Creating A Little Piece Of Bowland…
At Bowland Pottery, workshops are held to create unique pieces of art based on the natural world in the heart of the Ribble Valley countryside
Two wonderful pottery workshops are on the horizon focusing on the natural world. Held in the heart of the Ribble Valley and run by experienced potter and ceramicist Justine Whitaker, Bowland Pottery workshops will help visitors build their own pottery berry bowl at the September event and in October there will be the opportunity to make a River Hodder pebble bowl and a tree bark dish.
Justine explains: “The pebble bowl and bark dish allows potters to treasure and take a little piece of Bowland home with them whilst leaving the natural environment just as you found it.
“The tree bark used in the dish, is from fallen Ash trees in our beautiful Forest of Bowland that have sadly died from Ash die-back. Capturing the bark imprint in clay gives the trees a new life as their memory can then be admired for a long time to come. I feel it’s a very respectful piece of art.”
BERRY BOWL
In this three-hour workshop visiting potters will mould stoneware clay over a ‘slump’ to create their berry bowl. Guided by Justine, potters will pierce drainage holes in the clay to their own design then create handles to create a bowl that is totally unique to them.
During the course, they will learn many hand-building skills immersing themselves in turning earth into a useable, practical bowl that should last a lifetime.
Your berry bowl will then remain at Bowland Pottery to dry and be fired in the kiln. After the first firing your bowl will be glazed in the colour of your choice and be fired again at 1220 degrees to let the magic happen. Three to four weeks after the workshop your finished piece of pottery will be ready for you to collect.
PEBBLE BOWL & TREE BARK DISH
Also a three-hour workshop, this will see potters borrow a pebble from the River Hodder and mould stoneware clay over it to create a unique pebble bowl. Potters can also choose a piece of bark from a fallen tree in the heart of the Forest of Bowland, pressing it into the clay and shaping it to form a small dish – capturing a moment in time forever. As the berry bowl, your unique pieces will be fired in the kiln, glazed with the colours of your choice and will be ready for you to collect.
Hot and cold drinks with cakes will be provided during both three-hour workshops which cost £50 each.
The berry bowl workshop is being held on 6th September from 1pm – 4pm while the pebble bowl and bark dish workshop will be held on 19th October from 10am – 1pm.
Workshops are held at Bowland Pottery, Dunnow Hall, Slaidburn BB7 3AD.
To book contact Justine on 07800 742143 or go to: numonday.com
