Ceramic artist draws inspiration from single use plastics
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MORAY ceramic artist Jenny Ebdy has produced a thought-provoking exhibition entitled Earth Informs Clay.
She has used discarded plastic items, many collected from the beach near her home and Burnbank Pottery studio in Kingston, and even some from around fast food outlets, as inspiration for 10 ceramic art works.
The aim is quite simple – to highlight the challenge of what to do with plastic and in a fun and informative way.
Each of the 10 pieces comes with a handy little fact sheet, highlighting an environmental issue and ways people can make a difference.
Jenny said: "This was inspired because I did this collection quite a long time ago using a plaster mould and exploring how using one shape you can change the feel of it by adding texture.
"Then I was in the States and there was an awful lot of plastic everywhere and I just thought I could use the method I had used before to highlight single use plastic and environmental issues. It is using the skill I have to put across a message.
"It is a very engaging, easy way to show all ages. All these pieces were found on the beach at Kingston, recycle bins and outside some fast food places. One of them is made with lids and straws that were just chucked away.
"Another one is made from (plastic) ringpulls that you still get around beer cans and these are a real issue for birds and other animals. They can get stuck round their throats."
Others are made from a plastic tray for chocolates, toy packaging, bubble wrap and spray nozzles.
And one of the pieces is made from a plastic egg box.
Jenny added: "It is a nice way for children to learn about the environment.
"In 2019 they worked out that all the plastic bottles in the world would reach halfway to the sun. Things like that bring it home.
"At some point they reckon the weight of plastic bottles in the ocean is going to be heavier than the weight of fish in the ocean."
Jenny, who works in ceramics and pottery, and also teaches as well, said researching this issue had made her much more aware of the issues and challenges.
The exhibition starts on Wednesday, July 19 and runs for four weeks, in the greenhouse of the walled garden at Gordon Castle, Fochabers.
Before then, you can view some of the pieces at The Re:Store zero waste shop at 4 Queen Street in Lossiemouth.
Alison Ruickbie, owner of The Re:Store, described as Moray's sustainable refill shop, said: "I first saw on her (Jenny) Facebook page she had been given a grant to go ahead and do this, and I thought it was brilliant.
"We then made contact with each other and she reached out and said it would be great if we could display them here.
"They embody what the shop is about really, which is making people think about plastic and how we use it.
"Plastic is here forever and we have to think about how we use it and how we dispose of it. The pieces have been a great talking point for customers."
Belgian chemist Leo Baekeland pioneered the first fully synthetic plastic in 1907, but it wasn't until after the Second World War that plastics began to be mass-produced and partcularly in the 1960's and 1970's.
"We are not anti-plastic here, not at all. Plastic is amazing and we couldn't do without it in many aspects of life and I encourage people to come in an re-use their plastic, for example yoghurt pots or margarine tubs. Don't go out and buy new jars to refill here just use what you have in the cupboard, what would either go into landfill or recycling.
"Every single bit of plastic ever produced still exists on Earth, because it just breaks down into tiny micro plastics.
"It is crazy to think that. I wasn't some kind of hero activist before I opened the shop, I was just somebody who wanted to use less plastic.
Alison opened her shop in Queen Street four years ago and she has built up a good core of regular customers, supplemented by new shoppers every month.
Her business has won a number of awards, the latest coming earlier this year when she was named the Green Hero at Highland News and Media's Moray and Banffshire Heroes awards.
"I think Jenny's pieces are amazing," added Alison.
Jenny is also a customer at The Re:Store.
"I love Alison's shop and I have started using it more and more. Last time I came with a detergent bottle to get it filled up."
Some of the pieces will remain on display at Alison's shop in Lossiemouth, which is close to the harbour, until they go to Gordon Castle for the formal Earth Informs Clay exhibition, which has been supported by the Lottery-funded Creative Scotland.
Beyond that, Jenny would be keen for the pieces, along with the moulds and original pieces of plastic which inspired the finished ceramic art works, to go on display at other venues, such as galleries or museums, to be used as aids for environmental discussion and an educational exhibition.
Anyone keen to discuss displaying the pieces, can contact Jenny through burnbankpottery.com or go to her Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/BBankPottery/
