1a. The House of Octaversilia 2021

This is the foundation of the city…a net which serves as passage and support
(Italo Calvino, Invisible Cities, 1972)

The House of Octaversilia installation was been created by our collective InsideOutsideHouse during our August residency with AirSpace Gallery. Community participation with local residents who attended our creative workshop sessions was key to this project. They provided us with extensive material and food for thought. In a city steeped in the history of pottery creation, we considered the role of clay and ceramics, its ongoing meaning and significance, ecologies of production as well as possibilities for working and living together in the future…

The resulting installation emerged in response to the creativity, energy, fun, thoughts, feelings and concerns of the community, as well as their inspiring voices, some of which have become interwoven into the final piece. Our aim throughout this project was to create opportunity for opening conversations, sharing hopes, dreams, fears, and dreaming up new and playful ways of living and being together…

InsideOutsideHouse (Eleanor Mulhearn, Alison Duddle, Alice Kettle, with writer Jenna C. Ashton) and with Alison Cooper (Magpahi: Sound and Foley)

resident of Octaversilia (AirSpace residency / British Ceramics Biennial 2021)

Shadow Theatre Workshop (Airspace residency / British Ceramics Biennial 2021) Image credit Glen Stoker

Swan mask made by workshop participant (Airspace residency / British Ceramics Biennial 2021) Image credit Glen Stoker

public workshop (AirSpace residency / British Ceramics Biennial 2021)