Delving into her artistic practice, this documentary provides an insight into the various stages that go into making Lisa Hammond's distinctive pieces. We see Hammond at her wheel throwing chawans (teabowls) and a large tsubo jar; firing and unpacking her kiln; and talking about her influences over the years, in particular her love of the Japanese pot-making tradition. Also captured on camera is her technique of spraying the soda solution into the firebox over a period of three hours, creating the characteristically rich and varied surfaces of her pots.
After completing a 1 year foundation course and a 3 year diploma in ceramics at Medway College of Art, Lisa Hammond set up her first pottery in 1980. Aged only 23 she spent the next 5 years establishing Greenwich Pottery Workshop in London. In 1982 as a teacher at Goldsmith’s College Hammond was able to introduce soda glaze into her work, its pitted texture still a feature of her pots today.As well as exhibiting all over the UK, Hammond has had several very successful shows in Japan. She spent 9 months in Sydney, Australia and has held teaching posts at Goldsmith’s College and Camberwell College of Art. She has been elected member of the Craft Potter’s Association and had her work shown in the National Gallery, London and The Tate, Liverpool.Hammond has been described as one of the most committed and driven of modern studio potters, "one of a small number who have clearly inherited the mantle of studio pioneers like Michael Cardew" and "the best woman potter working in Britain." Her work is represented in museums and collections in the UK and abroad.Hammond was awarded an MBE in the 2016 birthday honours list.In 2017 Hammond founded Clay College Stoke, based in Middleport Pottery, a skills-based, full-time ceramics course taught by potters from throughout the country and internationally. Set up costs for the college were successfully crowdfunded initially and it was officially opened by Charles, Prince of Wales, whose charity, the United Kingdom Historic Building Preservation Trust, funded £9 million to restore the historic factory.
