As an integral part of the CPiF team, Kirstie Mathieson has brought new life to our association since she joined us in the autumn of 2023. She comes to us with fresh ideas and many years of experience in organizing events and working within the creative community. Today we will chat with Kirstie to learn more about her work as well as the series of workshops that she will be conducting at the Creative People in Florence Space.
You are known primarily as a potter but your background is a bit more encompassing than that. Let's hear about it.
It's a long and twisty tale that led me to Tuscany. I'll try to keep this brief and not too boring – I was born and grew up in Scotland, went to art college in England, and then worked for too many years as a civil servant which I hated. Office work didn't suit me so I started making pottery to regain some balance in my life. I then went back to Scotland, got a degree in Art History which I adored, and after that decided to have a wee adventure in Italy. And as they say "That was that". I'm still here after 20+ years, married to an Italian, mum to 3 kids, owner of a dog, 7 cats, 2 tortoises, and a little pottery business. We also have a field not far from the house where I am growing an experimental garden for insects and making wine from our grapes. So as you can imagine there is never a dull moment!!!
What is it about ceramic that captures your attention and has kept you focused on it as your primary material for so many years?
I love painting, working with wood, weaving, drawing, and sewing but nothing connects with me quite like clay. Its possibilities are endless, it can be sleek and modern or lumpy and crafty. It has an amazing history as we have been making things from it since the beginning of time. But the thing I adore about clay is that it "forgives". If you make a mistake it's not a problem you can fill in the hole or squash it back into a ball and begin again. It's a material that suits everyone and people have a natural almost primitive response to it.
You will be conducting a series of different workshops for both adults and children. Can you give us the rundown on what we can expect from you?
I've organized for May, a workshop aimed at adults – a celebration of the female form. We will be creating our unique female deity statuettes from stoneware clay. These little statues have been found all over the world, the oldest known one date back to 45,000 BC, they were made prolifically up until the birth of monotheistic religions. It's a great workshop to enjoy in company with friends, we will have a glass of wine and form our little goddesses with our own hands.
The 3 children's workshops will each have a different theme – we will be working with paper, clay, and fabric. All upcycled or "poor" materials. These workshops will give the children the opportunity to try something new, to use their imaginations, to express themselves by making unique creations, and to experiment however the most important element is "to have fun".
You have said in your promotional materials that "kids need art and that's a fact". We agree and we would love to know more about how art helps children learn and grow.
I think we all need art, by that I mean we can all gain something positive from creativity. That can come from visiting art galleries or reading books about art and listening to music but I think the benefits of making with our own hands are endless. It helps us express ourselves, relax, and combat stress, it can also be therapeutic, and help with problem-solving, the list of positive things that we can gain from being creative is endless.
I also believe that educating children when they are small that simple, accessible, everyday things or materials that are often thrown away can be used cleverly to create something new is of great benefit.
Where else can we find you and your beautiful pottery?
I don't have a shop but you can find me at local markets and events in and around Florence. Every second Sunday I am at Mangiasano, the farmers and crafters market in Impruneta, and throughout the spring and summer, I have events in Greve, Panzano, and Florence. If you want to see where I am going to be you can check my Instagram page where I always post adverts and information about up-and-coming events. And of course, you can find me at Via dei Serragli at the events we are organizing as Creative People in Florence.
Follow Kirstie on Instagram @kirstielovesart
To see which workshop Kirstie will be teaching next, head over to our events page and choose from our list. You can also message Kirstie to book your spot on WhatsApp at 3294755006
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