Completing a pot you don’t love or believe in; An ethical dilemma
Written By Ketsia Jensen
Is it ethical to complete a piece of pottery that you don’t completely believe in, know it is something that was not completely planned and is a pot you don’t love? Is it better to smash it, return it to the recycling process or continue to fire it? This is something I consider in my making process.
Clay is an amazing material as it can be recycled many times, until you take it to the next step, bisque fire. Once the clay is bisque fired it is no longer able to be recycled and the piece is permanently fixed into the shape it was made into.
Just like almost every form of art, creating ceramics has an environmental impact.
It starts from acquiring the minerals that make clay and glazes, shipping them from the mines to be processed; then the energy for firing, be it wood fire, gas or electric firing processes, all have their own impact as well.
Ceramic materials are obtained through a process called surface mining. This process strips the land of nonrenewable resources and permanently alters the landscape. This can cause biodiversity loss, soil erosion, contamination of surface water and can even form sink holes. Additionally, kiln firing usually uses nonrenewable resources, whether it be electric, gas or combustible materials. For example, one 12 hour cycle of firing a medium electric kiln (~69kW) equals approximately 6.8 gallons of gas consumed or 155 miles driven by an average personal vehicle.
I think it is important to be mindful of this in the making process. Considering the use of materials, energy and the potential waste from an environmental standpoint as these things do take a toll on our earth. Now working in a community studio, making pottery that last for years and through many uses, contributes a fraction of the environmental impact compared to many other more destructive industries, such as plastic disposable plates. Still, each choice we make can make a negative or positive impact on our environment.
We can do this by being mindful of our material usage, recycle what can be recycled, and being creative with new ways to reduce waste. Many other potters have contemplated this dilemma and have come up with amazing ideas on how to reduce our environmental impact; for example NCECA has created a “Green Taskforce” with multiple articles on how to reduce studio waste. Also, an article from Ceramics Arts Daily describes how three university pottery studios have changed their practice to be more sustainable.
Check out these great pottery resources, with the articles discussed above and so much more:
https://www.ncecagtf.com/educational
https://www.craftscouncil.org.uk/stories/how-make-your-pottery-practice-greener
With all this in mind is it ethical to continue to finish a piece that we don’t believe in or love?
Now I am not saying don’t continue to create or experiment for fear of being wasteful or harming our environment. Each time we create, bisque and glaze there is an opportunity to learn something, if we can benefit from that piece, expand our skills and practice I believe it is worth it to continue the process. Try to keep this in mind as you create by experimenting as often as possible, and practicing letting go sometimes too. Your work, and the environment, will benefit from it!
sources:
ceramicfieldguide.org
Cermaicartsnetwork.org