Friday, August 03, 2007

Throwing


I'm just about to go go downstairs and start throwing pots. I've been throwing for about 15 years now and it has become one of those activities like making tea that are just inherently soothing.

Throwing and I have a history, I've thrown in all different houses from Paddington in Brisbane to St Albans in England. I threw when I was but a girl , before I travelled overseas. I threw as my body changed and I waxed enormous during two pregnancies and now I throw when I'm talking to Fizzy D or thinking "I must get upstairs to feed Sweet Pea" I love having physical mastery over my materials ( although I never take it for granted, the clay can still surprise me). I was always hopeless at ball games throughout my childhood and the physical side of handling clay is a constant pleasure.


From the moment I sat at the wheel and made a wonky , thick pot I was hooked on this activity, I hope I'm still throwing when I'm 80, and have stringy old arms and long grey plaits.

(The nest jugs are showing at Salmon Galleries in McMahons Point, Sydney)

8 comments:

Yellis said...

Hi Shannon,

Just back in HK from the UK and it's hot hot hot. Love the nest jugs. Me thinks me will have to have some.
Down in Oz on the 22nd for nearly 3 weeks. Can't wait to see the new additon.

Anonymous said...

Shannon, how're are you, just found yer blog, yrah I'm a bit slow. hey I think the dark mass at the bottom and the textural lines chopping out to the white clay body works real fine. Nice one sister.,p

ellie said...

This is a really lovely, passionate post. I've been so enjoying reading about your pottery-making + design process. My mum was a potter. I wish I had more memories of her at her wheel, but it was so much a part of our life that we didn't really take much notice of it. I guess I wish I had more memories of her making cups of tea, too.
Thanks for sparking some little reminders for me with your beautiful work.

laissezfaire said...

Hi! I've been blog tagged and now I’m tagging you!
Post 8 random facts/habits about yourself and then tag 8 other bloggers to do the same by listing their names in your post and then leaving them a comment on their blog! Do let me know if you have recently been tagged before and would like to pass. Looking forward to learning more about you!!

Anonymous said...

Hi Shannon,
My name is Deborah I`m fm Brazil and a part time potter. After reading yr post I immi remembered one of my sons who said: mom, when I grow up will build a pottery studio for you. At early age he already figured out how this was important to my life, in fact still is.
You work is amazing and thanks for sharing with the world.

Anonymous said...

Hi Shannon,
My name is Deborah I`m fm Brazil and a part time potter. After reading yr post I immi remembered one of my sons who said: mom, when I grow up will build a pottery studio for you. At early age he already figured out how this was important to my life, in fact still is.
You work is amazing and thanks for sharing with the world.

Shannon Garson said...

Thanks everyone,
Working from home is great way to involve kids in your working life- glad you found me Deborah.

Florence Forrest said...

never "throw" it away :)

love the nest jugs!

xx