earth to heart at Manchester Craft and Design Centre
Maja Lorkowska, Exhibitions Editor
As the leaves begin to change colour, Manchester Craft and Design Centre invites you to earth to heart, a brand new show for the autumn season.
Ceramic artist Lily Brown, in partnership with the young people’s mental health charity 42nd Street, worked with the Centre’s resident ceramic duo Imprints of Earth. Together they played with clay, experimenting and testing its possibilities whilst asking themselves ‘what does creativity mean to me?’ as a leading theme.
The result of their collaboration is a brand new body of work, in which nature is a clear inspiration. Sprinkled with some unpredictability, a constant aspect of working with ceramics, the pieces in the show honour the exploration of creativity.
Lily Brown describes nature as a key source of inspiration, particularly the rugged landscapes of the Peak District and Derbyshire Dales. Her unique pieces are recognisable by their soft flowing lines which bear clear marks of their maker’s hand. Brown uses neutral colours and earthy patterns, translating organic motifs into beautiful and functional objects.
Imprints of Earth are Bhaggie and Shakti, a mother and daughter duo whose ceramic practice relies on celebrating imperfections. While the pieces are thrown and handbuilt with great skill, their beauty stems from the emotion they carry – Imprints of Earth believe in the healing power of ceramics. Clay can be a very expressive medium that requires mindfulness, passion and the ability to let go as the pieces are transformed in the kiln, the exact result always remaining slightly outside of the artist’s control. Their portfolio includes pit fired and Raku work, always with a great eye for colour combinations and detail.
In earth to heart, viewers will find sculptural pieces which celebrate the power of creativity and embrace the unexpected with roots in the natural world. Visit to admire the works (select pieces are available to purchase too) and ponder the question: what does creativity mean to you?
Manchester Craft and Design Centre has been working with the charity 42nd Street throughout the summer on a series of workshops including jewellery making, fashion illustration and ceramics. You can find out more about craft workshops on the MCDC website.
