Maya is a creative powerhouse and one of the co - founders of Atelier Make. Both her hands and her mind are always busy dreaming up the next project and then making it happen. She has an original style that merges elegance with playfulness. 

Maya Maya est l’une des co - fondatrices d’Atelier Make, et elle est une créatrice hors - pair qui regorge d’idées. Ses mains et son esprit sont toujours en train de réaliser un projet et de rêver au prochain. Son style unique allie élégance et espiègleri e pour notre plus grand bonheur.

How did you come to ceramics?

I always knew that I wanted to study fine arts in university, and I was drawn to clay from a very young age. At first, I was interested in animation as a career but after a class in the cerami cs studio I saw how visceral the medium really was, if one were to become serious about it. It was very physical; there was a lot of lifting, mixing, making, loading and firing kilns. It also required very versatile set of skills; the chemistry involved i n making glazes, the endurance and teamwork of firing wood kilns, not to mention the practice, patience and skill required to make work worth looking at. I also fell in love with the sense of community and camaraderie in the ceramics studio.

Tell us about your ceramics practice, and what you enjoy making?

It's changed a lot over the many years yet there are some things that are constant. I like mixing different techniques and recently I’m enjoying working on larger pieces. I enjoy sculpting small creature s and faces. It's been many years since we started making tableware and in the last few years, I've pulled my hands away from physically making production work and have been making limited edition work that's sometimes functional and sometimes sculptural. Besides ceramics I make a lot of paper - based work as well and Jaimie & I create shadow installations under our moniker Mere Phantoms.

Tell us about your time at Atelier Make?

It's been 12 years since we began working on Atelier Make as our full - time venture and 10 years since we moved to our boutique / studio on Gilford Street. In that time a lot of life has happened, and a community has grown around the studio. I'm very proud of what the studio has become. I’m thinking about what's next, what will the next chapter look like.

Gaby came to Atelier Make as a student and has blossomed into a full - fledged potter. In the current social media driven ‘copy - cat’ world that now fuels many makers, Gaby has turned inward to find her own voice and style. In the fall Gaby will teach a new contem plative pottery workshop, of Mud and Mindfulness.

Gaby est commencé à l'Atelier Make en tant qu'étudiante et est depuis devenue une potière à part entière. Dans le monde actuel de « copie - cat » dominé par les médias sociaux et qui alimente désormais de nombreux créateurs, Gaby s’est tournée vers elle - même pour trouver sa propre voix et son propre style. À l'automne, Gaby e nseignera un nouvel atelier de P oterie C ontemplative.

How did you come to ceramics?

I grew up with my aunt Carlota’s ceramics in our home and was captured by the way art could be imbued into the functionality of everyday pieces. I loved how her colourful bowl held the fruit on the counter, and how plants thrived in her pots. I took my first throwing class at Atelier Make in the spring of 2019 a nd was immediately hooked by the process. In between classes, I would still see the rippling circles of clay spinning on the wheel whenever I closed my eyes. The day after the session ended, I went to visit my other aunt at a farmer’s market, where upon ar riving, I discovered it happened to be their annual pottery day. This is where I met Carol, who I now lovingly call my pottery - fairy - godmother. A friendship with her bloomed, and she ended up inviting me into her home studio, where I was able to continue t his emerging practice with her generous support over that summer.

Tell us about your ceramics practice, and what you enjoy making?

My practice is mostly focused on the wheel, which is the space in which I feel most grounded. I’ve become less and less at tached to outcomes and find the throwing process in and of itself to be an important tool for processing and recentering. I’ve also come to truly love the technique of pinch pots which I appreciate for the different type of quiet stillness it provides, and the extended presence that becomes channeled into one vessel. I enjoy making functional works, like mugs, bowls, pitchers, and vases, because I want to create pieces that others can hold, nourish themselves with, and use to share meals. Most recently, I’ ve had the chance to begin exploring wood firing and am enthralled by its magic. I learned this winter while interning at La Meridiana pottery school in Tuscany and have plans to continue this side of my practice this fall, at Canton Clay Works in Connecti cut. I love the hands - on, outdoors process of stoking the fire for hours, and collaborating with the flames that mark their movement onto the clay. I also appreciate the ways that the experience connects people, and how most wood firing is made possible on ly by working alongside others. It’s another facet of ceramics where the emphasis is on the process and invites you to release expectations of the result.

