yr7 students. Having been shown various potting techniques, the participants used their own imagination to build various clay objects including giraffes, training shoes and a Nanny McPhee!