Village Raw - ISSUE 15

VILLAGE RAW
ART & CULTURE
These pages: Basil Olton and students at Highgate Art School.
es children and young people as well as adults. “People in our lessons
are from the local community and they come from all walks of
life, the demographic is quite wide including professionals, working
parents and students (including 6th formers). Young people have
moved on to foundation courses and degree courses, which we help
prepare for because we’re both practising artists and we’ve worked
at the Tate and South London galleries, so we’ve got quite a wide
range of experience.” Olton continues: “We try to create a supportive
environment where ideas can flourish, where you’re free to make
mistakes and it’s all part of the learning process. You should have
an idea of what you want to make, but be flexible in process, which
works out with clay as well because clay itself has its own mind.”
One thing that came up in talking to the different studios in the
area is that learning is a two-way street and that artists are continually
learning. And all three studios have had to rethink how they
operate as the pandemic continues, from reduced class numbers
at Ricky Grimes Ceramics to online courses at Highgate Art School
during lockdown, and crowdfunding at Turning Earth. But the appetite
to learn ceramics is still strong, so what are the studios hoping
for in 2022?
Basil Olton is looking forward to building the momentum created
by the art school’s growing online presence, with plans to
add another kiln, add more wheels and develop the space further.
“We’ve been busy post lockdown. We were able to access more
people, and we used social media a lot more during the lockdown.
We’re busier now than before. I think people have needed an outlet,
and it’s given us renewed enthusiasm by helping the people that
creating art helps.”
Tallie Maughan is excited to bring more people together at
Turning Earth N22, and plans to open more studios elsewhere in
London and beyond. But right now you can check out the Haringey
space. “It’s a stunningly beautiful space with light streaming
through loads of plants, lots of lovely wood furniture that’s all
handmade. It’s a really beautiful space to come and spend time
and really connect.”
And for Ricky Grimes it’s all about keeping the kilns fired up and
making sure everyone is safe and happy at the studio. “I hope that
my customers keep well, those normal types of hopes, and that we
don’t have too many problems with the kilns or anything like that.
And I hope to have a lot more fun in the classes too.”
Through facilitating spaces to learn and practise, these studios
have forged communities made up of professional makers and
happy hobbyists - where friendships, relationships and sometimes
even new generations of curious, creative people are moulded
alongside the clay.•
For information on classes from beginner to intermediate and membership at Highgate Art
School/HalfaDozen Studio, Ricky Grimes Ceramics or Turning Earth visit:
www.highgateartschool.com
www.rickygrimes.co.uk
www.turningearth.org
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