Wiser choices made with greater care

We are connected to the world both by the people we spend time with (now strangely distanced), and by the objects we have chosen to bring into our lives. I recently came across a piece of writing that chimed made me stop and think about the relationship we have with the objects we love and that we source at New Brewery Arts.

‘Our lives are full of things. Disposable distractions, stuff you buy but do not cherish, own yet never love. Thrown away in weeks rather than passed on for generations. Perhaps things will be different now. Wiser choices made with greater care. After all, if the fewer things you own always excite you, would you really miss the many that never could?’

I’d like to suggest something. While we are on lock-down, with few opportunities for social interaction with people, we could focus instead on the objects with us in our homes, the things that bring comfort and joy, the artefacts we cherish and love. So, take a look around you right now, ask yourself what are the things in your home that you love? Where are they from, who made them and just what is the connection between you and it? What’s the story behind them?

my perfect coffee mug

For me there are many such objects that I feel connected to; my coffee mug – from Muchelney Pottery – without it my first coffee of the day is simply off balance, there is the welsh wool sofa blanket that my husband and I chose together as newlyweds two decades ago - it’s like a hug, yesterday I used a little pottery dish thrown by my daughter when she was seven – its lumpy and chipped but I love it because she made it. These objects are special, they connect me to the world, to the people I love and to moments in my life. And right now, on lock-down, these connections are amplified, my world has shrunk down to my home and it’s more important to me than ever that the things I own excite me and mean something to me.

I hope you too are safely at home, surrounded by the things that you love, objects that mean something special to you. I hope that you use them and enjoy using them. These weeks of lock-down are an opportunity for us to get closer to these special objects, to appreciate them once again, to remember why we cherish them and how we love them. And when lock-down lifts, I hope that we have learnt to value the ‘things’ in our lives, and as we start to bring things into our homes again we remember this time and we make ‘wiser choices made with greater care’.

beth@newbreweryarts.org.uk

Not merely empty buildings

Image via Instagram @barrefly

Creativity is widely known to make us feel better, there’s a feeling of joy and fulfilment when you’re making things. I know there is a wealth of creative activity taking place in homes across the world right now, and I'm sure those feelings of wellbeing are helping everyone involved feel a little bit better and stronger.

There’s another side to craft though that I’m really missing, and it’s the social interaction that craft brings. I’ve been in to New Brewery Arts regularly since lockdown to check on the buildings, and it has been hard for me to see everything empty, without all the people who fill our spaces and studios every day. I know many of our regular students see their class as a moment in their social diary as much as a learning experience. From our offices we can hear laughter and chatter coming from the studios. I often say that while we are an organisation that celebrates the importance of craft and creativity, what we are really here for is the people and our community.

I had thought that without the amazing people who come to New Brewery Arts all we would be left with is three empty buildings. But the corona virus shut-down has shown me that even with the buildings empty there’s something else, there is still a community. Each week I have been spending time (via video calls) with the craftspeople from our studios, and with the team of trustees who, now more than ever, support the organisation, I've been chatting to staff on the phone and emailing craftspeople and other organisations about future plans. I've been emailing our community to thank them for their donations of support, and for their kind words that are helping us to get through these difficult times. We might have ‘gone dark’ for a few months, but it’s merely the buildings that we have had to close, not the unique spirit of New Brewery Arts.

And its with that community in mind, with the positive comments from people who want to come back to New Brewery Arts for their social and creative 'fix' that we're making plans for the days when we can all come together again. We're making plans for special events, exhibitions and a whole programme of new and favourite classes to come back to. We’re even developing new ways that New Brewery Arts can help our wider community recover and recuperate when lockdown ends – we don’t know what people may want or need, but we’ll be here to make sure craft and creativity is available to everybody so we can all feel the joy that craft brings.

Beth Alden, CEO
beth@newbreweryarts.org.uk

I think creativity is contagious

Earlier this week I had an online chat with the craftspeople from our studios – I think Zoom is wonderful. Each week we try and make the time to chat and catch up with one-another. What I have noticed is how unstoppable they are, they are continuing to be busy making and doing.

