MY HARMONIOUS JOURNEY WITH CLAY

A few weeks ago, I read Michelle Obama’s. “Overcoming: A Workbook” in which she

spoke about “small power”. Hers was knitting. A small power is really an activity

that one cam see from start to finish within a relatively short space of time that can

provide contentment. It is really intended to center you and provide peace and

accomplishment so that you can face the bigger challenges in life. In the book, she

asks you to identify your small powers. I wrote cooking and sewing! I even told my

sewing instructors, Rosie and Donna, that they were helping me to fortify my small

power.

In this article, I am here to say that I discovered that I had another small power

yesterday. Last week, while strolling through the West Edmonton Mall (WEM),

Canada, I saw an advertisement at a small café (Color Café) which immediately got

my attention. It was pottery classes! I got an “aha moment”!. I stopped and ventured

into this quaint little place to find out more. I met the owner and I asked him about

the classes. He led me to the back and showed me the space where the classes are

held. Eight potter’s wheels were staring at me. He advised that I should scan the QR

code, go online and sign me. I could bring 7 other persons if I wanted but they

offered one-on-one classes. How timely!!! I always wanted to try my hand at pottery

especially as I have been looking for triangular dinner plates for at least three years.

It seems like I have to make them myself…My friend, Terry, is well aware of this! Lol!

So back to the story. I did not hesitate to sign up, paid my registration fee and

waited for the day to come.

When I arrived, an employee named Anna, greeted me warmly. She directed me to

the back of the café and introduced me to “Tab”, a friendly young man of Ethiopian

heritage. He was very warm and courteous during the session and told me that I

reminded him of his mother. He has been a potter for two years and only recently,

he started with “Color Café”. I was his first student! He was rather encouraging and

accommodating because I asked a thousand questions and wanted a thousand

pictures/videos.

The first thing that you are asked to is wash your hands and dry them thoroughly.

Then I got to choose my apron. I chose a black apron with artistic motifs. When I

sat at the Potter’s wheel, “Tab” asked me what I wanted to make. Of course, it was a

“no brainer”…a bowl to feature my creation on my breakfast table in the months to

come. Then, he went on to explain all the tools and equipment: clay, bucket with

warm water, sponge, wire cutter, needle tool, wooden modeling blade, rib, towel,

paper and napkins. Then we moved to the wheel. He told me that I needed to

control the speed of the wheel with my right foot and under no circumstances should

I place my fingers under the wheel. I also had to ensure that my elbows were

comfortably anchored on my legs during the entire process. Then, he pressed down

the bottom of the clay to the wheel so that there were no air pockets. The objectives

are 1) to get the clay to the center and keep it there for the entire process 2)know

your dominant hand and where to keep the pressure because the clay has to be

molded on your dominant hand and 3) manage the speed of the wheel using your

foot.

I had to follow suit and put the clay on my wheel and seal it off. Then we moved to

the “cone up” and “cone down” processes. This is the building up of the clay and

pressing it down three times. During this process, “Tad” was applying water. It only

took a few minutes into the activity for me to become in harmony with the mound of

clay. I had heard about being at one with clay before. Yes! You do feel a sense of

peace and harmony. This is therapeutic for sure. One potter said “There is really a

symbiotic relationship between human creativity and Nature’s world.” I experienced

that in all its glory. I was making something that I know is my craftmanship and my

design as well as my effort. All the while, “Tad” is there to give me all the motivation I

need complete with plaudits!

After the third “cone down”, it was time to progress to the next step, shaping the

bowl, I had to take my finger on my dominant hand and spread it out in the form of a

bowl. When that process was completed it was time to use the needle tool to trim

the rim of the bowl and to smooth it out with my finger. Then the rib tool was used to

take the excess clay from the bottom of the bowl. The hardest part was using the

wire cutter to detach the bowl from the wheel and placing it on to a cardboard sheet.

This required a lot of skill and patience. It was not that easy to separate and we

made several attempts. Finally, it was time for engraving my initials! Hooray!

Afterwards, Anna brought a piece of saran wrap to cover the bowl. I had to go wash

my hands and return the apron. Class is over! It is time to take a picture for my

masterpiece. The back drop is there for you to display your “magnum corpus” and

she tells you the nicest things whilst taking the pictures. This is followed by the

instructions for your homework for the next three weeks while my bowl is drying. My

bowl will be dried at the home of my godson, Keon. As I will not be here in the next

three weeks, he will have to follow the meticulous drying instructions over the next

three weeks. After that, he will have to return to Color Café for the “bisque firing”.

He will be my representative! This process is when the item is hardened so that it can be

safety held and glazed without dissolving or cracking in the process. I got to view

the bisque firing oven while I was there.

Once my bowl is fired, it will be brought home for me sometime in August…hopefully!

Look out for the finished piece on my breakfast table!!!! Hope that you also try to

define your “small powers”!!!