As a ceramic maker, “the recycling of clay is part of my work process“. To describe it a bit less professional: “fooling around with clay“, is not only throwing behind the wheel. There are also less ambitious activities such as “flinging with mud“…
Clay recycling means in practice, that everything that goes wrong on the potter’s wheel, I “fling in the clay bin”. And when the clay bin is overflowing I need to get started…
Clay recycling, clay curd
Drip, drip, drop in the studio. No, it is not a roof leakage or a worn tap leather. It is the sound of the clay-curd. That’s how I call the clay that is dripping, until it is sturdy enough for further processing.
It is “a poor man’s” clay filter press as it is used in the ceramic industry. Such a machine compresses (with a lot of power) the water from the clay . The curd works in the same way, but on gravity. It goes just fine, but it takes a little longer.
Not economically
If the clay is sturdy enough, the hard work begins: wedging. Wedging is roughly mixing the clay. I cut the clay lump in half and throw these parts together time and time again, so the clay mixes more and more.
When the clay is mixed, then it’s kneading time. Kneading is mixing (homogenize) the clay further and push the air bubbles out. When that’s done, I beat the clay in neat buns, which I then wrap in (old) clay bags. And voilà, again a neatly wrapped roll of clay (in Dutch a “clay bread”)…
It is a lot of work to make the clay ready for use again. If you compare it with my hourly wage, it’s probably more economically throwing the clay away and buying new one.
Respect for clay
However, recycling of clay is still worthwhile, despite ignoring economic laws.
My wedging and kneading of clay forces me to get respect of this natural material. Even though this is only a fraction of the hard work behind each bag of clay. Not to mention the rock (or clay) hard conditions potters had to endure before, when the clay had to be pulled out of the earth with mussels and bare hands.
By reclaiming I learn to know my clay for better or worse. So I deepen my relationship with my clay. Also to be applied to other loved ones around you;-)
Happy new year!
And now that we are talking about loved ones, look them up and enjoy the festive season. A happy 2019!
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