Ceramic Review article

Ceramic Review, October 2008

– City Farm Ceramics  –

Kentish Town City Farm is a swathe of countryside nestled between two intersecting rail lines in northwest London. The farm developed out of the needs of local people and was initiated in 1972 through an existing community Group. The total area of the farm is five acres and it is surrounded by housing estates and located within what is essentially a very built up area of central London. It is a fine example of how nature can reside harmoniously within the inner city.

The farm has a charitable status and operates as a working farm.  It offers a wide range of activities and an educational programme including horse riding, arts activities, events, school visits, work experience, crèches and drop-ins. The farm compound comprises of Victorian cottages once used for railway maintenance, communal gardens and allotments that grow crops from all over the world; reflecting the rich cultural diversity of Kentish Town.

Whether simply ambling about looking at farm animals, or taking part in the vigorous daily toil that a farm requires, people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds are able to reconnect with nature. It is a safe environment for children, a social meeting point, and a haven amidst the urban sprawl of traffic, concrete and brick.

I have mostly lived in North London and my parents would take me to the farm when I was a child in the seventies. Life has brought me full circle and I am now a father.

Three years ago, whilst visiting the farm with my baby daughter, I discovered they had a kiln.  At the time, I was half way through a ceramic design B.A and was looking for somewhere to practice ceramics. I volunteered my services, and started running a weekly open-access pottery session on Saturday afternoons.

As time progressed, I began to feel more confident about my own abilities with clay as well as the process of teaching its basic principles. I stated working with more varied age groups and began to organize intergenerational projects with children from the farm, and OAP’s from a neighbouring sheltered housing estate.

Last year, I was commissioned to create a new entrance sign for the farm. The project was funded through the Boulevard Community Arts Grant Scheme. Its remit is to support community based arts projects, with an environmental emphasis that promotes urban regeneration.

The farm’s main building had just undergone a major internal and structural overhaul. It was decided that the newly acquired arts grant would be used to design a new entrance sign.  The project had to be delivered within a year and work commenced in September 2007.

My role was to coordinate the project and orchestrate the three different phases of its development: planning, construction and installation.

Weekly afterschool pottery sessions were arranged, where initial ideas were explored and discussed. The aim of these sessions was to engage as many different people as possible in generating source material for the final piece.

It was the beginning of a remarkable journey, that over the next few months involved over 200 people;capturing their creative responses to the farm, through the medium of clay.

The idea of making letters in relief evolved from the initial sessions.  I asked the group to choose something that could be seen on the farm and to model it in clay.  The response was interesting and varied. All manner of subject matter were modelled: cats, ladybirds, horses, flowers, dung, ducks, sausages, wheelbarrows, clouds, crops and trains to name but a few. The assorted shapes and figures reminded me of gargoyles, totem poles and old stone carvings.

I spent some time figuring out exactly how to transform these into a sign. I sketched down ideas to help people visualize the final piece and encouraged participants to walk around the farm for inspiration. After several months gathering source material, I started to make the final pieces. It was now important to define the scale and logistics, such as drying time and installation.

I chose a font and printed 19 letters, roughly A3 size, spelling out the name of the farm. The printed letters acted as templates to form each letter in clay, on to which the source material was then applied. It took a few attempts to find the right balance of thickness to each letter, and the amount of content to incorporate. I was pleased with how the pieces took shape: a miscellany of farm forms adding movement and life to the lettering.  Clay, derived from the earth, seemed like a fitting material to convey all the allegory and magic of the farm.

The pieces were dried on steel mesh screens that ensured consistent drying. Throughout the final construction period I continued with the weekly sessions to guarantee a surplus of source material. The final design was revisited as the aesthetic began to emerge.  Design additions such as lighting and raising the letters to create drop shadows were implemented. It was decided that the letters should be clear-glazed so as not to obscure the detailing.

The installation of the final pieces required considerable planning and took a full two months of the project time. The final layout, and how the pieces were to be mounted,were the major consideration. During this period I was provided with huge support and assistance from the farm’s staff. The caretaker helped me to construct a wooden backing panel for the lettering to be attached to. The son of the farm stockman, an electrician, helped with the wiring and installation of the lighting fixtures. The installation took place at the end of summer and a lively barn dance was held to commemorate the occasion. The local community were invited, with singing, dancing and revelry until the early hours.

This project brought people of all different ages, cultures and backgrounds together. The finished piece is the result of a creative process that was truly collaborative throughout. A collective effort echoing the spirit of the farm: An inner city retreat where urban people can engage with nature, and also with each other.

To learn more about Kentish Town City Farm please visit ktcityfarm.org.uk

To learn more out about the 33 City Farms in the Greater London area please visit farmgarden.org.uk