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Julie Apap |
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I have been potting for the last 20years at least, not counting my college years. It has been a frustrating but fun learning and a way of making many friends! Frustrating in the sense that either the electricity was not up to stoneware temperatures, which is what I wanted to do, or it was difficult to get hold of the ingredients I needed to make glazes. Living on a small island, we have to import all the ingredients we need. Some local potteries will sell clay, but then you are dependant on what they are using. In years past there was a lot of red tape when importing different materials. Thankfully, nowadays it is so much better. I used to teach art in a secondary school, and then pottery in lunch time lessons. I now give a few lessons from my pottery in Msida, near the university. Part of the pottery houses a small shop area. I try to make the lessons fun and encourage experimenting with glazes and other materials. We need to keep our mind open to all possibilities, which is the secret of creativity. At the moment I am working more on the wheel. I find I work better in cycles. Sometimes it is porcelain jewellery, wall plaques, functional ware or sculptural pieces. I am inspired with patterns and textures, the Maltese Neolithic Temples and inner thoughts and feelings. |
'Draw freely from the Source'-stoneware tiles You will find more information on these pages. 'Out of the Fire' exhibition Heritage Malta 2008
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I use a pale stoneware clay
and am always experimenting with glazes, it is a long learning
process. I fire in an electric kiln, as the pottery in is a built up
area, and smoke fire burnished pots, if I get the chance. We often
do a barrel firing as an opportunity to have a get together at the
end of a course. I like the interaction with students; ideas rebound from each of us and are a very helpful part. I also think that if more people understand the making and firing process, they will appreciate hand made ceramics, and be more likely to purchase them. There is so much more pleasure in using or owning something hand made! |
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click on an image to enlarge
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Contact details 'The Pot Studio' 34, H. Calleja Schembri Street, Msida Circus, Msida, Malta open mon - thurs 4pm - 7pm (unless abroad) +356 79338950
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