Over Easter LoCo have managed to find time to re-start the furnaces and blow glass in their studio, determined to make work with a conscience, they are taking part in an online exhibition @ArtForCure with 50% of all sales supporting breast cancer charities. You can see what LoCo are working on via their instagram @locostudioglass.

Tracey Elphick is also working hard, today she was at her studio packing up paintings for delivery. Tracey is participating in the #artistssupportpledge scheme via instagram @TraceyElphick. Set up by artist Matthew Burrows, it’s a simple concept of artists supporting one another throughout the coronavirus crisis. Artists are invited to post pictures of their works for sale for £200 or less on instagram, every time an artist makes £1000 in sales they then pledge to plough back £200 on purchasing the work of another artist – all using the hashtag #artistssupportpledge. It’s a great scheme supporting artists in an affordable way.

Daniella is hoping to clear out a shed today – somewhere at the back of the shed is a kiln, and once uncovered she hopes she can start making from home. (fingers crossed the kiln still works). Steve has continued working onsite in his basement studio, with orders to fulfil he’s got his fingers crossed that suppliers are still open so he can keep working. Emily is working from home on commissions and orders.

There’s also lots of ‘non-work’ making going on with the New Brewery Arts studio makers. Dorothy is hoping to support the NHS by sewing scrubs. While Hayley recovers from a severe washing up injury (9 stitches in her thumb) she’s managing to do some behind the scenes work on her website, and Suzanne is itching to paint her house. Then there’s all the family making that’s going on, from Lego to cake baking, drawing, jigsaws, crafting treasure hunts and making jewellery.

Our makers here at New Brewery Arts are amazing and inspiring. I love being surrounded by crafts people, even in these adverse situations they find a way to keep being creative. I think creativity is contagious.

Beth@newbreweryarts.org.uk

The joy of couch potato craft

I have decided to revel in being a couch potato. That doesn’t mean I’m not going to engage with craft, it just means I'm going to consume it from my sofa.

A recent social media post suggested that we all take time for ‘stillness and creativity’ and I couldn’t agree more. There's a plethora of online activities; fitness classes, making, dance. Far from helping my wellbeing, I feel overwhelmed by all this activity.. Rather than add to this noise, this rush to be present online, New Brewery Arts has decided not to produce online videos or classes at the moment. To be honest, we don’t currently have the resources to do this, besides, there is so much great stuff out there already.

How To Make: BBC FOUR

Personally, I’m loving watching craft on TV. On BBC (or via IPlayer) there’s the simply wonderful Repair Shop every Wednesday evening, the Secrets of the Museum which explores the work behind the scenes at the V&A, and now there is the new How to Make with Zoe Laughlin from the Institute of Making; Episode 1 was all about the science, history, future, craft and design of the trainer. And you can re-watch the latest series of the Great Pottery Throwdown via Channel 4’s All Four. Grayson Perry will be starting an Art Club on Channel 4, he’s inviting you to send him images of what you are making #C4ArtClub . The first episode is 8pm, 16th April on Channel 4.

When I’ve had too much TV I’ll read. I have several books that I’ve yet to find the time to read. I’m going to start with ‘The Craftsman’ by Richard Sennett. I’ve been drumming-up interest in a #CraftBookClub via Twitter. My plan is that over the next 12 weeks I’m suggesting four craft books to read; if anybody else wants to read along too I’d be delighted, and we can discuss what we’ve been reading online. Let’s start with ‘Fewer, Better Things’ by Glenn Adamson.

“Things matter. So why are we losing touch with them? Fewer, Better Things invites us to reconnect with the physical world and its objects.”

Many local bookshops are selling online. The Yellow Lighted Bookshop is a a local favourite who have recently launched online, selling to get us all through lock-down and beyond.

And when I can’t keep my eyes open for TV or reading there’s still podcasts to listen to without having to leave the sofa. There are 30 episodes of Material Matters to listen to, hosted by writer and critic Grant Gibson. Material Matters features in-depth interviews with a variety of designers, makers and artists about their relationship with a particular material or technique. There’s an episode with Glenn Adamson talking about Fewer, Better Things.

Maybe in a few weeks' time I’ll feel like being creative, but reading, listening and watching TV is more than enough for me right now.

Beth Alden, CEO
beth@newbreweryarts.org.uk