#sparkchamber 112122 — Jamila Monahan
Inspired by the natural world at this most beautiful time of year, #sparkchamber is thrilled to host potter Jamila Monahan. From her homestead in the beautiful rolling hills of Glen Huron in Ontario, Canada, surrounded and inspired by her honeybees, free range-hens, organic gardens, local orchards, and ever-changing seasons, Jamila handcrafts custom stoneware in a simple Scandinavian aesthetic. She came to pottery very recently — and unexpectedly — while dealing with a difficult health diagnosis. “When I first sat at the potter’s wheel and put my hands on that ball of clay, it was like I had finally found home. With tears streaming down my face, I remember thinking, ‘There you are! Where have you been my whole life?!’”
From there, she took the deep dive and now shares her love of the natural world through clay. “Pottery combines my two lifelong passions: art and natural pursuits. Pottery is a play of earth, water, fire, and air that places me at the center of its beautiful alchemy.”
Pottery has become her healing process and mindfulness practice, “It makes me whole.” No two pieces of her small-batch [and also custom] wheel-thrown pottery are alike, although sets may be similar dimensionally. The stoneware is oven, microwave, and dishwasher safe, and made to last for generations. “Each piece is lovingly held and refined so much throughout its evolution, that I feel it really does transmute a part of me into each piece. Likewise, the joy from the creation of each piece is left with me. It’s reciprocal.”
Jamila will be showing at the Fleurish Christmas Market this coming Sunday, November 27, and December 10 at the Nottawa General Holiday Market. Or, Jamila invites you to feel free to stop in at her studio for a cup of tea and a wander around the property. “I'll put the kettle on.”
1.] Where do ideas come from?
Pottery combines my two lifelong passions: art and natural pursuits. Pottery is a play of earth, water, fire and air that places me at the centre of its beautiful alchemy.
My love of the natural comes out in my Scandinavian aesthetic, which emphasizes simplicity; functionality; light through a neutral heavy palette with pops of colour; natural textures like the stonewares I create out of clay; glass glazes derived from sands; and hand turned walnut and cork accessories. I am always looking for ways to combine natural textures and materials with Stoneware.
2.] What is the itch you are scratching?
When I haven’t had time to create in a while, I literally get an “itch” in my palms and an overwhelming desire to create. I am terrible at mass production because I am always refining, tweaking and experimenting. The Creative Process drives me fully and completely.
3.] Early bird or night owl? Tortoise or hare?
Definitely an early bird and tortoise.
4.] How do you know when you are done?
I’m never done! But when I finish a piece at the wheel, it just “feels” right and looks correct for my vision of how it will be. From there it undergoes 1000 iterations and refinements until completion.
