Cultural connections: Shaping a city and studio through clay
Leeds has a proud heritage of craft and industry. Influences from the industrial revolution to the booming textiles trade are found in the architecture, cityscapes and, of course, the brick clay, which has long played a part in Leeds’s cultural history.
The city’s Heritage Open Days explore traditions and bring stories of Leeds to life by connecting and celebrating communities. With the 2024 theme of Networks, Routes and Connections, it felt particularly apt to host a heritage event here at Sunken Studio, exploring how history, art and craft intersect in the city.
The main discussion for our event was between Rachael Unsworth, an urban geographer who runs Leeds City Walking Tours, and our very own Rebecca Catterall, ceramist and the founder of Sunken Studio.
How routes through clay connect city and studio
“Leeds has a rich history of using clay for bricks and pottery,” Rachael explained. “Brick clay began to be used in construction in the city from the 17th century. Though not all structures built at the time have survived today, clay is intrinsic to the city’s foundations – as it is for Rebecca and the creation of Sunken Studio.”
Rebecca began Sunken Studio from her basement at home: “Though my love of making has always been a strong presence in my life, it was a journey that changed shape over time. My emotions were hugely influenced by where I lived and worked. When I first moved to Leeds, I felt somewhat isolated in a new city. To address this gap, and to build a community and bring the people in the city together, my aim was to connect people in Leeds through ceramics.”
“Ceramics became my way of creating a sense of belonging in a city that initially felt disconnected. Thus, Sunken Studio as we know it today was born.”
Building a network of members through education and community
Sunken Studio receives no public funding, so has grown organically through the people of Leeds. They are motivated by the leisure aspect of coming to the studio in a way that fits around their daily lives, carving their own route to clay through studio space in the city.
“Sunken Studio is currently one of only a few of its kind in the UK, and the only place in Leeds offering the flexibility of classes and pottery memberships,” Rebecca explained. “People can come together and make in their own time in a shared space for adults to relax, learn and engage away from the digital world.”
“The studio also brings people together around clay in a sustainable and efficient way,” added Rebecca. “Pottery wheels are often cost-prohibitive for curious makers, yet the studio provides them for our members to use. Our handbuilders have ready access to the clay itself to mould and make as they choose. Plus, by centralising resources (such as access to various clays and a members’ shop) we make the most of shared resources. For example, communal kilns maximise output while respecting the time and efforts of our members. It’s about working smartly as a community, not just individually.”
Growing and evolving through clay
Rebecca and Rachael reflected on what clay in itself offers as a material beyond a structural tool. Rebecca shared how “clay is contrary, as you need to mould it to mirror your vision. Through clay, there’s a physical manifestation of creating something in a really human way.”
“Clay itself exists in a state of flux while it's wet. It’s not like a project sitting on a desk or on a laptop that stays in situ, waiting for us to revisit it. It needs care and attention as it evolves, just like the city we live in.”
“Culture and craft are always changing, due to external factors as well as personal influences. The cityscape, like clay, needs moulding and nurturing so we can wholly respect that growth. At Sunken Studio, and through the evolution of the Heritage Open Days, we hope to shape the way this city is formed through networks and clay for many years to come.”
Thank you to Meryll Wilford of Leeds Civic Trust for introducing Rebecca and Rachael, allowing collaboration to extend beyond the studio and into the wider city community. Rachael, we were delighted to host a Leeds Heritage Open Days 2024 event – thank you for choosing us.
We’d love you to explore what it means to make here at Sunken Studio. Get in touch if you’d like to come and see us.