Tell us about your time at Atelier Make?

It was a full circle moment for me to return to Atelier Make as an intern in 2021, after having had my first session there as a student. Through my internship, I got to learn from and be inspired by the women of Make at that time — Jaimie, Maya, Marie and Julie - Ann, as well as all the talented studio members. I nterning led to joining the team as a studio and production assistant, which is how I became trained in handbuilding and the care and attention it takes in crafting a ceramics collection. Since 2022, I’ve been teaching classes at the studio, and continue t oday. I’ve been able to meet so many wonderful September News.docx students through these sessions, and love witnessing the ways that anyone can come to clay and find their expression through it.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

I share my pots and pop - up market s via Instagram: @gibgab__

Kaia is a quiet and attentive presence around the studio. In 2023 our production assistant of 9 years (!!) moved on to other pursuits . Fortunately, we found Kaïa! Her natural makers hands come through in the craftmanship she brings to each piece she makes.

How did you come to ceramics?

I’ve always been a very ‘hands on’ type of creative, my father had a woodworking studio when I was growing up and I used to love exploring and creating in there, so craft and materiality have always been a big part of me. I had been working in graphics and illustration, and really wanting to bring my illustrations onto a three - dimensional surface, so I signed up for an intro throwing class, thinking I was going to immediately be able to make giant vessels to illustrate on (ha!) Of course, as a complete beginner, I was barely able to make anything bigger than a cup, but it didn’t matter because I had completely fallen in love with the medium. As much as I wanted to, I couldn’t afford to keep taking classes. I tried some hand building at home for a while, moved back to painting and illustrating, explored other mediums, but ceramics was always calling to me. Eventually, my family and friends all came together and collectively bought me a wheel for my birthday. That gift truly changed my life, I’ve had my hands in clay ever since!

Tell us about your ceramics practice, and what you enjoy making

For the first few years I was focused on the functional side of ceramics, in making really clean and minimal vessels, learning to throw perfect multiples and do production pottery. I wanted to highlight the properties of different clay bodies, and almost exclusively used clear glazes. I’ve taken a bit of a turn in the last year to slow down and be more experimental, more sculptural. Right now I am really excited by wild clay and glaze chemistry, trying to get closer to the origins of this practice. I find it really exciting to delve into the chemistry and understand the properties of different minerals. It truly feels like magic to be able to transmute natural materials into beautiful objects.

Tell us about your time at Atelier Make

I came to Atelier Make at a precipice in my own practice. Up until that point I had always been alone in my work, aside from that one intro throwing class I was self - taught, I had my own studio, and didn’t really know any other potters. I remember feeling really seen when I started working here, suddenly everyone around me spoke the same language, understood the medium, and wanted to share. My favourite thing about working at Atelier Make is teaching classes, I am constantly inspired by my student’s ambitions and ideas. After so many years it’s easy to take the magic of ceramics for granted, but seeing the students marvel at this medium constantly reminds me to approach my craft from a place of awe and wonder.

1. Quand as-tu commencé la céramique ?

J'ai commencé à 9 ans dans un atelier derrière la maison de ma maman en Belgique. J'y suis allé tous les samedis pendant longtemps. Quand je n'y allais pas, cela me manquait. Je faisais du façonnage, de belles petites sculptures que ma mère a longtemps gardé dans son "musée des horreurs".

 2. Peux-tu nous parler de ta pratique et de ce que tu aimes fabriquer ?

J'ai fini le DEC en technique céramique au Cégep du Vieux-Montréal en 2016. On y apprend toutes les techniques et le but est de nous permettre de vivre de notre métier. Ce qui fait que j'ai surtout fabriqué des pièces utilitaires. J'en fait encore, mais en plus petite quantité. Depuis que je travaille à temps plein chez Atelier make, j'ai moins de temps pour la production, les marchés etc. Cela me convient pour l'instant, car j'ai envie d'explorer le côté plus sculptural de la céramique et de faire des pièces uniques. Je pense que j'aime plus jouer avec la terre que vraiment fabriquer quelque chose en particulier. J'aime l'aspect méditatif de la ceramique.

