Clay was the topic of discussion on February 19 as celebrated ceramic artists Jessica Rae Thompson and Nick Schwartz visited India to lead a live class and lecture titled, Clay, a Global Perspective at Studio White and Gray by Gourmoni Das, in Byculla where they discussed different aspects of clay on a global level. Their presence also coincides with the opening of the Gamanvi kiln at Anvi Pottery in Indapur, Pune by Sandeep Manchekar, where a specialised wood-fired kiln was opened, marking a significant step for India’s evolving wood-fire artist community.

Synopsis of the lecture

During the lecture, Thompson reflected on the urgency of handmade practice in the current  mechanised age. “At this moment in human history, making anything with our hands out of primary material is a radical act that positions us as cultural guardians of the physical world,” she emphasises.