CHENNAI: Summer’s almost coming to an end, and as the city is gearing up for the next set of showers, there is a group of people who will be affected by the annual rain — potters. With almost no production for the next four to five months, Organic Farmers Market, a cooperative, has decided to help these potters and artisans by setting up a two-day terracotta exhibition — ‘Bringing mud back’ from June 11, to sell their existing stock.
City Express caught up with Rekha Ramu, coordinator, Organic Farmers Market, before the event. Bringing the big potter’s wheel and mud back, the event will not only be about selling their pots, but also creating awareness about the vanishing art of pottery.
“For the next few months, it will be difficult for these potters to work. Rain will make it impossible for them to bake their pots, so we wanted to help them sell their stock. Also there are other artisans who will be displaying terracotta jewellery, painted pots and more,” she shares. Flower pots and cooking pots will be on sale as well.
“More people have turned towards plastic pots for plants, but ideally plants need a terracotta pot for proper growth. We are trying to bring that back,” she says.
On cooking pots, she says, “We’ll also be having stalls where 100% organic snacks and herbal tea are made in cooking pots to show that foods in mud pots can be tasty and healthy.”
The upcycling of defected pots will also be done during the exhibition by Ranjani Chandran of Maya-Craving to Create. She shares, “I will be supporting Madhavan, and he’s one of the people who has been trying to revive the potters’ community in India. He has brought pots from potters that suffered minute defects during the flood. I will be painting and embellishing them, so that they can adorn somebody’s home.”
Ranjani will also be conducting a pot painting workshop for all ages. “I am using Indian motifs to paint these pots. The primary look of the pot shouldn’t change and I like it being earthy,” she adds.
Being the first edition, Rekha shares the terracotta exhibition will be an annual event. “We wanted to support artisans and ensure the art doesn’t die. We’ll definitely have another event next year,” she explains. Sculpting and composting in a kamba will be other highlights.
(The terracotta exhibition will take place at TRE Farms on June 11-12 on Spurtank Road, Chetpet. Entry fee is `50, free entry for kids. Tickets will be available at OFM stores.
For details, call: 9629999019)