3. Parles nous de ton temps à l'Atelier Make - qu'est-ce que la céramique t'apporte dans la vie?

Au début, j'y donnais des cours, 2 à 3 fois par semaine. Quelques années plus tard, Jaimie m'a proposé de travailler comme technicienne, et de m'occuper des cuissons et d'autres petites choses qu'il y a à faire dans un atelier de poterie, comme le recyclage de l'argile, la préparation des glaçures, l'émaillage etc. Petit à petit, je me suis impliquée et ai commencé à faire de tout. J'adore mon travail et suis reconnaissante de pouvoir faire le métier qui m'anime.

La céramique, c'est un temps pour moi, un temps dans ma bulle, hors du temps. En fait, la relation avec l'argile est très fortement liée à mes origines. La première fois que j'ai vu mon prof malaxer la terre, cela m'a remémoré mon enfance et ma mère qui cuisinait des momos tibétains. C'était une connexion par la matière et par le geste avec elle et avec mes origines. C'est une des raisons pour lesquelles je préfère manipuler la terre sans but plutôt qu'avec un objectif final. C'est avec le temps que je réalise cela.  

4. Est-ce qu'il y a quelque chose que tu aimerais partager?

Depuis peu, vous pouvez retrouver quelques unes de mes pièces chez Atelier Make. Je remercie Jaimie et Maya de m’offrir cette opportunité. Je partage aussi certaines fabrications sur mon compte instagram @massinoise ou sur ma page facebook Marie Massin céramique

Qui sont les "Makers" à l'Atelier Make ? Nous sommes tellement nombreux ! De nos propriétaires/fondateurs Maya + Jaimie, à nos employées dévouées, à nos stagiaires inestimables, et à nos membres inspirants de l'Atelier Libre. Chaque mois tout au long de l'année, nous partagerons le travail de l'un de ces nombreux “Makers".

1. Quand as-tu commencé la céramique ?

La première fois que j’ai touché à l’argile, c’était dans une classe de céramique, au Lycée des Beaux-Arts au Japon, lorsque j’étais étudiante en peinture à l’huile et design graphique. Par la suite, j’ai aussi suivi quelques cours de sculpture dans mon parcours étudiant à l’université des Beaux-Arts. Les classes de céramique et sculpture faisaient partie des cours obligatoires mais manipuler l’argile était toujours un plaisir. Ça me permettait de fabriquer les objets comme je l’entendais.
Je travaille en Europe et je partage mon temps entre Paris et Montréal où mon conjoint travaille. J’ai beaucoup de temps libre ici et, en suivant le conseil d’une copine, j’ai découvert l’atelier Make. Je me suis inscrite au départ pour m’amuser et finalement j’aime vraiment fabriquer la céramique et je continue. Cela fait déjà 5 ans maintenant.

2. Peux-tu nous parler de ta pratique et de ce que tu aimes fabriquer ?

J’aime particulièrement tourner et façonner les pièces et y ajouter d’autres style d’objet par-dessus. J’aime aussi beaucoup fabriquer des sujets, figurines comme des insectes, des plantes ou des petits monstres.

3. Parles nous de ton temps à l’Atelier Make – qu’est-ce que la céramique t’apporte dans la vie?

Tous les moments de travail manuels créatifs sont des moments calmes, relaxants pour moi. Ils me permettent de me vider la tête et en même temps de réfléchir. L’étape que je préfère est la fabrication, plus que la finition ou l’objet fini. Le produit final n’est pas vraiment important pour moi.
C’est la même chose que pour la peinture ou la sculpture.…

Who are the “Makers” at Atelier Make? There are so many of us! From owners/founders Maya + Jaimie, to our dedicated staff, to the helping hands of our invaluable interns, and our oh so inspiring Open Studio members. Each month throughout the year we’ll share the work of one of these many “makers”.

