MADE
IN CLEY was founded in 1984. The four founder members (Wolfgang, Gunhild,
Barbara and Quay) met while studying abroad. Inspired by the work of Bernard
Leach, Michael Cardew, other leading studio potters and the Japanese and
Korean ceramics they were referring to we wanted to contribute to that
tradition and take it further in our own way
In 1984 we took the leap, moved to Norfolk and opened our own gallery
and studios.
The
small coastal village of Cley-next-the-Sea in Norfolk became our new base.The
old village shop in Cley, a beautiful Regency shop with all its original
fittings gave us the ideal gallery space for our work and there was also
room for our various workshops.
Since
then we have managed to establish a wide customer base all over the UK
and beyond and of course amongst the many holidaymakers that visit Cley
in the summer.
Our
set-up and our way of working are quite unusual in the studio pottery
world. We work alongside each other as a studio group sharing all aspects
of pottery making and processing such as glazing, firing and selling.
Our work is the result of continuous exchange and cross influences. Hence
the decision not to sign our pots individually but to sell them under
the MADE IN CLEY name.
This
co-operation crosses the boundaries of the various crafts made here. The
jeweller and the potters often work together on projects and we have expanded
our interests into other areas such as graphic work and sculpture.
But
we always also allow ourselves the freedom to follow our own individual
concepts making the pots that we like and give each other space for new
developments.
Functional
wheel thrown pottery remains at the centre of our work. Fusing function
and beauty by creating pots for everyday use, that are a lasting source
of satisfaction and pleasure, will always be our overriding aim.
Since
we started many young potters and crafts people have joined our studio
group. Some just stayed for a while to experience our working methods.
Others became permanent members of the studio so that today we
are 10 people working at MADE IN CLEY.
Wolfgang
Altmann: pottery, photographs and prints, Gunhild Espelage: pottery, Christiane
Guenther: pottery, Richard Kelham: pottery, Nadine Leech: pottery. Quay
Proctor-Mears:
jewellery, Mary Perry: pottery, Rosalind Redfern: pottery,
Nicole Schumacher: pottery, Barbara Widdup: pottery.
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