Planet-saving pottery
The allure of pottery in the Western world has been widely due to its aesthetic appeal. But beyond beautifully designed and produced forms of art lies another layer of intention — objects that are environmentally friendly and socially responsible.
Ceramic art has many sustainable traits. It is produced from natural materials and handmade using traditional artisanal methods requiring time and patience, with the products standing the test of time. But pottery also has a carbon footprint due to the resources it consumes. There are many ways to reduce the impact of pottery on our planet without compromising on skill or creativity through reclaiming, reusing and recycling materials, along with other environmentally friendly practices that potters around the country are embracing.
An eco-friendly, multipurpose space
Designing a multipurpose space was at the core of Darren McGinn’s sustainable vision when he created his pottery studio and gallery-cum-café, StudioMade, in Geelong’s leafy suburb of Newtown.
The artist, designer and educator, who hails from rural Victoria, was surrounded by clay as a child and felt deeply connected with the natural world. “It was sort of in me to create,” he explains as he unloads one of his kilns. “I’ve made stuff my whole life,” he continues, and has been making pottery for almost 40 of those laps around the sun.
Sustainability is fundamental to McGinn’s creative processes, which focus on working with organic materials. The friendly potter is
