Tam's pots:
I began doing pottery when I took early retirement from teaching. I love forming out of clay from the earth something that people can use in their daily lives. All of my pots are thrown on a wheel using stoneware clay which is fired to a very high temperature and will last for years of normal use. Form is utmost in my mind when I am making a pot so I tend to keep decoration pretty muted. Recently, however, I have developed a runny glaze which forms some pretty fascinating colours when put on top of another glaze.
I grew up in Northern California surrounded by trees so I share with Jill a passion for trees and am excited that she will be exhibiting her work with me.

Jill's Tree Works:
I have felt passionate about trees since early childhood when I defied the convention for girls, and spent much of my time climbing the trees on Hayes Common and creating tree houses with my friends. This leads me to feel very sad about how human behaviour is damaging trees and the impact of this on our climate. The way that trees connect with each other underground via mycorrhizal fungi and support those in distress is constantly fascinating. I have used slices of recycled wood to ensure sustainability. I then make images of trees of that species using oil paint and mixed media. I use a burning tool to make marks which reflect the damage humans are wreaking on trees, and indeed much of the natural world.
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