Kirsti Hannah Brown taught participants at the Umbrella Centre how to create and build small scale ceramics.
The group worked with white stoneware and terracotta clays. They listened and watched a demonstration by Kirsti and were able to start the first project straight away with prepared slabs of clay. The group experimented with making marks and textures on the clay and then cut out and constructed their own slab vessels, such as vases and tea light holders, with texture and pattern.
Kirsti helped and guided the participants, offered technical assistance and reassurance, and there was also peer-led support by members of the group. Everyone was engaged in the making activities, which also enabled them to have conversations and the afternoons flowed in a happy positive way. Ideas were shared and led to new activities – for example, the group asked make things which could go in the garden, which Kirsti incorporated into a workshop making mushrooms and small animals.
Kirsti then glazed and fired the pieces in her own kiln before delivering them back to the group, who were delighted with the final results.
The Umbrella Centre provides recovery-focused courses and creative approaches for those experiencing the challenges of living with anxiety, depression and emotional distress.
PSS believe that everyone is creative and that creativity can play a powerful role in a person’s mental health and wellbeing; individuals are invited to attend craft courses to learn new techniques, strategies and skills with support from others.