It is always a treat to see someone’s work more and more personal over the years. This is the process we have witnessed with Anja. Each one of Anja’s pieces, wheel thrown and hand painted, seems to have a story to tell….

1. How did you come to ceramics?

We did some simple ceramics projects in elementary and high school art classes, but they lived on in the same fond-but-dormant memory sphere as lino prints, papier-mâché, soapstone carving, woodshop clock making, and home ec sewing projects.

Meanwhile, I like being surrounded by old and meaningful objects at home, so I started picking up ceramics from thrift stores and on travels. To keep things looking cohesive, I chose a really constrained palette: white, blue, sometimes black, sometimes green. And that’s a palette I’ve kept when making work now, too.

With a growing love of the object, it was time to try the craft. I took a handbuilding class at Atelier Make at the start of 2020. It was fun. But when I next tried out a wheel throwing class (with Jaimie!), I was immediately hooked. Four years later, the obsession only grows.

2. Tell us about your ceramics practice, and what you enjoy making.

I like making things on the wheel because it requires skill and practice. There’s always something new to aim for: to make pieces faster, more evenly, using less clay, or using a new technique.

My favourite pieces to make are tiny plates. About a year ago, I learned how to throw “off the hump” — using just the top of a larger centered lump of clay. What a joy! And perfect for mini plates. It’s fun to let my hands do their thing. The plates always come out 5 to 8 cm in diameter. And they’re the perfect little canvases for painting, which will forever be my first art love.

With hand building, I like to play around making more sculptural, rougher pieces. It feels like a good balance with wheel throwing: practice and play.

3. Tell us about your time at Atelier Make - what does your studio time, and ceramics in general, bring to your life?

Sunday mornings at the studio are one of the brightest spots of my week! I love the quiet, focused time. I appreciate everything ceramics has taught me—most importantly how to handle the possibility and the reality of failure. To accept and to move on. To love the process and treat the outcome as a bonus.

4. Is there anything else you would like to share?

If people would like to see more work, they can find me here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anjajamstudio/

Qui sont les "Makers" à l'Atelier Make ? Nous sommes tellement nombreux ! De nos propriétaires/fondateurs Maya + Jaimie, à nos employées dévouées, à nos stagiaires inestimables, et à nos membres inspirants de l'Atelier Libre. Chaque mois tout au long de l'année, nous partagerons le travail de l'un de ces nombreux “Makers".

 
Dahlia dans l'atelier

1. How did you come to ceramics? 

In 2017 I had cumulated 5 years as a Civil Notary. I worked diligently and continuously to build my law firm. I had also embarked on an unexpected business venture to help my grand-father with his long-established middle-eastern pastry shop. I had a lot on my plate and started to feel stressed and exhausted. I had this idea at the back of my mind: I wanted to try my hand at the pottery wheel.

In the summer, I signed up for a single private session at Atelier Make. I gave it a go and was pleasantly surprised. In the late fall, I registered for the Level 1 class. I would leave work at 4:45 sharp to make it on time for the 6 PM class. The road was long, dark and cold, but ceramics became a space of peace and novelty. I slowly started to fall in love with the feeling of centering clay on the wheel and the meditative movements needed to shape it to life.  

Once the session ended, I registered for the Saturday Open Studio to practice freely, and then I registered to Level 1 again, and then Level 2, and then hand building...  Eventually, I had completed all the classes offered by the studio and became an Open Studio regular. I practice one afternoon every weekend at a slow pace. Years have passed now, and it is difficult to fathom my routine without pottery.

2. Tell us about your ceramics practice, and what you enjoy making.

Abbey, a friend and fellow studio regular (and maker of the month of January!) once told me that ceramics is a discipline that requires practice, passion, patience and perseverance. I try to have no expectations and let my intuition guide me.

I enjoy making footed bowls underglazed with natural, imperfect, earth toned brush strokes and fine lines. I also enjoy carving and texturing techniques. I feel that the grooves contribute to a soft flowing movement. There is something quiet in its complexity.Currently, I am challenging myself to make tall vessels with narrow necks. I am curious about certain shapes I have yet to explore, and the skills required to trim them.

