collective exchange

You never can tell what’s going to happen to a cast when you take it out from it’s mould, but the odds are pretty good that it’ll usually come out pretty well formed – imperfection is in fact perfection – unless there is the misfortune of it getting stuck or if the slip leaks.

We have discovered though that it is not just the cast that comes out pretty well, but when those little incidents happen, the mould also becomes an object of perfection

Even shavings from the casts themselves prove interesting

 

Proudly sponsored by Tottenham Hotspur Football Club & Middlesex University

    

All images are copyright of Collective Exchange

It was our second to last day of workshops and we were all feeling a little melancholy.  Although the day was fairly quiet, it gave us the chance to reflect over the past three weeks and all that we have learnt and been able to share with all the local residents who have come along and participated so far

Nothing has gone to waste in any way, even the ‘crocks’ are being decorated along with some of our participants finding use for scraps of plastic clay!

 

Proudly sponsored by Tottenham Hotspur Football Club & Middlesex University

    

All images are copyright of Collective Exchange

It’s our final week of workshops

The rain came….

And so did the participants!  We had one of our busiest workshop sessions since we started…

Some familiar faces and lots of new ones

There were some really lovely stories and memories shared…

Along with some really interesting work

Come and join us on Thursday, 16th or on Saturday, 18th.  Sessions are 10-1pm or 2-5pm

 

Proudly sponsored by Tottenham Hotspur Football Club & Middlesex University

    

All images are copyright of Collective Exchange

It was a great start to the day’s sessions, we had participants who have been in the area for different lengths of time; from 10 years to a year give or take and those who have lived in the area all their lives

Through the sharing of stories, there was a real sense of community and also those new to the area who were starting to build on that connection with others who had also recently moved there alongside existing long-term residents

There was talk of dragons and big cats and that sense of apprehension when faced with something new…the decoration and personal design of a pot and tile…new ways of drawing were shown and discovered…

We also had some surprise decorations of our own during the revealing process, beautiful in their own right

Thankfully the rain held off and we were able to get some prep work done outside for the start of the final week next Tuesday

Proudly sponsored by Tottenham Hotspur Football Club & Middlesex University

    

All images are copyright of Collective Exchange

We’ve not been in the house for the duration of our three weeks of workshops.

During the week we had some time away and headed up to the cemetery for some peace and quiet,

allowing us to collect our thoughts and be in the peaceful companionship of many former residents

 

Proudly sponsored by Tottenham Hotspur Football Club & Middlesex University

    

All images are copyright of Collective Exchange

The sun managed to stay out this morning which gave us the perfect opportunity to dry some moulds in the sunshine

We ventured over to Tottenham Marshes for lunch and an opportunity to explore the area a little more in-depth, as well as too catch some sun!  We are discovering just how friendly the Tottenham community is and have had some interesting chats both on the marshes as well as in the morning at 810

It seems that anything out of the ordinary really sparks curiosity in folk!

We made it back in the nick of time as the heavens opened not long after we returned for the afternoon session

Yet another budding artist who also happens to be a potter, came and joined us bringing with her a lovely splash of colour to liven up what turned into a pretty wet afternoon

Proudly sponsored by Tottenham Hotspur Football Club & Middlesex University

    

All images are copyright of Collective Exchange

We had another fantastic day of workshops

Our sessions saw our talented potters hard at work and there were some beautiful designs being produced on both pots and tiles

Towards the end of the sessions, there was the opportunity to see inside the house where the exhibition will be held and an opportunity to work outside and enjoy the sunshine

 

Proudly sponsored by Tottenham Hotspur Football Club & Middlesex University

    

All images are copyright of Collective Exchange

We are really starting to settle in at 810 High Road and make ourselves at home.

The team at Haringey Council and stopped by in the morning to see how things were progressing and to book themselves onto one of the workshops.

Everyone got involved and as the participants were all from the local area and have lived most of their lives there, their knowledge of Tottenham’s history and also their personal stories were fascinating.

The workshop residency is kicking off to a great start and really is hitting home the benefits of sharing and being able to experience the process of making and how it can bring people together

A bit of a tidy up and the pots are ready to go…

There are definitely some very talented, budding artists out there and we felt very privileged to have had some of them working with us today – we don’t want to show all of their hard work just yet, they will all be revealed at the exhibition in July

There were some unexpected links between some of the participants through various family members knowing each other which helped the camaraderie to flourish even further!

Proudly sponsored by Tottenham Hotspur Football Club & Middlesex University