La Marzocco and Yucca Stone acknowledge the land of the Bundjalung people on which this project was created and pays respect to its elders past, present and emerging.
A collaboration between La Marzocco and like-minded visionaries, the True Artisan series sheds light on artists who hold unique stories and share a strong appreciation for the unique art of handcraft.
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For Canadian potter, Jennifer Redmond, the journey to establishing her sought after brand, Yucca Stone was slow and considered, much like the craft of pottery itself.
Discovering the art of pottery upon her move from her hometown of Vancouver to the bustling city of San Diego, it wasn’t long before Jennifer identified herself within a community of local potters and ceramicists while she dedicated her spare time to perfecting the craft.
It wasn’t until Jennifer made the move with her partner to Kingscliff, NSW that she purchased her first pottery wheel and used her craft and experiences to create a similar community within the Northern Rivers region.
Creating functional homewares under the brand, Yucca Stone, Jennifer is also the founder of Stone Studio in Kingscliff, a creative space hosting a range of classes and workshops for aspiring potters or for those curious about the craft.
“It is quite a process to make something with your hands. It’s something many people take for granted.”
When speaking through the steps that are taken to create something as simple as a cup, Jennifer stressed that a single object could take between several days to several weeks to create.
Unlike many processes in today’s digital age where anything can be made instantly, Jennifer points out that the key to mastering the art of pottery is to have patience and avoid cutting any corners, which could consequentially compromise the quality of the product.
“When throwing clay, it’s important not to rush any step and to remain patient.”
Explaining that the initial steps of sculpting and imprinting a piece can take a number of hours before it is set to dry on a shelf for a timeframe ranging from several days to a few weeks, Jennifer highlights that as a potter you quickly learn to appreciate handcrafted goods due to the rich story that lies within the piece.
Once completely dried out, the fragile objects are taken to the kiln. Fired up to reach a scorching 1000˚C, the pieces are left in the kiln for 24 hours to “half cook” before removing and applying a glaze, which is absorbed into the porous clay. Placed back in the kiln for another 24 hours, Jennifer stresses the importance not to open the kiln while any object is being fired to avoid thermal shock of the objects and consequentially any cracking or damage to the pieces.
For what might seem like a simple method to experienced potters like Jennifer, she highlights that other potters or ceramicists may use different methods, as there is always something new to learn about clay and the types of clay one may use.
“You can spend your whole life trying to learn everything about clay and still have things to discover.”
To celebrate the True Artisan partnership between La Marzocco and Yucca Stone, a limited run of handmade homewares has been created to purchase and enjoy as part of your morning routine.
Made from speckled Australian clay with a white gloss glaze, a set of four coffee cups and a matching breakfast set will soon be available to purchase. With each object hand-stamped with a bespoke Yucca Stone and La Marzocco stamp on the base and half-glazed to appreciate the raw earth in each piece, this limited run is a perfect gift for a loved one, or quite simply a great addition to your existing set of homewares.
Click here to be the first to purchase the limited release.