Clay Commons Podcast - Episode 4 -Combating Mindsets of Decline

Description

In Episode 4, we’re meeting some amazing people who are literally transforming lives in very real and tangible ways. It might seem ludicrous to think that a previously incarcerated person, or an undocumented immigrant, or someone forced to use foodbanks to feed their children might have any use for clay, but we meet people in this episode who prove otherwise. Going back to America, we hear from two incredible projects, The People’s Pottery Project and Touching Land. The PPP is a pottery studio run by and for previously incarcerated women, trans and non-binary people; one of their founders, Ilka Perkins, tells us of her experience in the prison system and how clay has changed her life. Touching Land is an inspiring project in Brooklyn run by Carolina Rubio MacWright, using clay to teach undocumented immigrants their legal rights. In the UK, we look at two projects, The New Linthorpe Pottery and The Portland Inn Project, that have centred clay as a way to support refugees, create community and literally rebuild what was one of the poorest streets in the U.K.  This episode was full of inspiring stories, I hope you enjoy it!

Abolitionist Resources:

There’s so much out there but these few were ones that really helped me:

- Freedom is a Constant Struggle Book by Angela Y Davis Angela Davis is great any day of the week

- Forensic Architecture are really challenging how art and political commentary meet

https://forensic-architecture.org/

- Abolitionist Futures blew my mind. So much on their website and if you can sign in for one of their reading groups, I highly recommend. https://abolitionistfutures.com/resources

 

- Revolting Prostitutes: The Fight for Sex Workers' Rights Book by Juno Mac and Molly Smith. Not specifically about abolition, but really interesting manifesto on the intersections of national boarder control, the prison industrial complex, women's rights and immigration.

 

Ilka Perkins

https://www.peoplespotteryproject.com

@peoplespotteryproject

 

Rebecca Davies and Anna Francis

https://www.theportlandinnproject.com

@theportlandinnprojectcic

 

Carolina Rubio MacWright

https://www.touchingland.org

@touchinglandorg

 

Emily Hesse

https://www.emilyhesse.com/new-linthorpe

@emhesse