Gemma Smale 'Settled'

Height 18cm, Width 15cm

Wood fired for 5 days in a traditional Japanese anagama kiln, decorated by the flame, glaze is wood ash settled over this length of time and melted to a glass finish. Small amounts of shino glaze applied.

Gemma Smale is an Essex based ceramic artist who grew up in Digswell. She’s a recent graduate from Ceramic Design at Central Saint Martins. Trained in wheel throwing, her work includes ongoing material research with a focus on hand-sourced materials and continuous explorations into utilizing collected materials to create a deeper connection between consumers and ceramic art through material narratives.

Gemma’s research in to ceramic traditions and regional wares has provided insight into how to effectively use waste materials and local materials. Current experiments include the use of waste materials, such as ash, iron scraps from local black smiths and clays that would otherwise end up in landfill. Her focus now is on traditional methods of firing with wood to create depth of surface and one off pieces, with the objective of gradually reducing reliance on mined materials to work towards a more sustainable practice.