Potter Steve Williams and his wife Deb opened their Dollys Flat Studio for a series of bushfire recovery workshops that have proven to be cathartic for attendees.
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Steve's normal woodfired ceramic workshops were put on hold this year due to COVID-19 but a request to help bushfire victims nudged the studio doors open once again.
The request came from Taycee-Lea Jones from the Mid Coast Renewal Committee who was hoping the clay workshops would help attendees re-connect with nature.
They did more than that, proving so popular that many participants chose to go back again for another session.
"Everybody loved it," said Taycee-Lea.
"We're hoping to do more next year."
Due to COVID restrictions, each workshop was kept to just 10 participants at a time with 10 workshops being held in 2020.
Participants were guided through the process of making 3-4 pieces from local clays which were then fired with timbers from Steve and Deb's 130 acre property.
"At times it was really emotional," said Steve.
"But it was a chance for people to see fire in a positive way."
Taycee-Lea agreed.
"It was an opportunity for them to talk about fire from a different perspective - from destruction to creation," she said.
All those taking part in the workshops were in some way impacted by the MidCoast bushfires of 2019.
The Dollys Flat workshops offered them a healing space close to nature and a chance to connect with others with shared experiences.
The workshops also resulted in new skills gained, new friendships formed and of course a collection of beautiful ceramic pieces that individually, and collectively, tell stories of survival and resilience.
It is hoped an exhibition of the ceramic pieces will be held in 2021.