Debut exhibition for female collective of Bristol potters

A ceramic exhibition showcasing a talented group of women ceramic artists and makers will be launching at Centrespace in the heart of Bristol on November 13, and running until November 24.

The eclectic mix of work on show as part of Bristol Clay ranges from ceramics thrown on the potter’s wheel to hand-built sculpture, earthenware, stoneware and pieces made using the specialised raku firing technique.

The majority of the pieces on display will be for sale, and the slightly higher price exhibits in the main gallery space will be accompanied by an additional shop selling affordable ceramics which may be well-suited to Christmas gifts.

A special preview of the exhibition will be held on Friday, November 12 at 6-8.30pm, during which handmade cups will be sold with proceeds going to the local charity Art Refuge,  supporting displaced people through art therapy.

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One of the potters set to exhibit at Bristol Clay is Emily Gibbard – otherwise known as @Totterdown_Potterdown – who teaches a wide variety of ceramic techniques across six-week pottery courses from her own studio, Windmill Clay. Bristol 24/7 caught up with her at new Totterdown favourite, Bank, to find out more about her personal journey as a ceramic artist.

Can you outline your background and what drew you to become a potter?

“I began in 2016, doing a four week taster course at Potstop, and I just really fell in love with it. I carried on with those evening classes for another two years, and then came to a natural break in what I was doing in my life; I’d had my third child by then and left my marketing job, so I decided to go for it and get a full time studio space.

“I moved to Maze Studios over in Barton Hill, and set up as a potter for the first time, making and selling my work. Being based at Maze gave me a fantastic chance to build up all the skills, and get into the pottery community in Bristol.

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“In September of this year I moved to over to Windmill Hill City Farm to set up my own studio, together with a friend and fellow potter, Hannah Jowett – Windmill Clay. I also have some Arts Council funding, through the DYCP scheme, to work on some sculptural work. So for Bristol Clay I’ve tried to move further away from tableware into larger sculptural pieces, and that’s what I’m going to be showing.

“I’ve got eight pieces in the exhibition, and I have chosen to focus on the theme of womanhood. I’m trying to use pieces that were thrown on the wheel but bring movement to them. I’m also trying to express more the imperfections and marks that occur as the maker goes through the process, whereas in the past I think I’ve smoothed all of those out. I really want my pieces to look authentically handmade – a complete one-off every time.”

What can people expect from the exhibition?

“I think with the exhibition scene in Bristol we don’t necessarily get any large dedicated ceramic exhibitions. This is very much about showcasing up-and-coming potters. For some people, it’s their first chance to exhibit, and others are already quite experienced – it’s been nice working together, helping people along.

“Essentially we are a group of people who met through working together at studios in Bristol, but now we span about five studios as well as some home potters. We’re hoping to build the Bristol Clay network in the future, put on more exhibitions, perhaps have some monthly socials, and connect people more widely.

Emily Gibbard, ‘Superwomb’ from the Bristol Clay exhibition – photo: Emily Gibbard

“I think Bristol Clay will be brilliant for spanning a range of what is possible with clay, because people are working in all sorts of different clays. There will be tableware, and sculpture; there will be pieces thrown on the wheel; lots of hand-built clay; huge tree sculptures; down to very fine porcelain.”

What is the community of female potters like in Bristol?

“I’d say it’s incredibly supportive. People share their recipes, and give you time. You have to know so many things to be a potter: you have to know chemistry for the glazing; you’ve got to know about structural support for the building of sculptures; throwing on the wheel is another big skill curve. You need to be constantly asking questions, and people really do share expertise and offer advice.”

How can people get involved in pottery at Windmill Clay?

“We have seven studio spaces for potters who are already up and running, and then we’ve got two pottery classes a week – they are full for this term, but we are offering more in January. Age-wise it’s really varied, we have a mix of people from about 19 right through to 70. It’s very different to being able to draw or paint. There are so many skills within clay. There’s the wheel throwing where you’re almost locked like a machine, and then coil building which is very free and gentle; slab building too.

“Clay is just a material, ultimately – there are so many artforms you can practise within it. In the class I’m trying to offer the beginnings of each technique, so people can find the areas where they might want to continue. We are doing four or five weeks of building and then for the final week we glaze – you can learn to dip glaze, pour your glaze, or paint it on.”

Sculptural work by Emily Gibbard – photo: Emily Gibbard

Finally, what does being a potter do for your health and happiness?

“I had always wanted to work in the arts but I was desperate to move away from the screen. I wanted to do some more creative work. When I discovered pottery, the bit I particularly fell in love with at first was throwing, and that is very mindful. You slow down your heartbeat and get into a flow state. And you have no awareness of time when you’re in that state; I have an alarm on my phone for the school run, because sometimes at work I get into another zone completely and have no idea what time of day it is.”

Bristol Clay is at Centrespace Gallery, 6 Leonard Lane, BS1 1EA, on Saturday, November 13-24, open daily from 10am-6pm, and 11am-4pm on Sundays. There is an additional preview evening on November 12, from 6-8.30pm.

Main photo: Emily Gibbard

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