After collecting endogenous clay in the field in Estremoz last Friday, not deterred by the weather, participants in project 2LEGACY‘s workshop quite literally tested the Portuguese expression ‘atirar o barro à parede’ (‘throwing clay at the wall’), on Saturday, in the process of preparing it for ceramics.  

Prior to heading into the field on the first day of the Workshop on Collection and Preparation of Clay for Ceramics, they visited the Estremoz Ciência Viva Centre, learning about the unique local geology behind the region’s famous clay. In the afternoon, the group began the preparation process at the Prof. Joaquim Vermelho Municipal Museum, under the guidance of Mestre Francisco Rosado (aka Xico Tarefa), with Marta Castelo and Pedro Fortuna, from VICARTE/ FBAUL.

The second day started with a guided tour of the Museum, led by Ana Fonseca, technician at the Municipality of Estremoz, and continued with the improvisation of a wall to throw clay at, an exercise stemming from the potters’ practice of using a porous brick wall to help reduce moisture in the ceramic paste. The Portuguese expression ‘atirar o barro à parede’ actually means something like ‘to see what happens’, or ‘to see if a plan succeeds’.

Afterwards, participants decanted and sieved another batch of clay to remove impurities, thus preparing material which will be stored until the project’s artistic residency in July.

Organised by project 2LEGACY, the workshop had the support of the Estremoz Municipality, pottery association ADOE (Associação Dinamizadora da Olaria de Estremoz) and the Centro Ciência Viva de Estremoz.