Healing and Understanding
A thoughtful and generous Christmas gift for her parents, daughter, Ruby Tinnyunt had booked a surprise, of a potters wheel experience for Matt and Clare. She may not have been aware at the time, but Ruby had ignited a journey of self-exploration and healing for her father, Matt.
A Eureka Moment
“I had a eureka moment when I stepped into The Clay Yard.” Matt reflects on the moment he stepped in to The Clay Yard on that Friday evening. “ The smell of the clay, the humidity, the atmosphere and noises all brought to the surface distant memories of my childhood in The Pottery working alongside my Dad. “ Matt continues “ This was a completely immersive experience for me, the whistle of the wheel and the sounds of the pottery helped me to make a connection with memories of my Dad that I had not expected to happen.”
“Working on the wheel at The Clay Yard that evening, made me appreciate the skill, and gave me a deeper understanding of the challenges my father must of faced in trying to run a successful business in The Pottery. It had an unexpected awakening effect on me.”
I couldn’t help but appreciate the anticipation that he may have been feeling, when the moment came to open the kiln, to uncover the outcome of months of labour.” Matt goes on to reflect “My dip into working with clay at the studio has opened healing discussions and reflections with my Mum on the achievements of my Dad and The Pottery.
We have enjoyed celebrating his life together and uncovered many fond memories of the driven and dedicated hard-working potter that he was.”
In the later part of Robert’s retirement years, he returned to Lower Down Pottery to work alongside Jeremy Leach (son of David Leach) decorating work with simple banding, drinking tea and eating cake. Robert Tinnyunt sadly passed away 2 years ago.
Matt will be sharing his father’s work with other Clay Yard pottery students in May as well as presenting his own beautiful pots created on the wheel on the evening of the experience.
Tin adding oxides to a beautiful bowl with young Matt busy in the background.
“Working on the wheel at The Clay Yard that evening, made me appreciate the skill, and gave me a deeper understanding of the challenges my father must of faced in trying to run a successful business in The Pottery. It had an unexpected awakening effect on me.”
I couldn’t help but appreciate the anticipation that he may have been feeling, when the moment came to open the kiln, to uncover the outcome of months of labour.” Matt goes on to reflect “My dip into working with clay at the studio has opened healing discussions and reflections with my Mum on the achievements of my Dad and The Pottery. We have enjoyed celebrating his life together and uncovered many fond memories of the driven and dedicated hard-working potter that he was.”
In the later part of Robert’s retirement years, he returned to Lower Down Pottery to work alongside Jeremy Leach (son of David Leach) decorating work with simple banding, drinking tea and eating cake. Robert Tinnyunt sadly passed away 3 years ago.
Matt has attended a number of pottery classes on a Wednesday evening, and is now producing beautiful work of his own. This thrown stoneware pot is beautifully glazed with a titanium white, celadon green and a rim of manganese oxide. Well done Matt.
Thank-you again to the Tinnyunt family - a beautiful group of generous and caring people - I'm delighted to know you.
