Jack Tilson and Chris Berthelsen

ACLS runs along the pottery process.

It is a gift and open to anyone/thing and uses ‘stuff we found’.

You are always welcome.

Clay is found in ‘waste’ (construction dumps, roadsides, landslides) across Tamaki Makaurau city.

Foraging is a technology for Making Friends and sharing knowledge and experiences about our local areas, making our neighbourhoods safer and more convivial.

More Details

The Alternative Pottery Learning Space(s) (APLS) emerged from 1.5 years of collaboration over six projects between Jack Tilson,
Chris Berthelsen and Mairangi Arts Centre to develop ways of using local clay for increasing participation in the arts through broadening interfaces between artists, the everyday environment and the public.

APLS consists of five parts, along all stages of the pottery process. All are free and open to the public and use waste/non-commercial materials.

(1) APLS off-site pottery workspace/kiln in a neighbourhood home: Regular events and drop-ins where people work together, sharing ideas and skills. ‘Anyone’ is welcome outside of these times to learn by themselves.
Activities: Manual clay processing clay, creation, firing, glazing, talks, display, feasting, tangential events.

(2) Mairangi Arts Centre: Gallery/shop spaces for display/sale of works; kitchen/eating areas for feasting and being together; outside areas for display and events.

(3) Mobile: (a) Clay foraging from waste sites across Auckland, focusing on East Coast Bays and Hobsonville. (b) Scheduled and impromptu pop-ups in local neighbourhoods with a roaming pottery cart. (c) Clay invitation stall where people pick up clay balls, make something at home or with friends, and return them to be fired.

(4) Embedded: Working with groups to develop activities in their own facilities and in public places around the city.

(5) Online: Participants learn from and add to Jack Tilson’s Experiences of Clay resource - an editable map for sharing information about clay, potteries and community spaces.