Penny and I have been having numerous conversations about how the Manor Oaks Wood-firing Society will run. Current thinking is to have the two of us running it as a Creative Enterprise, managing the timetabling and use of the kiln for the membership and other artists and setting up a programme of activities for members of the public which might include training courses, working with local schools, setting up masterclasses and ceramics festivals, and tapping into the already existing Corporate team-building activities at Manor Oaks. We are building up a database of contacts and thinking of ways in whcih we can attract participants. Mir Jansen of Yorkshire Artspace has suggested that we invite the Frith’s to run our first Pilot Project firing the kiln – Yorkshire Artspace may be able to part fund this. In addition my grant from the Arts Council includes an amount for a Pilot Project. It looks like the kiln might be built well before the original March 2012 prediction, so the Pilot Project may happen much sooner than expected. WATCH THIS SPACE!
More great news – I have been successful in my Arts Council funding bid to support me to attend a Masterclass in Smokeless Wood Kiln Building and Firing at the International Ceramics Studio in Hungary under the tutelage of the master of the art – Masakazu Kusakabe.It’s a three week course and use of the studios is included in the course so I expect to be completely immersed in ceramics and firing and building and meeting people from all over the world with all the different experiences and outlooks that will bring. For more information see http://www.icshu.org/2011/smokelesswoodfire/kusaka…
This course, along with the visit to the Frith’s kiln in North Wales, will give me greater expertise and confidence to support the programme of work at Manor Oaks.
Lots of really good news – things are beginning to move on apace. May 6th saw the official opening of the Manor Oaks site with special guest star Emmanuel Cooper to cut the ribbon and other activities going on across the site. Sue France of Green Estate opened proceedings with a welcome and thanks to all for the support given, followed by a speech from Paul Billington, Director of Culture and Environment at Sheffield City Council. Emmanuel Cooper spoke warmly about the importance of ceramics-focused projects for ceramicists at all stages of their career and then attempted to cut the ribbon with an extremely large pair of Sheffield forged scissors. Many attempts and several persons later the ribbon was finally cut to laughter and applause. Narrenda Bajari of Yorkshire Artspace then thanked guests and invited them to the opening night of a further exhibition at Persistence Works that evening. Beautiful refreshments were laid on by Green Estate lovingly assembled by the Manor Oaks cafe team along with bubbly and various entertainments – ceramicists from Persistence Works displayed pots in the Sheffield Wildlife Trust’s Chelsea garden display which has been transported to the site, Emilie Taylor displayed work from a community arts project she had done and the studio holders opened up for visitors with some activities to join in. In addition the cafe was serving delicious cakes and refreshments, there was a tour of the future nature garden, the Discovery Centre was open, and the resident archeologists were on hand to talk about and show local artefacts – particularly local pottery shards – we were able to see some examples of John Fox’s ware as well as older pieces. It was a beautiful day and well attended. The rain kept away – just – and it felt like the project had really begun. See the photos for a taste of what it was like.
