things lost and found, remembered and reinvented...

Eva Sajovic and myself went to meet Danielle Arnaud to discuss Unearthing, a recent project at Tate Modern and Stave Hill Ecological Park, and the possibility of showing work at her gallery.

As we talked about the potential future exhibition, I displayed the pit fired London clay objects we produced, together with others found on the Thames river bed, into small collections. Hard it was to distinguish one group from the other - their origin, history, use and meaning was being rewritten as we handled these. This seemed a fertile starting point as we planned to show this body of work and others in a new context. More about this in posts to come. Enjoy the images as you make your own mind as to what these objects are, and what inspired them...

second firing (Unearthing project / Stave Hill Ecological Park)

fired clay, with added salt, orange peel, coffee & banana skin added to the pit

various modelled and fired items inspired by found objects on Thames river bed

knots, twists and ties modelled at the last Tate Exchange event

working towards a new taxonomy of...

signs and symbols

scripts and scores

elemental forms

essential knots and connections (unfired London clay)

first firing (Unearthing project / Stave Hill Ecological Park)

clay pipes ready for firing

clay pipes, mix of london and buff clay

clay knots (see also social bonds) about to be dipped in London clay slip

more clay knots, with rings

clay objects wrapped and stacked in fire pit (with willow for charcoal)

clay pieces unearthed from the pit...

Social Bonds (Unearthing project / Tate Exchange)

From discussing 'social justice' last Saturday to 'restoring social bond through communal activity' and our voices this week. Still working with London clay, more objects were made by participants at Tate Exchange in response to these themes, the found objects on the river bed (see previous post) and the clay pieces modelled last weekend.

collection display (part of)

Knots, which recorded dancers moves last Saturday, now became signs and symbols of what connects us all. We all had a great time relating to each other through the process of making and I think the objects did too - see below.

More info on the Unearthing can be found on other posts on this blog as well as this and this link.

beachcombed bounty and clay fragments

early Victorian porcelain and London clay pipes (fragments)

found object and three types of clay

clay knot, pipes and unknown metal object

two chains

knot and hook

clay and ceramic

clay and iron

grey clay

London clay knots

more knots

last ties

making clay slip (Unearthing project instructible)

allow plastic clay to completely dry - see previous post for making it

add water and soda ash and start stirring

sieve through fine mesh, add dispex and stir some more

slip made!

pour slip into casting mould

job done

... and fired - orange is the locally sourced London clay