Our first day at Bertie Franke’s ceramics studio was a truly enchanting experience. We began our magical journey with a playful game that introduced us to the key terms and techniques of pottery. Bertie explained that we would be creating Raku ceramics, a unique Japanese style that involves a dramatic final firing.
We delved into the fundamental elements of pottery: Earth, Water, Air, and Fire. We learned about the properties of different clays, including the refractory qualities of chamotte-infused clay. Bertie also shared insights into the firing processes in both electric and gas kilns.
Our hands-on experience began with the ancient technique of pinching. We started with a simple clay ball and, with our eyes closed, gently pinched and shaped it into a bowl. The tactile sensation of the clay, the warmth of our hands, and the quiet concentration were incredibly meditative. When we finally opened our eyes, we were delighted to see the unique forms we had created.
Next, we experimented with using molds, crafting two perfect hemispheres that we joined together with slip. This process required precision and patience, but the end result was a beautiful, hollow sphere.
As the day drew to a close, we embarked on a creative writing exercise, crafting the first chapter of a fairytale about twins who discover magical clay in an enchanted forest. This imaginative endeavor perfectly complemented our hands-on pottery experience, allowing us to explore the world of storytelling and ceramics.
The Well of Creation
Once upon a time, there were twins, Mirko and Marika, who lived in a small house on the edge of an enchanted forest. One day, while they were exploring the Vein river that wound through the trees, Marika exclaimed: “Look what I found!” Her hands were dirty with a dark and slimy mud. “Do you feel how strange it is?” she added, holding out a handful of earth to her brother. Mirko examined it curiously: “It seems malleable, sticky… it almost seems alive.”
While the twins were busy exploring the strange substance, a soft voice made them jump: “Good morning, little explorers.” Turning around, they saw a gnome sitting on a rock, with long white hair that touched the ground and sparkling emerald green eyes. She was dressed in a long dark green dress. She had pinned a shiny gold brooch to her dress. “I am Mistress Gea, the guardian of the earth. Do you know what you have found? This place is called The Well of Creation. For millennia, your ancestors have used this clay to create magical objects.”
“Can we try too?” Mirko asked enthusiastically. “Of course,” the Mistress replied. She took a piece of clay from the well and, with expert movements, transformed it into a soft ball. The twins followed suit. “Now, insert your thumb inside the ball,” she explained. The twins did as she told them and managed to pinch simple shapes of two hemispheres.
As the sun began to set, the twins found themselves with each a beautiful bowl in their hands. But the Mistress had disappeared. “That was so much fun!” Mirko exclaimed, but Marika looked thoughtful. “I wonder where she went?”
Leaving the bowls on the rock to dry, the twins happily returned home, taking with them the memory of an unforgettable experience….