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JUDY KUITUNEN
IT MAKES ME FEEL GOOD
TO CREATE ENERGY
In the Seventies, Judy Bradley, a young ceramic artist, was working in a small
workshop in the East End of London. After a romantic misfortune, she longed for
a change of scene. In a magazine for ceramic artists she noticed two adverts: one
for a job in Finland, and one in Iceland. Finland sounded a bit less cold, so she sent
off an application. A few months later, Jussi Mäkelä appeared and told her that
Gustavs in Finland was the place to be. She worked there for a while. Later on they
moved to Åland and got married.
It’s now over thirty years later, and Judy has put
down even deeper roots in Åland. Today Judy lives
with a different Jussi, whose surname is Kuitunen.
She has two children as well as her own ceramics
studio and shop.
Have you ever regretted moving to Åland?
“I was ready to go back once, thinking about
moving back to London. I love London. But when I
thought about the children and everything, Åland is
hard to beat,” she said.
How did you get into ceramics?
“I come from an artistic family. My grandmother
Hellen Bradley was a popular artist in England
and was well-known in other countries as well.
My grandfather was also an artist who worked in
various media including textiles. We had always
expressed ourselves creatively in our family, and I
was lucky enough to get a scholarship to a good
art school. That was when I decided to go into
ceramics. Right from the start I loved working with
ceramics,” Judy explained.
What sorts of people visit your shop?
“Every kind. The chief of police rang me up one
evening just before five o’clock and asked if I
was still open, because Finland’s President Tarja
Halonen wanted to come for a visit. It’s only here
in Åland that the President can go out without a
huge team of bodyguards and all the streets closed
off. She came in and looked around just like anyone
else and bought one of my bowls with a lemon
design. The same design that has been depicted on
a postage stamp in Åland. Ambassadors’ wives and
performers from the Alandica concert hall have also
visited my shop , Judy recalls.
“Of course it’s mainly tourists in the summer.
Many English-speaking tourists are steered my
way. Some people know me from TV. I’ve been on
a cookery programme with Michael Björklund, Sara
La Fountain and Tina Nordström, on the interior
decorating programme “Kesä T.i.l.a” on Finland’s
channel MTV3 and “Single Mum Seeks …” on TV3
in Sweden.”
“Other than that, I think many Ålanders have
at least one of my pieces. Ålanders are important,
because they’re here all year round,” Judy noted.
The tourists who visit your shop – what do they
think of Åland?
“They are mainly positive, curious and they have
a lot of questions. I generally view myself as an
ambassador for Åland. I usually point them towards
places I like myself: Silverskär with its hermit cabin,
which is lovely; Kvarnbo guesthouse, Hotel HavsVidden
and the natural scenery there; the Amorina
Chocolaterie which is run by Mercedes; and the
Café Bönan where you can have an organic meal or
snack,” Judy listed.
Do you think you’ll stay put in Åland now?
“I probably will, but who knows what the future will
bring? What did I know about Åland when I lived in
London?” Judy laughed.
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