August 15, 2018
Twenty-one days to find out if we have poisoned our members. We wait charily as the results we’re expecting could potentially bring this place to its knees; if the independent Air quality test of our pilot studio in Hoxton turns out toxic, then we’ve failed five years of endeavour and hard work.
When we first started out we just didn’t know what was what, or even how to find out. Clay dust: Bad, that’s about all we had. Opening a studio, we knew it had to be kept clean, but how clean and how would you know if you were getting it right?
It’s a costly and voluntary procedure but we knew it had to be done. We called a company called Euro-Environmental in May this year, who came and positioned mini air-sample devices that looked like spy-gadgets onto our team’s aprons, onto our members’ clothes and in potential hotspots all over the studio. Then they came back eight hours later and took them for analysis.
Lungs, they are extraordinarily valuable bits of kit, and somewhat fragile. As an ex-respiratory nurse in a ceramics studio these vital organs at once became a constant cause of arresting consideration for me. Having seen the very real and sobering, untreatable effects of lung cancer, emphysema and other devastating chest conditions, managing and maintaining a healthy studio safe enough for some 300 members of the public a week has felt like a dust-crusted Sword of Damocles.
Silica, its whole inevitable existence can potentially take all the fun out of clay; and all the oxygen from your airways, forever. It is a pernicious substance, even in small doses, once it enters the lungs it dwells there and stubbornly denies your lymph system any recourse to dispatch it; gradually taking over and slowly suffocating you. The studio, it turned out, rather disturbingly, is full of robust sources of this substance. Kilns for example, merrily pump out the stuff all night long (as well as thousands of other toxins). Therefore for the sake of the public and our team, we realised all systems needed to be carefully designed and constantly updated to minimise the breathable levels of silica dust in the air.
So we got venting and mopping, staff, mentors and members all, we sent out grave reminders in our newsletter to the whole of the membership: Clean up after yourselves, for the love of breathable air! Every nook seemed to be a source of clay crumbs and dust. In fact, anywhere anybody did anything would immediately generate a mountain of dust.
I get some good news: I find out that something called a P3 respirator can protect you from breathing in Silica. They’re not cheap but I buy a load plus spares for all the staff and make them wear them when cleaning, and then I decided while loading kilns, and then when consolidating shelves. Not to mention mixing glazes. I just didn’t know. Should we insist the whole membership wear them?
Our mantra is now: It’s not the person; it’s the system. Although, people operate the system of course. So, as well as attempting to instill a sense of ownership and responsibility into the mindset of the membership via the newsletter and handbook, (terrifying them with tales of the effects of silicosis and issuing constant reminders of the necessity for good cleaning practices; also segueing clauses for cleaning times into their contracts) we have had to slowly build in operational systems into our rota to prevent unknowable chaos getting the better of us. Each change to the procedure has slightly upgraded the last.
This is by no means a simple undertaking and it is credit to our unflappable staff who carry out the heavy work to protect us all every day. The processes are always subject to upgrade - in fact ‘All systems can be improved’ is another of our favourite maxims - because you have to make them work as efficiently as possible. Minimal input for maximum output with zero waste: That’s the dream.
But has it actually meant anything at all? Has it made a difference after all this shifting and mopping and wet-vacuuming and rotas, respirators, sweat and haranguing people ? Or has it been moving furniture on the Titanic?
The results come in via email and I scroll through all the preamble. Hands shaking.
Respirable Crystaline Silica: 0.028mgs/m3 In all areas, <35% WEL
What does that mean?
Status Workplace Exposure Limit: Insignificant!
Insignificant! in all areas of testing.
I want to hug the team.
Lewis Maughan
Turning Earth Operational Manager
May 23, 2018
A new set of courses have just gone online at Turning Earth E10:
Thursday mornings starting this week.
Tuesday mornings starting in a fortnight
Sunday mornings
Wednesday evenings
And one week intensives for the end of July and mid August.
Turning Earth E10 is our new centre in Argall Ave, a secret piece of the city sandwiched between Walthamstow and Clapton just near the new Lea Bridge Road station. The studio is one of London's beautiful hidden worlds, and a great space for a creative retreat.
Working with clay has been proven to make you feel calmer and happier, and can create the space you need to change your life for the better (It worked for all of us).
Through the class you will learn simple techniques to make ceramic work by hand and using the potter's wheel.
One-week intensive summer course
Due to popular demand, we will be holding some one-week intensive ceramics courses during the holidays in July and August.
We've crammed the content of our 12-week course - plus some extras - into a single week. It's a great way to get going in the craft quickly without the long term commitment of a weekly time slot.
Plan a mini London 'claycation' and get creative in our beautiful East London studio.
Please note, to facilitate ample time for firing, a glazing workshop will be held the weekend after the course
When you 'graduate' you'll have all the tools you need to become a studio member and come and go at times that suit you.
May 2, 2018
Thinking of joining a course at Turning Earth E10? We've recently put a new set online and there's something there for everyone.
Friday afternoons starting this week.
Wednesday mornings starting next week
Thursday evenings
Saturday mornings
And two one week intensives scheduled for August.
Turning Earth E10 is our new centre in Argall Ave, a secret piece of the city sandwiched between Walthamstow and Clapton just near the new Lea Bridge Road station. The studio is one of London's beautiful hidden worlds, and a great space for a creative retreat.
Working with clay has been proven to make you feel calmer and happier, and can create the space you need to change your life for the better (It worked for all of us).
Through the class you will learn simple techniques to make ceramic work by hand and using the potter's wheel.
One-week intensive summer course
Due to popular demand, we will be holding some one-week intensive ceramics courses during the August holidays.
We've crammed the content of our 12-week course - plus some extras - into a single week. It's a great way to get going in the craft quickly without the long term commitment of a weekly time slot.
Plan a mini London 'claycation' and get creative in our beautiful East London studio.
Please note, to facilitate ample time for firing, a glazing workshop will be held the weekend after the course
When you 'graduate' you'll have all the tools you need to become a studio member and come and go at times that suit you.
