Grounding through clay

A collaboration between artists Liz Workman, Corinna Reynolds, Rachel Dormor

Collective exploring the themes of trauma, loss and separation conceptually through grounding, and the self-regulation acts of making and talking. Working together to develop a collaborative approach to making, using collaboration as a catalyst for new ways of working. As part of this process, we ran a series of making and talking workshops with community groups.

A chance meeting at a workshop about oral histories, facilitated by the British Ceramics Biennial, uncovered a shared interest in exploring loss and separation using ceramics and ceramic processes as a tool for expression. These shared experiences are part of life but rarely discussed. Using clay's tactile and sensory nature as a way to discuss ideas that are often uncomfortable or taboo, together we have explored grounding through touch, drawing, making, centering, opening up a conversation, reflecting and engaging. Creatively exploring the themes of loss, separation, identity, transition, premature birth, familial separation, repair and renewal, capturing shared experiences and a sense of community, developing an output that reflects this shared conversation. In our current fast-paced world, we rarely come together as a community to share our experiences and stories.

This collaboration centres around opening up conversion, giving space for people to articulate their lived experiences, amplifying hidden voices of women or marginalised narratives, and using making to encourage dialogue and exploration, both verbally and creatively.