The beauty about ceramics is that it is limitless.

3. Tell us about your time at Atelier Make - what does your studio time, and ceramics in general, bring to your life? 

It takes me a half hour drive to get to the studio without traffic, sometimes even more, but they say the road to a friend’s house is never far.

Since starting my ceramics practice, I have lived through softer times and harder times… a busy and demanding quotidian, an unpleasant separation, quiet days, a pandemic, a heart wrenching loss, career achievements, celebrations and setbacks… No matter, Atelier Make has been for me a constant, a safe place, a sanctuary that I return to weekly. It welcomes me with calmness and spaciousness. For a few hours, I can slow down, disconnect, think, and be creative. It offers me a pause.

Who are the “Makers” at Atelier Make? There are so many of us! From owners/founders Maya + Jaimie, to our dedicated staff, to the helping hands of our invaluable interns, and our oh so inspiring Open Studio members. Each month throughout the year we’ll share the work of one of these many “makers”.

Maker of the Month #1: Abbey

On an early morning in the Atelier Make open studio you’ll likely find Abbey, our self-proclaimed “studio grandmother” humming along to classical radio and working on her carefully painted vessels. Never without her fiery spirit, Abbey is always willing to share the tales of her many years working with clay.  

K: Let's start with a backstory on how you came to practice ceramics  

A: I started my undergraduate work at Bennington in the early 60s, a beautiful campus up in Vermont. A young teacher, a graduate from Alfred University, came to teach a ceramics course in a really new way. The ceramics there before had been quite limited, he brought in reduction firing, we learned glaze chemistry, handbuilding, wheel throwing. The whole idea there had been to learn through direct experience, so we did, and I loved it. 

After I graduated I went to live in New York City. I got a job teaching art in a highschool in Brooklyn, and I took courses at night working towards my Master of Science in Education. Once I graduated, with everything going on in the US at that time, my husband and I decided to leave the States. We arrived in Toronto in 1967 and with a little bit of adjustment I was able to teach in the public school system there. I was very committed to public education. Then we had our first child, but at that time there was absolutely no support for women going on maternity leave. It was very hard to get back into teaching after my maternity leave, there were no public daycares, so I was out of teaching for a while. 

Eventually I got back into teaching part time at artisan schools, I even taught at the ROM, where I was able to use the various galleries to teach a history of ceramics through direct experience working with clay, right in the gallery. I also worked as the exhibitions manager at the Ontario Crafts Council, where I was seeing some of the very best work in the province at that time. The Haliburton Summer School of Art and Micheal Gheba’s Raku courses were also an influential part of my ceramics education. 

In my late 50s, I was lucky enough to share and own a property that had space to set up my own studio. I was also part of a community arts center, so as well as my own studio I had contact with other potters in a beautiful facility just outside Toronto. I became a member of the Toronto Potters Association, through which I was able to exhibit at the Gardiner Museum.  

When I moved to Montreal in 2017 I was in no position to have a studio, until I found Atelier Make. It was right down the street from my house, I just walked down the street, walked in, and asked to join a class as soon as I could. 

K: Do you feel that this space [the Atelier Make open studio] has shaped the way you work, or the work that you make in any way?  

A: Yes, it has. Working here has enabled me to slow down. To really pay attention. Not just because of the solitude and lack of physical interruption, but having space to develop projects over time, to take my time. The first thing I did here was a series of sculpture projects that were a continuation of work I had been doing in my own studio, little thrown forms assembled. It's a different aesthetic than I had been used to here [at Atelier Make] we use a white clay, so I decided early on that underglaze decorations would be the way to go for me. I like doing brush work, and the clay here gave me a three dimensional surface on which to play. 

K: What is inspiring your work right now?  

A: I am challenging myself to make truly functional teapots, which has always been a continuing challenge for me since I began working with clay. I’m going back to a quiet, contemplative way of working, and Atelier Make is the perfect place to do that.