2025

Exhibition at Hatton Gallery, Newcastle, 1 February - 3 May 2025.

Potters and artists have long valued clay for its connection to a particular place, the very earth beneath our feet, but they are increasingly concerned about the sustainability of this material. The Sustainable Clay exhibition explores the environmental impact of this naturally occurring material.

Best done in winter, straw, paper pulp, gesso, boules, Dutch gold, upcycled timber from science lab table (Aruba wood), 2024.

Best done in winter is a group of wonky dome shapes, which are created using the endangered craft of lip-work (coiling with straw), commonly employed in pre-industrial farming and crofting contexts for skeps and lip-work chairs and basketry. Here the straw is coiled, and coils are attached to each other in a lip-work stich traditionally using split bramble, lapping cane or flax. The five skep like domes in Best done in winter were commenced with interested people in gallery workshops at HOME, Manchester, and completed by Jurack.