A hobby with a side of healing? Sign me up for a class at Urth Clay Studio in Goodwood or Burnside.
Picture : Wayne Pearson
If you’ve ummed and ahhed about learning a new skill, take this as your sign to jump into pottery! There’s so much waiting in the art of clay. Seven years ago, Zein Akkad took a difficult situation and turned it into a warm and welcoming space. “I experienced some mental health issues and during my healing process, I found that pottery was the most effective tool to help calm my mind,” she explains.
Picture : Wayne Pearson
Being the good soul that she is, Zein started looking for signs of stress or struggle in her friends once she felt healthy again. “I invited each person to come and play with clay and it was the same result, over and over again — everyone would leave the session feeling relaxed and asking for more!”
Since then, Zein has worked with her talented team to design classes that give everyone a safe space to make a special little something for themselves. And the music to my ears? You don’t need an artistic background!
“There’s no judgement in our studios! We want each person to experiment, fail, learn from their mistakes and try again. We’ll guide you, but it’s up to you to make each piece your own. It’s mesmerising to hold a piece of clay and turn it into something you can use every day,” Zein says.
IT’S ALL IN THE TECHNIQUE
“We use locally sourced clays with different textures, and we teach techniques from all around the world, like mocha diffusion, Russian painting and Japanese Kurinuki. Our techniques are simple and there’s no pressure — perfection doesn’t exist with pottery.”
Picture : Wayne Pearson
GIVE BACK
As a proud environmentally-friendly pottery studio, we use a single firing method that saves 50 percent of the energy needed for each piece but has the same result — when you’re firing 3,500 pieces per year, it adds up! We also make it a priority to support mental health organisations by donating a percentage of our merchandise sales.”
WHAT TO BOOK
Urth Clay Studios offers four different class types:
- Socialclaysession–In just three hours, make a beautiful piece like a vase, mug or sushi set.
- Mindfulclayprogram–Learn multiple techniques over eight weeks.
- Privateevents–Perfect for team building or special occasions — hello, hen’s parties!
- Muddymembership–If you’ve got the pottery bug, this allows you to come and go as you please, with all materials and firing provided.
- Giftvoucher–The perfect gift for someone you love.
